Page 53 of Play Maker

Langston’s roster filed out, and I skated over to say hello to the guys that I used to play with. It wasn’t as awkward as the first time we’d faced off, but the tension was there. Now there was more at stake, a semi-final place on the line, and our future as professionals too. Coach said it right; we had to give our best and nothing less.

After the warm-up, Banning rounded up our team. When he announced the first line, I bit back my frustration. Jace was center line, and I was off to the box until my turn. But I refused to let it get to me. Jace offered me a questioning look as he made for the ice. For once, I didn’t glare at him. Instead, I offered a hint of a smile. I was trying to be encouraging. Team spirit and all that crap.

Or, so I thought. Jace tripped and nearly fell head over skates.

Teammates looked at him with concern, but he waved them off, skating away and taking up his position.

“Did you see that? The best skater on our team nearly tumbles just before the game,” Ethan said to me, his tone shocked. “Fuck, please tell me that’s a fluke.”

When the ref blew the whistle, Jace exploded into action, as smooth and confident as always.

The only thing better than watching him play is sharing the ice.

No, scratch that. Kissing Jace was better.

That surprising realization hit me harder than any boarding ever could.

CHAPTER 18

JACE

Ithink I broke Axel.

Worse, I thought maybe he broke me too.

I was nervous walking into the rink today, but not in my usual way. Instead of struggling with the urge to puke, I was jittery and confused, a menagerie of butterflies fluttered away in my stomach. Or maybe it was a whole flock of baby birds. I felt like a high school kid on the first day of class, wondering where to go, who to talk to, and if anyone would sit with me during lunch. Not that I doubted my ability to find my footing. But everyone had nerves, even confident players like me.

No, this wasn’t my usual pre-game anxiety. It wasn’t about hockey.

It was about Axel.

He was staring at me, not scowling, and it seemed like no matter where I moved, his eyes followed, tracking me. When he smiled earlier, I was so shocked that I tripped, like I was performing a comedy skit. I hadn’t been that clumsy since, well, since I put on my first pair of skates. Oddly enough, I didn’t mind being hunted by his gaze. In fact, I really liked that I had all his attention. I was nervous in a good way, anticipation flooding my veins and making me almost giddy with excitement.

That was screwed up. I shouldn’t be reacting to him this way. Or, at all.

I’d been a good boy and avoided texting Axel these past two days. Even though my fingers itched like mad to do just that. And I kept my distance in the locker room, not knowing what to expect. Or, how to act. How he’d react. My usual cocky confidence was sitting on the sidelines, and it made me restless.

Was Axel as fucked up over that kiss as I was?

I’d said nothing to Dane or Kayden or any of my friends about whatreallyhappened in that attic. They’d all heard about the joke and assumed that Axel and I had finally come to a truce. How could I tell them that I hadn’t been faking when I didn’t even believe it myself? The whole incident at the frat house was like a hazy, fevered sex dream. It had to be. Axel was straight. He hated my guts. Anything that happened between us should be dismissed due to alcohol, experimentation, and a prank gone too far.

Yes, that’s all it was. Forget about it.

That’s exactly what I intended to do. And did.

We have a game to win and that comes first.

That was the last thought I had before the puck dropped in front of me.

I was conditioned to react decisively. Hockey was a skill and an instinct. You couldn’t have one without the other. There was no time to second-guess yourself because things moved fast.

Unfortunately, not fast enough.

I didn’t win the face-off. But it didn't put me off my stride. If anything, the sting of loss had me fighting back hard, delving into the fray with Langston’s best forwards, Joliet and Kourinko. Joliet was all power and finesse, a total natural who made every shot on goal look easy. Kourinko, on the other hand, was big and bold, and he didn’t hold back when it came to fighting for possession. They were the reason Langston was number onein the college rankings last year. But not anymore. We had an aggressive offense, more shots on goal, and a defensive lineup that was getting better with every game.

Kourinko took control of the puck, but I was all over him, and Dane launched into the fray with me. We battled it out, and when I finally wrenched the puck out from Kourinko’s control, I didn’t waste time hauling ass down the ice. My best effort wasn’t good enough, though. I neared the net, but was suddenly blocked by Delacourt, one of Langston’s d-men. I managed to sneak around him, and his teammate, Whitman, and spotted my opening.

I took the shot, fast, but the goalie was faster. Fuck.

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