Page 9 of Shots & Echoes

The shiver that rolled through me this time wasn’t unwelcome.

He noticed.

Of course, he fucking noticed.

I skated backward, reaching into the net to retrieve the puck, using the motion to pull in a slow breath.Steady your hands. Show nothing.

But when I glanced over my shoulder, he was still watching me—like he was waiting.

Waiting to see when I’d break.

Or if I’d hit back harder.

I curled my fingers tight around my stick, letting the pressure ground me.

Not today.

Chapter 2

Knox

Iwatched her skate away, sharp and fast, like she was carving her name into the fucking ice.

I should’ve looked away.

Should’ve let her go.

But I didn’t.

Her last glance over her shoulder hit me like a blade to the ribs.

Cool. Defiant.

Daring me to push harder.

It was nothing.

It should’ve been nothing.

But it was still crawling under my skin, hot and tight, settling somewhere deep in my chest like an itch I already knew I’d be chasing all season.

Iris Evans.

Daddy’s perfect little star.

The future of Team USA.

The girl I was supposed to shape into something better.

Or maybe the girl I was supposed to break.

Her strawberry blonde hair snapped behind her in that high ponytail—too clean, too polished—like everything about her.

But I’d seen the crack today.

Felt it when I pinned her to the boards, and she shoved back instead of folding.

That look she gave me?

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