Page 58 of Behind the Bench

I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking. She took off down the ice and I was right back in that ice rink we grew up in, my father’s voice was in my head telling me she’ll always be better than me. Before I could stop myself, I was yanking her ponytail like I did as a kid just to get under her skin.

I put my hands up in surrender and take a stride back to create some distance between us. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I don’t know why I did that. I’m an asshole.”

“No kidding. You know how much I hated that shit as a kid, and you do it now? I can’t keep up, Lincoln. One minute we’re getting lost in each other at the bar, almost kissing and the next you’re the same asshole you’ve always been. Getting under my skin and making me question everything. I told you once, pick a damn side. So which is it?”

I have so much I want to say to her, but the words are held hostage by my mouth that won’t open. The words won’t come out, and I have no fucking idea why.

Say something, you fucking idiot!

Ellie seems to take my silence as her answer and I don’t blame her. I’m still standing here, not uttering a damn word.

She scoffs. “Of course, this is all a big fucking game to you.”

I open my mouth to respond but it’s too late. Ellie turns and rips a slap shot at the net and it connects with the cross bar, the sound like a knife stabbing me straight in the heart.

“Game,” she tosses over her shoulder and then she’s gone.

Leaving Lincoln behind me, I storm off the ice and make my way down the tunnel to the coaches’ room.

What the hell was I even thinking? Lincoln is still the same asshole he’s always been. This is probably one big fucking game to him.“How far can I get under Ellie’s skin before she quits?”

Was he ever really into me?

He had to be. Ifelthow into me he is. But then why did he have to pull my fucking hair like a petulant child?

Maybe I’m overreacting, but the moment he tugged on my ponytail it was like I was right back in the past. Every moment of hate between us flashed before my eyes, blinding me in the moment. It triggered a fury deep down inside me I thought we had buried.

My hands are shaking as I do my best to enter the code to the door. It takes two tries, but I’m finally in and hoping Lincoln is smart enough to give me some space.

I walk to my stall and I’m putting my gloves in the top cubby when the door flies open.

Okay, so he isn’t smart enough to leave me alone. Whyam I not surprised?

I turn around with every intention of telling him off, but he’s all up in my space before I can get a word out.

For a moment, I forget how pissed I am at this man. His hair is damp from our game and it’s falling across his forehead like a damn Calvin Klein model. His green eyes are blazing and he must be clenching his jaw, because I can see the movement and I’m transfixed by this man’s jawline.

He takes advantage of my lapse in judgment and speaks before I do. “Ellie, I’m sorry. I’m not the same asshole I was when I was a kid. Hell, I’m not even the same guy I was when we saw each other that first day here.”

I cross my hands over my chest, creating what little barrier I can between us, and then call him out on his bullshit. “Really? Is that why you pulled my hair like some child? It’s pretty clear you haven’t changed. I don’t know if this is some game you’re playing with me, but it’s pretty fucked up to pretend you want me and then pull that bullshit.”

Lincoln looks genuinely shocked by my statement before taking a step closer to me.

“Don’t,” I warn.

“Don’t what?” He challenges.

Lincoln continues to edge closer to me, and suddenly I forget everything I was about to say.

His eyes are locked on mine and I stop breathing. He’s staring at me like a starved man eyeing up his next meal.

“Fuck it.”

It only takes two strides and then his lips are on mine.

Our lips crash together like a tidal wave in a storm. It’s desperate. It’s frantic. It’s all tongue and teeth. And I amachingfor more.

Lincoln uses one hand to grip my neck while the other cradles my face. His hand works its way from the back of my neck, down my back, all the way down until he’s squeezing my ass and pulling me into him.

---