Page 31 of Icebreaker

"I think Max is on our side."

Quinn chuckled. "Yeah, I think you might be right."

We rushed back to the locker room and grabbed our gear. Although we'd been interrupted during our intimate moment, the kiss we shared held plenty of promise for something more in the future.

As we skated onto the rink, I exchanged a quick, private smile with Quinn. His glistening blue eyes warmed me to the core.

While we gathered on the blue line, the cold bit into my skin; it was so familiar that it was almost comforting. Coach Fraser, clipboard in hand, called for Quinn and me to lead the first drill.

"Let's see some speed, men. Shake off that morning laziness and get moving." At his whistle, we exploded forward, our skates digging deep into the ice. I raced down the rink, legs pumping. Quinn was in perfect sync at my side, matching me with uncanny precision.

When we approached the orange cones for an agility drill, Coach yelled, "Look sharp out there!" I crouched low, my thighs burning with each turn.

When we reached the end of the drill, I passed the puck to Quinn without looking. I knew precisely where he was by feeling. He caught the pass smoothly and slapped it right into the net.

"Nice finish!" I called, grinning from ear to ear as I circled back around behind the net.

"Your pass made it simple."

Next, we lined up for a two-on-two defensive drill. Coach liked to mix defensive players with forwards to change things up. He matched me with Quinn, and I growled, "Let's shut 'em down."

He nodded eagerly. When the whistle sounded, we presented a united front against two wingers. I blocked out one against the boards while Quinn intercepted a pass meant to maneuver past us. He turned the play into a ruthless counterattack. Seconds later, the puck clanged against the back of the net. Our teammates banged their sticks against the boards, celebrating with us.

Practice closed with a scrimmage. Quinn and I were on fire. I set him up for a spectacular goal. He didn't miss a step and shot a bullet right past the goalie. Our on-ice chemistry had never been better.

Our teammates swarmed us with congratulations. Together, we were unstoppable.

Exhausted but thrilled by the results of our practice session, I skated off the ice at Quinn's side. "Pretty good day, eh?" he chuckled and nudged me on the shoulder.

"Not bad, not bad. Let's keep that momentum going."

We'd turned a corner, but I knew Dante's dark cloud wasn't far away. He had a plan, and I knew he wouldn't give up easily.

In the locker room, player after player approached me and clapped me on the shoulder. It was a welcome back without specific words.

I made a silent vow, a promise fueled by hard-won wisdom and the selfless love of the people around me. From now on, I would lean on my teammates and Quinn when I faced trouble. I would trust their support and the bonds we forged on and off the ice.

Dante may have haunted my past, but he had no power over my future. With Quinn at my side and my team at my back, I could weather any storm.

Chapter ten

Quinn

It was late, after midnight, but I had to call. I couldn't sleep and needed to hear a friendly, supportive voice. Everything with Axel had thrown me for a loop. We were at the top of the hill again, but I feared we might soon head for another valley.

The phone rang twice before Maggie's familiar voice picked up. She edged her words with concern and worry. "Quinn? It's late. What's going on?"

I couldn't entirely control my anxiety when I spoke. "I'm sorry it's after midnight, but it's about Axel…and someone from his past, Dante. Things are crazy, and I need to talk it through."

"Dante? That's a new name to me." Her calm voice helped me relax as I paced back and forth in my living room.

I stopped near the window and glanced out at the city lights. "It's Dante Russo. You probably didn't see the news stories, but he's Axel's ex, and there was a big scandal a few years back. They were outed publicly, and Dante threw Axel under the bus to save his own ass. It almost ruined Axel's career."

Maggie inhaled sharply. "That's awful. Why is it a thing now?"

"He's back, and it hit Axel hard. He's different and distant. We've talked, and he reassured me, but—damn, I'm scared he'll pull away again. He did that once already."

I listened to a few seconds of silence before Maggie spoke. "You need to keep the lines of communication with Axel open. It's crucial. Also, make sure he knows how you feel. Don't make the conversations be only about him."

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