Page 46 of Heart Check
I can never tell Alex and Ryan. They’d never let me live it down.
“Dawson!” Dan beckons me toward the bench as the rest of the guys funnel toward the locker room to shower and change. “Nice skating today.”
I just duck my head modestly, tucking the compliment away for safekeeping.
“We face Northview in two weeks. A scout for the Chicago Steel is coming to the game.”
My head snaps up. Northview’s name makes flashes of conversation with Dad loop, staticky, through my mind. We’ve all been waiting for this rematch for months. And now a scout’s coming?
“You did great today,” Dan continues. “I know you were discouraged after Washington, but you’re coming back strong.” He nods. “Keep it up and I’ll make sure you get enough ice time to make an impression.”
I push my nerves away, deep into the pocket I created for them when I started playing. I was born for this. I worked hard today and skated well. I’m not going to let my team down—not going to let my talent go to waste. If I bring my A game to Northview, I know we can win.
Another chance. I have another chance. “Thanks, Coach.”
Dan’s eyes widen a little behind his glasses, and that’swhen I realize I didn’t call him Dan, or even Coach Dan.
Just Coach.
I skate off to the locker room with a new lightness. Things are turning around.
And if I can sort out my problems on the ice, I know exactly what problem I want to tackle next.
17.DAWSON
Adrenaline from practice rushes throughmy veins as I head to the restaurant.
Harper can’t act as if nothing happened between us. I’m going to get an answer out of her one way or another, if it’s the last thing I do.
Nerves churn in my stomach at the thought.
“You really need to start showering between practice and your shifts,” Lindsey says without even looking up from the hostess stand.
I lift my arm to sniff in panic. “I did!”
Only then does she look up, taking in my wet hair. She frowns. “Huh. Weird. I could’ve sworn I smelled the rink on you still. But maybe it’s just haunting my dreams. You know,Out, damned spotand all that.”
I frown back. “Don’t mess with me today, Linds, I swear.”
“Oh?” She leans forward over the hostess stand, propping her arms on the edge. Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Does that have anything to do with the way you and Harper have been dancing around each other for the last few weeks?”
Weeks? No, no way. It’s only been a few days since I tookHarper Braedon to that party and she became the one thing I couldn’t stop thinking about.
Hasn’t it?
Lindsey reaches out to pat my arm with a grin. “Don’t worry, Lukey, you smell just fine. She doesn’t have the same trauma around that synthetic, ozone-y smell of artificial ice. Or at least, she doesn’tyet.”
“Lindsey,”I plead through gritted teeth.
Her eyes soften. “Dawson. That girl hasn’t stopped looking at you since you walked through the door today. You almost made her trip over table ten. Just ask her whatever you want to ask her, okay?”
I do my level best not to stare across the restaurant at Harper taking orders. Voice soft enough to deny it later, I say, “What if she says no?”
“Then you took a shot on one of the coolest girls I’ve ever known.” Lindsey shrugs. “Harper’s a badass. It’s not easy to find someone who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to be herself. If I were you, I’d ask her out too. There’s only one way to get an answer.”
I square my shoulders and nod. Lindsey’s right. The only way to score is to take a shot.
With Lindsey’s eyes on me, I weave through the restaurant toward Harper. On the way I pass some people from my English class in the booths by the windows, and one of the girls waves to me with a smile. “Hey, you coming to Skate Night Friday?”
