Page 42 of The Save

Rob nodded, finally releasing Shar's legs so she could stand. Axel dropped his hand from my mouth, and I rubbed my nose before I sneezed.

Axel turned back, grinning. "So come to the tournament with us. I already talked to Coach Wilson. He said we'll have some time to study on the bus, Friday when we get there, and Saturday before our game. Then on the way back, too."

My eyes widened in surprise as warmth diffused through my chest. Chase was so wrong about this. Axel cared. Yes, maybe it was only because he wanted ice time, but that was something.

I fiddled with the pillow, trying to look casual. "You talked to Coach Wilson about this?"

Axel nodded. "Yeah. He thought it was a great idea."

“Did he now?” Crystal smirked.

My eyes flicked to Shar's. She knew what a sacrifice this was if I agreed. I never slept well away from my own bed. I had a nighttime routine and hotels messed with it.

“I’m going,” she said, grinning at me as her teeth scraped over her bottom lip.Very subtle.

I dropped my eyes as my heart picked up speed. "I mean, I guess I could."

Axel actually celebrated, pulling me into his chest and squeezing tight. "Yes! I took a practice test today, and I failed it."

"You what?"

Axel scrubbed my head with his knuckles, then extricated himself as I shrieked and grabbed his beefy arm. "I'm sorry—sorry! I won't mess up your hair.”

“How bad did you fail?"

He waved me off. "Does it matter?"

"Yes. It matters!”

“I'll pack the quiz and my stuff. We can look it over on Friday." Axel jumped up with a grin and pulled his shirt down. He made a heart with his hands and held it over his chest. "See you then, Maddie girl."

I rolled my eyes and worked to swallow the lump of nerves in my throat. Because while I was invested in helping him, Axel was definitely not the person I was thinking about seeing Friday.

“This is perfect!” Shar clapped her hands together. “We can share a room!”

“So you can keep an eye on her?” Crystal teased.

Rob looked between the three of us. “Is there something I’m missing?”

“No!” We answered in unison, and I stifled a groan.

Not suspicious at all.

Chapter

Fifteen

I showedup at the Dome Student parking lot Friday morning with my small suitcase and my pillow. Shar and the guys greeted me with hugs. We tried to get Crystal to come along for the weekend, too, but she had commitments she couldn't ditch on last minute. Plus, it was her brother's birthday, and we were all going to be together for the weekend after Canada West anyway.

A couple of the other guys' girlfriends were driving separately, but Shar and I were given VIP seats on the bus. If you could call them that. Technically, I was the only VIP, but when I expressed to Coach Blakely how I'd rather not be the only girl at a sausage party—not in those words—he agreed to let Shar ride with me instead of taking Rob's truck. She was more than grateful not to spend the gas money.

I scanned the lot as the driver loaded in the gear. Coach Blakely and the Outlaws' assistant coach, whom I didn't know, stood near the door of the bus. Blakely scribbled something on a clipboard.

"He's not here," Shar whispered.

“Obviously.”

“I guess he's driving over on his own.”