Page 106 of Secret Puck
“One look at Heath this morning and I think we all knew something was up. Wanna tell me what happened?”
“The short version? He overheard me telling you that I loved him, freaked out, told me love was bullshit, and I ran.”
“Why did you run? That’s not like you.”
“Because I was embarrassed. Do you know what it’s like to tell someone you love them and have them not return the sentiment?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “But I’m sure I’ve had a lot of people say it and not mean it. It’s a risk either way.”
“You know, I never thought about it before, but you’re like the bravest person I know. You jump from girlfriend to girlfriend—”
He groans.
“Let me finish.” I punch his leg. “You keep putting yourself out there no matter how many times it doesn’t work. Maybe it’s alittleexcessive, but definitely brave.”
He rubs at the back of his neck. “Well, I guess that’s one way to look at it.”
We fall silent and I lean my head on his shoulder. The alarm on his phone sounds and I sit straight.
“I gotta go,” he says. “Are you coming to the game?”
“I’m not sure. Probably.”
“It’s funny how even when you’re pissed, you can’t help but show up to support him.”
“It’syouI’m supporting.”
“Mhmmm.”
I roll my eyes.
“Are you gonna be okay?” He stops at the door and regards me seriously.
“Yeah, I will.” I blow out a breath. “I was perfectly happy with our fun, college fling until he found out I love him. Freaking love.”
He scrunches up his face. “And on that note, I’m out.” He opens the door and winks back at me. “Later, G.”
38
Heath
When we take the ice,I automatically look for Ginny in her usual seat. She’s not there and the knife in my gut twists.
Vermont is tough. They’ve got a freshman, Lex Vonne, who’s almost as fast as I am, and their defense is big and mean.
“I played against Vonne in high school,” Adam says. “He was just a skinny kid who could barely stay upright back then.”
We watched tape last weekend on Vermont and Jordan and Adam filled us in as best they could. All three of them are from Arizona, and Jordan went to high school with Vonne, playing together all four years. No one can believe the progress he’s made. It seems the New England air agrees with him because every game he just gets better.
“Yeah, well, looks like he’s improved. A lot.”
“No shit.” Adam laughs as we watch him warm up, looking steady and sharp.
The game matches our pace, a brutal intensity that’s exactly what I need tonight. Neither team scores in the first period. I’ve skated nearly half of those twenty minutes and I’m sucking air, but the burn of my lungs is nothing compared to the feeling I get when I glance at Ginny’s empty seat.
Coach gives us his usual quick and straightforward pep talk between periods. He’s not big on grand speeches, but his words are always effective.
Vermont’s goalie is one of the best in the country, not that we’re making it hard on him. We’re losing the puck before we can even do anything with it. I get a pass from Maverick and use some of my aggression on a mean slapshot. It’s wide and I swear I feel him grin underneath that fucking mask.
