Page 79 of Heart Taker

I thought about the way I reacted every time I was near him. Or heard his voice. The way my heart pounded, and my stomach dropped out. Shit. Maybe I ought to look up an acting class, because hiding my intentions was going to take skill.

The locker room was freezing, no surprise, and quiet, with none of the usual chatter to greet me. I quickly changed, slid my pads on, my jersey, and helmet, and tied up my skates. By the time I grabbed my stick and headed for the ice, I was calm, centered. The ice was freshly flooded, perfectly smooth, reminding of the lake last night. And me and Damien, sitting under the stars.

No. Head in the game, remember?

I did a few practice laps to clear my mind, get my muscles heated up, and then I started my stretches. Halfway through my warmup, and I knew I wasn’t alone anymore.

But it wasn’t Damien.

“Extra early, eh?” Finn quipped as he joined me on the ice. “Show off.”

“Hardly. I’m eager to get the day going. I’m doing what you suggest, trying to get in the right mindset.”

I was tryingnotto think about Damien…

“You mean, you don’t want to get on Coach’s bad side?”

I chuckled. “That too.”

Not that Damien had one. Fuck, everything about him was appealing to me. I had it bad. So bad.

“You’re early yourself,” I retorted.

“I guess we’re all a bit eager.” Finn skated past me and stopped short. “You look different today.”

Not him too.

“Wait.” Finn nudged my arm. “Holy shit! Si, what’s that on your face? Are you… are you actually smiling?”

“Fuck off,” I grumbled.

“Ah, I get it. I know what this relaxed vibe is all about. You got laid last night.”

“No comment.”

“Come on. I’m your friend, you gotta spill the deets. Who was the guy?”

“It was nothing. A casual one and done. The way it always is.”

Lies, lies, and more lies.

“Well, it must’ve been good because you, my friend, are glowing.”

“As if,” I scoffed and shook my head.

“Someone’s got a crush,” Finn said teasingly.

“No.”

“Who’s got a crush?” a voice interrupted from behind me.

Fucking Ethan. How’d he get the drop on me like that? So much for getting my head in the game.

“No one,” I bit out.

“It’s Silas,” Finn explained. “Look at him.”

Ethan gave me a once over and then glanced at Finn.

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