Page 51 of Play Maker

Jesus, maybe I should switch from economics to philosophy.

I should’ve been focused on preparing for today. But after that weird exchange with Preston, I didn’t know how to get my head back to where it needed to be. Even my usual pregame routine of carbs, hydration, and replaying my opponents’ weak spots only helped so much. It didn’t bring the calm it usually did.

I hadn’t seen or spoken to Jace since that night, but with every passing minute, my restlessness grew. Instead of getting my head in the zone, where it should be, I was thinking about sex.

Not a great way to prepare for a game that had so much riding on it.

My nerves cranked higher the moment I stepped out of the dorm and reached the stratosphere when I entered the rink.

The locker room was already packed by the time I arrived. Some guys, like Maddox and Silas, kept to themselves, headphones on, getting themselves psyched up. Others, like Dane and Ethan, talked and joked around to lighten the mood.

I hadn’t spotted Jace yet, but explosive anticipation flared in my veins.

I nodded at Dane, trying my best to stay cool, but failing miserably, jumpy as a rookie in a tight jock on the first day of practice. Standing in front of my stall, I threw down my backpack and reached for my gear. Once I was padded up, I sat down and tied on my skates. That was my fixation. All hockey players had them. For me, I had to have red laces. The first hockey team I ever joined had red and white jerseys and for home games, all the players wore red laces. Ever since, it was my thing. No deviation. If I didn’t have them, I’d hunt down every equipment store in the country to find them. Was it rational? No, but this was hockey. There was nothing normal about speeding around a confined icy surface on razor- sharp blades.

I heard a door open and then Jace’s laughter before he stalked across my line of vision like the predatory animal we were named after. A shiver ran through me as I did my level best to make casual eye contact, but not for too long. My gaze traveled over his body, taking in the simple outfit of Doc Marten, tight jeans, and a black t-shirt. He looked damn good, and worse, I knew that he tasted even better.

Jace nodded and reached for the baseball cap on his head, and I stifled an unexpected grin. I had red laces; Jace had his ballcap. Backwards, of course.

He gave me a knowing smile. I fought hard, but lost, when I fucking blushed. Right there in the locker room, surrounded by my teammates. Then again, the crimson cheeks could be explained away. Every player in the room was wound up tighter than a wrapped dick.

“Please tell me you’re not about to start arguing with Jace again.”

I glanced to my right to find Kayden giving me a concerned look. The gentle giant was worried.

“We’re fine,” I assured him.

“You don’t look fine. More like you’re about to explode.”

It was already too late. I came in the shower this morning, shouting Jace’s name.

“It’s hot as hell in here,” I explained, looking away, hoping Kayden wouldn’t notice the heat in my face and neck. “I mean, the heat’s cranked up. I’m sweating through my pads.”

I reached for my jersey, but it took me three tries to get it on. Good God, I was acting ridiculous. I needed something, anything, to distract me from Jace. Gloves, where were my gloves?

“Are you kidding? It’s like a meat locker,” Kayden rubbed his hands together. “This entire building has next to no heating, never mind the rink. Every time I take a shower, I nearly freeze my balls off.”

“I guess I just run hot.”

Kayden stared at me, and I shook my head.

“What?”

“You seem different today,” he mused.

“I don’t know what you’re?—”

“What’s different?” Dane called out as walked up to us.

“Axel.” Kayden pointed at me. “Something’s up but he won’t share. And he’s about to break a hole in the floor with his skates.”

I didn’t realize I’d been popping my knees. Dane sat down on the bench opposite me and tapped one.

“You alright?” he asked as he leaned in.

I nodded. “It’s nerve wracking facing my former teammates. But I’m fine.”

It wasn’t a lie. I was nervous, but also excited. Because I knew exactly how they played and how to play them.

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