Page 10 of Stick It
“Reciting some easily obtained stats proves nothing,” Kyle states, collapsing back against the sofa as though done with this entire conversation. “If anything, it makes me think you’re a crazed fan or obsessed groupie, rather than a genuine player.”
The muscle in my jaw tics. One thing I know already, Kyle and I arenotgoing to get along.
As if sensing the escalating tension between us, Ethan interjects, “Seems a little unfair that you know all about us, and we know next to nothing about you.”
My gaze slides to his, holding that sharp, blue stare before I nod. “Four goals, eleven assists. Fifteen points total last season.”
Ethan raises an eyebrow, and Finn’s lips twitch like he’s holding back a laugh. Kyle doesn’t even bother; he snorts outright. “Not exactly first-line numbers,” he taunts.
“No,” I agree calmly, not allowing any frustration to show on my face. “They’re not. But you can only do so much when your entire team is working against you.”
“Entire team?” Finn interrupts, confused.
“Wait.” It’s the first time Jax has spoken, his voice a low baritone that throws me for a second. As though he just delivered something deep and meaningful, everyone in the room turns to look at him, but he continues looking atme, head tilted to one side. I can practically see the cogs spinning as he puts the puzzle pieces together. “You’re the Northern Summit girl.” A disbelieving laugh slips past his lips. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”
Dismissing me, he turns to his buddies. “The girl on the NSU team.”
All of their heads snap back to mine.
“Jesus, they’ve been the laughingstock of the league these past two years,” Kyle sneers.
“They’ve been playing like shit,” Ethan observes, eyes narrowed on me as if it’smyfault. If men didn’t have such fragile egos, we’d have dominated the league, and my stats would be ranked up there with Ethan’s, Finn’s, and Jaxon’s. So don’t put that shit on me!
“Fuck me, what the hell is Coach thinking?” Groaning, Kyle buries his face in his hands.
“Look,” Ethan says, lips pursed in consideration. “I don’t know what your game is, but this is our senior year. Our last one playing college hockey.Our shotto secure a career in the NHL. It’s nothing personal, but I refuse to let anything interfere with that. You might be a decent enough player, but you don’t belong on this team.”
A decent enough player?!I’ve never been so insulted.
“That isn’t your call to make,Captain,” I tell him flatly, before shaking off my irritation. Huffing an exhale, I say in a calmer tone, “Look, we don’t have to like each other. We don’t even need to get along. You play your game, and I’ll play mine, and we’ll all get what we want this season.”
Sensing that this conversation will only go downhill if I hang around any longer, I step back into the hall before turning and fleeing up the stairs. Let them think what they want. I didn’t come here to butt heads with obtuse hockey players. I came here toprovemyself.
Which is exactly what I’m going to do.
I just wish I didn’t have to live here, under the same roof as all of them. Unfortunately, I don’t have a choice. I stopped by administration after practice, but the woman behind the desk barely spared me a glance before telling me there was no available housing and essentially implying I either suck it up or find private accommodation. I spent the rest of the afternoon scouring the web for listings, but everything near campus was already taken. So it looks like I’m stuck living with four guys who hate me.
As I close my bedroom door behind me, a sinking stone settles in my gut. Letting my head fall back against the wood, I close my eyes and send up a silent prayer that this year doesn’t end up like the others—with a team sabotaging my every move, cutting me off from plays altogether, and having to fight just to touch the puck.
All I want is to play hockey. Why is that so damn difficult?
4
JAX
“Drinks at The Stanley!”Finn declares to the locker room. It’s Saturday, and we’ve just finished our final practice of the week.
The room descends into chaos, guys hooting and hollering while others bang their fists against the doors of their lockers. From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Dylan, stripped to her sports bra and tight shorts that mold to her thighs and ass like a second skin that she wears underneath her gear. Grabbing her towel and a change of clothes, she hightails it to the showers without sparing any of us a glance. Despite being surrounded by people she barely knows, she’s at ease in a locker room full of guys who tower over her. Or at least, she does an excellent job of acting like she is.
Other than at practices, I’ve barely seen her all week. She’s out of the house before any of us get up in the mornings, and she somehow manages to sneak in at night without anyone noticing. It’s clear she’s avoiding us, although I’m not sure how long she thinks she can keep that up for.
Tensions are brewing—at homeandon the ice.
After that first day, when she blew the minds of everySteelhawks player by announcing she was the new addition to the team, Ethan pulled us all aside and told us to simply ignore her. His order had been met with scoffs and challenges. Even I was skeptical. I mean, has heseenher? With her sharp eyes that don’t miss a thing and her tight, lithe body, Dylan Carter isimpossibleto ignore.
He convinced the guys by wisely reminding them that until Roster Day, there’s no point in worrying about her. After all, she might not even be placed. She could end up warming the bench for the entire season, never seeing a minute of ice time.
The only problem with Cap’s logic is that…she’sgood. Seriously fucking good on the ice. I know I’m not the only one unable to take my eyes off her when she’s got skates on her feet and a stick in her hand. The way she handles the puck and weaves around behemoth players as though they are practice dummies. I don’t know if it’s her lighter frame that makes her so damn quick, but in the time it takes to blink, she’s across the rink, ready to sink the puck in the opponent’s net. While I’d never say it aloud, she’s the fastest forward we’ve got.
