Page 45 of Heart Check
The guys drop me off at precalc with plenty of back thumping and pep talking, but Harper’s not even there early like she usually is, so I don’t get the chance to talk to her. She slides in right before the bell, hurrying to her seat with her head down.
I zone out for the entire period. Couldn’t even tell you what the lesson’s on. I only snap back to attention when Ms. Moore passes our tests back.
B+. Best I’ve ever gotten.
Before I can think better of it, I wheel to grin at Harper. She’s the first one I want to tell, the one I want to celebrate with. But her head is still down, focused very intently on her notes. I wait until class is dismissed before I stand, holding the test above my head like it’s the Stanley Cup or something.
Harper shoots out the door with her friend Liv before I can show her—before I canthankher—so I slowly lower my arms, feeling like a real idiot.
Yeah, she’sdefinitelyavoiding me. My cheeks flame with embarrassment. Did I do something to piss her off?
Good thing I have practice. I have a helluva lot of frustrated energy to burn.
The locker room is full of guys comparing Thanksgiving weekend stories. Lots of groaning about how much they ate and how slow they’re gonna be on the ice today. I suit up, rehearsing my speech to Noah in my mind. Even if Harper’s avoiding me, I made her a promise and I’m not going back on my word. And I’m only more impressed by how hard she works after seeing her in action at the small business fair. If there’s anything I can do to make things right, I need to do it.
I take a deep breath before pulling Noah aside as we skate out onto the ice.Clear and direct, Dawson. That’s the only way to handle this guy.
“I’ve been thinking,” I say. “Those reviews on Harper’s site are really messing up her business.”
He smirks. “You still hung up on that girl? I thought surely that would pass in the light of day. What, are you hanging out with her as some sort of favor?”
My face burns with anger, and I have to take another deep breath so I don’t say something rash. Has Noah always been this bad? If so, no wonder Harper has a chip on her shoulder about the team, because I’m having to remind myself that throwing punches could easily get me suspended for the season. Honestly, it’s a credit to her self-restraint that she hasn’t inflicted physical violence on him yet.
“It’s not about being hung up on her.” Even though I definitely, absolutely am. “And I’m not doing any favors. This is about what’s fair. Those reviews were you, right? You need to take them down.”
We lock eyes, and Noah’s eyebrows tick up. “Are you serious?”
I notice he doesn’t deny the accusation. “Harper didn’tdo anything wrong, and that business is her life. She doesn’t deserve this.”
Noah shakes his head, scoffing. “If she’s not responsible for getting Coach fired, then who is?”
“I don’t know,” I say, jaw tightening. “But maybe at this point, it’s not our job to find out. Maybe Principal Castillo put the pieces together all on her own.” Noah opens his mouth to argue, but I’m not done. “What Idoknow is if you keep up this vendetta, it’s going to destroy this team so much worse than losing one coach did. I can’t skate with a guy I can’t trust.”
Noah glances down at my hands, and I realize they’re clenched into fists. At some point, I became willing to deck a guy for Harper Braedon. Willing to argue with mycaptain. A brief wave of nerves washes over me—this is why I don’t date during the season. If my messy feelings for Harper mess up our team and my game, Dad would never let me live it down.
But then Noah glances over my shoulder. Ryan and Alex have skated up behind us. “Yeah, I don’t think she did it either,” Ryan says with a shrug. A warm ember burns in my chest at seeing him join Harper’s side too. “That girl has no poker face.”
“And she sure hasn’t had a problem speaking her mind in the past,” Alex adds. “If she did it, I think she’d own up to it. Probably be proud of it. Don’t you?”
Noah meets my eyes again, jaw slightly hung. I raise a challenging eyebrow. He wavers for a minute before tossing up his hands.
“Okay, okay. Fine!” He shakes his head. “I still don’t trust her. But if she’s your girl… Whatever. It’s not worth it.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.” Noah might bein his own world this year with his eyes set on the Gamblers, but if there’s one upside to his selfishness, it’s that he cares way more about himself than any principles. At this point, he doesn’t have anything to gain by maintaining this feud.
But I still can’t be totally relieved. Not with his words ringing in my ears as we head to center ice.
If she’s your girl…
I frown as we run through our drills. I wish winning Harper over came as naturally.
Practice is pretty smooth, for a change. Noah hogs the puck a little more than usual, but I’m playing better than ever. I’m full of a weird combination of emotions—frustration at Harper’s nonanswer, pride at fixing something for her. It fuels me through practice, and I manage a sick hook-around move I’ve been practicing for weeks. I’m still working on my breakaways, but Dad assures me they come with practice as you hone your instincts.
And maybe Dan’s coaching has something to it. The guys who don’t normally get as much playing time are visibly improving. Alex is faster and sharper than ever, even getting a goal past Sam during our scrimmage. Patrick’s passes are getting more precise, and a little extra competition from the new guys means Brady’s giving his last season everything he’s got. Dan’s even spending more time with the JV team than Red ever did, and I bet some of those new recruits are gonna be ready to move up to varsity before we know it.
It’s definitely an adjustment to skate with new lines, but today, for the first time, I wonder if we might manage the learning curve. When Dan blows the whistle to end practice, I’m flushed and grinning. I needed a good session. Harpermight not want to give me the time of day, but I’m still a hockey player, and a damn good one.
She’d have to be impressed if she saw me today. I imagine her whispering“I was wrong. You deserve all the praise you get”in that midnight-soft voice from the party. Even the fantasy makes me glow with pride.
