Page 89 of Stick It
I nod before he skates off, rejoining the scrimmage. He’s fucking lucky the guys on the opposing team didn’t take hisdistraction for the opening it was and slam him into the boards. Idiot.
As soon as the scrimmage ends, he’s back with a bottle of water, handing it over to me without a word. I sigh, twisting the cap open. At least he’s subtle about it.
The freshman sitting beside me isn’t so smooth. “Uh, do you need anything?” he flusters. “Ethan said…well, he told me to make sure you’re okay. And, uh, get you anything.”
I glance at the kid. He looks nervous, like he’s afraid of screwing up his first real assignment on the team. Poor guy. I almost feel bad for him.
“I’m good, thanks. You don’t have to babysit me.”
“Uh, yeah, I do. Ethan was really specific.”
I huff out a frustrated laugh. Of course he was. “Fine. You can sit here, but you don’t have to act like my personal servant.”
The kid nods quickly, and I focus back on the drills the forwards are currently running. Practice has been running for over an hour now, and my ass has grown numb. I shift, wincing as the slight movement jostles my ribs, sending pain flaring through them.
“You!” Ethan barks from across the ice, pointing a gloved finger at the freshman beside me. “Get her painkillers and a heat pad. Now!”
The kid practically jumps to his feet, stuttering out apologies.
“It’s fine,” I try to say. “I’ve got— And he’s gone,” I say to myself as I watch the kid race along the bench.
“Be right back!” he calls before disappearing to do Ethan’s bidding.
I whip my head back to glare at the asshole but he’s already focused back on his drills. I don’t even know how he fucking saw that, given it appears as though his full attention is on the ice.
“Jesus, Ethan,” I mutter, shaking my head as I glance aroundat the other players. Some of them are watching me, and I offer them tight smiles. “Overkill much?”
I’m still cursing him out under my breath as I reach into my backpack to retrieve some pain meds. Not because Ethan all but demanded it, but because I am a little sore. As my fingers wrap around the pain med bottle, they also catch on a loose piece of paper in my bag. I pull it all out, setting the bottle in my lap as I look at the paper in confusion. It’s all neatly folded up, and I carefully unfold it.
Still fearless. Still fucking beautiful.
The air stalls in my lungs. It’s just like the last note I received. The one I’ve tucked in an old journal of mine and occasionally pull out late at night, wondering who wrote such words about me. Who is looking so closely? Who sees me in this light?
“Finn!” Ethan barks. “Focus.”
My head snaps up as Finn turns away, going back to his drills. I stare at him for a long moment, but he never once looks my way. I do catch him staring at his best friend, though, head tilted and eyes clouded with questions. I hope that means he’s questioning his behavior, that he’s considering my version of events to be the truth. However, only time will tell. Time and proof—if I can get it.
Not entirely sure what to make of these notes, I tuck it away in my backpack and pop my pills, swallowing them down with cold water. When the freshman returns with a heat pad, I give him a tight smile, and we don’t talk again until the end of practice.
As the rest of the team stomps off the ice and toward the locker room to change, Bear approaches, clipboard in hand. “How you holding up?” he asks, looking me over with scrutiny.
“Fine,” I lie.
I notice the guys slow, glancing my way as they pass. Bear turns to look at them, before returning his attention to me, his expression knowing. “They’re protective.”
I roll my eyes. “They live with me. Ethan’s the captain. You practically ordered him to babysit my ass, so that’s what he’s doing.”
Bear grunts. “Good to hear.” He rubs at the back of his neck, seeming to think something over before lifting his head. “I know I offered before and you said no, but I want you to know the offer still stands. Come live with me. I can sort it all out with the dean—explain the situation…”
I’m already shaking my head, reaching out to squeeze his arm. “You know how much I appreciate you sticking your neck out for me, but it’s not necessary.”
“I worry about you,” he admits, concern bleeding into his words.
“Then it’s a good thing you like to torture us with daily practices, so you can see for yourself how I’m doing.”
Ethan appears then, already changed in record time as he strides over. Stopping a foot away from Coach, the two of them seem to square off in some silent macho man dance I’m not privy to, before Bear grunts, “Keep her safe.”
Ethan simply nods before Bear steps past him and walks away, leaving us alone.
