Page 67 of The Rule Breaker
“Back to me,” I call.
Austin sends it right back, and I drop low, loading my stick for a slap shot. The second the puck touches my blade, I rip it, feeling the force of the shot as it screams toward the net.
It pings off the crossbar with a crack.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.
Nathan’s chuckle is audible even through his mask. “So close, buddy.”
I don’t waste a second, regrouping and shifting into position as Logan takes possession and starts a rush the other way. I backcheck hard, pushing my legs to the limit as I close the gap between us.
“Little slow today, Reed,” Logan taunts, a playful grin on his face.
“Little ugly today, Gray,” I shoot back, matching his pace.
His shoulders shake with a laugh, but I’m already focused, getting my stick in his lane. In one smooth motion, I poke-check the puck loose before he can get a shot off, sending it sliding toward our zone.
Coach nods from the bench. “Good stick, Reed.”
I catch his praise as my eyes flick to the boards. Isabella’s still there, clipboard in hand, watching. She’s biting her lip, brow furrowed in concentration, and damn, she looks so fucking cute.
I quickly look away, snapping back to the drill before I get distracted.
The rest of practice feels like it drags on forever. My legs burn like fire, but I power through, and every time I glance at the boards, her eyes are there, following me, studying every move I make.
I know I shouldn’t, but as I skate past her during a water break.
“Careful,” I tease. “Staring like that might get you in trouble.”
I take a slow sip from my bottle, watching her every movement, how her throat works as she swallows.
“Shut up,” she mutters, but the flush creeping up her neck tells me everything I need to know.
I chuckle, shoot her a wink, and skate back into the drill.
By the time Coach finally calls it, my jersey’s soaked, my arms feel like dead weight, and I’m one more drill away from collapsing on the ice.
“Hit the showers,” he barks. “Film in an hour!”
A collective groan echoes through the rink, but I don’t have the energy to join in.
“Fuck, I’m starving,” Austin grumbles, rubbing his stomach. “I need, like, five cheeseburgers.”
“That’s cute,” Logan shoots back. “I need six.”
“Jesus,” Nathan mutters. “You guys are actual garbage disposals.”
As they argue over which fast food joint has the best post-practice meal, I hang back, my eyes flicking over to the boards.
Isabella’s still there. Still watching me. Like I’m the only thing in the rink.
And damn if that doesn’t do something to me.
I skate toward her, feeling a smile slide onto my face. “Good watching out there.”
She raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small smile. “Good playing out there.”
I smirk, leaning in just enough to drop my voice. “Thanks. You did good with Austin. Any pointers for me?”
