Page 13 of Facing the Line

What would it feel like if she was wearing my jersey instead of Hunter’s? A little thrill runs down my spine.

I shake it off and focus on the expression on her face. She’s not sitting with her dad—he’s near the boards with the team bigwigs—and she’s in the student section with Cooper’s girlfriend, Jasmine. She’s as blown away as Hunter, but there’s also hurt in her eyes. Jasmine must notice because she puts her arm around Hadley’s shoulder and hugs her.

Huh. I wonder?—

The ref’s whistle interrupts my musing. It’s time to focus.

Cooper kicks the puck out of the faceoff to me, and I fly down the ice. The Bemidji State goalie looms out in front of the net—so far that I have an idea.

Mateo skates up on my left and sees it, too. I pass to him, he circles the net and sneaks it past the goalie. The siren blares, the red lamp goes off, and the fans go crazy.

Mateo grins so wide it must hurt his cheeks. He pounds me on the back in his excitement, and I smile back. It helps even the score, and I’m pleased for him, pleased for my team.

The PA announcer credits Mateo with the goal and me with the assist. Pride fills my chest. The scouts are all jotting down thoughts in little notebooks or on their phones, and my mouth goes dry. Nerves jump in my belly.

I glance back towards Jasmine and Hadley in the stands. She gives me a tiny smile, and my heart leaps. She blinks, staring at her feet, and brushes something off her jersey. The moment passes, but the warmth in my chest lingers. It helps reorient me.

Why does a smirk and eye contact with Hadley fill me with more joy than my prospects on the ice?

I don’t know. As I skate back to the bench, I catch sight of Hunter again. His mouth forms a straight line, his shoulders aretense. Clearly, he’s feeling pressure as Captain and having his dad watching probably isn’t helping.

The least I can do is stop obsessing over his baby sister.

Blowing out a breath, I exit the locker room. We lost, two to three. It’s okay, still early in the season, but the mood after the game is tense and grumpy. I scan the crowd milling around in the hallway, but I don’t know why. The familiar faces I want to see aren’t here.

Normally my parents would make it for the home opener, but Emma had an appointment they couldn’t miss. I’m not jealous, but if I’m being honest, I’m a little more disappointed than I expected. They’ll come see me play soon enough, I tell myself.

My eye catches on Hadley. Wearing her brother’s hockey jersey, she weaves through the clumps of people until she stands in front of me. Her blonde hair is in waves under a Harrison stocking cap and her ripped jeans showcase her curves.

“Hi.” Her voice comes out scratchy, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “Good game.”

“Eh.” I shrug. “Would have been better if we won.”

“Yeah, but you and Mateo had that nice goal in the first.”

“Thanks.”

She bites her bottom lip, eyes brimming with emotion. Is she okay?

“Hey.” I take a step closer to her, putting my hand on her arm. “What’s wrong?”

But I catch sight of Hunter, running a hand through his hair and talking with his dad and Mr. Harrogate, one of the college athletics bigwigs. His fist is clenched at his side, there’s a linebetween his eyes, and his posture is tense. He listens, then shoulders his bag and stalks off.

Remember how you decided you’d stop thinking about Hadley all the time? Yeah, maybe you should focus on your friend, instead. You know—your captain and her brother!

Ugh, I hate it when my inner voice is right.

Chapter

Five

HADLEY

Hadley: Did you know Dad was gonna be here?

Hunter: Nope. Absolutely blindsided. You?

Hadley: No idea either. I would have warned you. Typical.

---