Page 188 of Stick It
I don’t look at him. I can’t. Not right away.
“He always wanted me to be a Steelhawk,” I murmur, a soft smile tugging at my lips.
Ethan shakes his head beside me. “Not just as a player.”
I blink, surprised, and finally turn to face him.
“It’s the person you are that would bring him to his knees,” he clarifies, eyes steady on mine, “After everything you’ve been through…the way you keep fighting, keep showing up, keep holding your ground—” He shrugs, like it should be obvious. “He’d be proud of the strength in you, Dylan. Not just the skates on your feet.”
It hits me harder than I expect. Like a shot straight to the chest.
Everyone always talks about my dad in terms of hockey. About me making him proud because I’m chasing the dream he never got to finish. But no one ever talks about me as just…his daughter. Not the athlete. Not the legacy. Just a girl he would’ve been proud of—even if I never picked up a stick.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and I mean it more than I’ve meant anything all day.
Ethan bumps my knee gently with his. “I’m only stating the truth.”
A blur of motion draws my attention. Finn skates over, elbows resting on the boards as he leans forward. Behind him, Jax and Griffin are gathering up cones and gear, clearly done with their final drill of thenight.
“You two done with your emotional heart-to-heart, or should I come back in a sec?” he teases, but his grin softens when his gaze lands on me.
“Har har,” Ethan retorts. “You guys done?”
Finn nods. “I was thinking we could grab some ice cream before heading home. You know, the place on Main Street.”
“We just ate dinner a couple of hours ago,” I remind him.
Finn’s grin deepens, slow and dangerous. His eyes rake over me like he’s starving, and I know damn well he’s no longer thinking about food. My pulse flares.
“I know, but trust me,” he murmurs. “I’m starving.”
My mouth goes dry. Every nerve in my body lights up like a live wire.
Because for all his heat, all the looks and tension and lingering stares…Finn hasn’t touched me. Not since the hotel. Not since he kissed me like I was something worth fighting for, then backed away like he was the one who might shatter.
And now?
Now it’s like some twisted version of foreplay. The kind that draws out every second until I’m going to combust from the pressure.
My body’s more than ready. My brain is screaming at him to justdo something.
But he’s still standing there, cocky and calm and pretending like we’re not both toeing the edge of something sharp and hot and completely inevitable.
“Did someone mention ice cream?” Jax asks, skating over.
“Yeah, but it doesn’t look like Hellion is interested.” There’s a teasing glint in Finn’s eye.
“I didn’t say that,” I defend.
His green eyes dance with humor. “So youdowant ice cream?”
I huff a laugh. “Like I’d ever say no to ice cream.”
“Didn’t think so.” He grins, pleased with himself.
As we file out of the arena, the cool night air hits my overheated skin like a sigh of relief. My legs ache, my shoulder’s stiff, and I’m dead on my feet—but I don’t care. I haven’t felt this alive since before…
Refusing to go there, I shove the thought away and focus on Jax’s hand wrapped around mine. His thumb brushes slow, lazy strokes over my knuckles. On my other side, Griffin slings an arm over my shoulders, tugging me into his side with casual possessiveness like he’s done it a hundred times before.
