I shifted my weight and tapped my fingers against my thigh, trying to ignore the fact that he’d just helped me without hesitation. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
“You didn’t have to,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’m not a complete jerk, you know.”
I noticed the way his brow furrowed when he was serious. I was distracted by his hands, calloused from years of holding a hockey stick.
We stood there for a beat. He wasn’t smirking. I wasn’t snapping. It wasn’t nothing, but I didn’t know what it was. And I wasn’t about to overthink it.
Instead, I forced myself to look away, pretending the moment hadn’t happened.
“Thanks,” I said grudgingly.
He smirked, the moment passing as quickly as it had come. “Don’t mention it, sis.”
I cleared my throat and pointed toward the row of metal water bowls. “If you’re trying to be useful, they all need fresh water before closing.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. Just grabbed the jug and got to work.
I kept going about my end-of-day tasks—stacking bowls, wiping down counters—but I kept finding myself glancing his way. He moved from kennel to kennel with surprising care. At one, he crouched low and read the name off the placard. “Daisy,” he said. “You look more like a Niblet to me.” He scratched behind her ears, then poured in the water. “There you go, Niblet. Stay hydrated.”
Another dog barked at him through the bars. Colton grinned. “Chill out, champ. It’s just water, not steak.”
He talked to every single one of them. And not for show—there were no cameras, no audience. No one to see this version of Colton Hayes. Just him, crouching and murmuring to dogs like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He was supposed to be the screw-up—the one who only cared about himself. But the way he treated the dog surprised me.
I had a bad feeling this wasn’t the last time Colton Hayes would surprise me. And I wasn’t sure I liked that at all.
Chapter four
Colton: Challenge and Chemistry
Iwas halfway through practice when I spotted Riley walking into the rink. Her gaze flickered over the ice. She looked out of place in her jeans and hoodie, surrounded by uniforms, whistle-wearing coaches, and guys who looked like they lived in gym gear. She stood near the rink's edge, shifting her weight slightly like she was already regretting being here.
The rink buzzed with the sharp hiss of blades slicing through ice and the crisp crack of pucks striking the boards. Somehow, Riley’s presence cut through the noise. I skated over to the boards, grinning as Coop, my teammate and former college nemesis turned friend, followed closely behind.
“Hey,” I said, leaning on my stick. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
She rolled her eyes. “Your neck of the woods? You’ve been here a week, Colton. Don’t get too comfortable.”
Coop laughed, clearly enjoying the banter. “Who’s this?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“This is Riley,” I said, gesturing to her. “Ryan’s little sister. She’s my… babysitter.”
Riley shot me a glare. “I’m not your babysitter. I’m your handler.”
Coop chuckled, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you, Riley. I’m Coop. Good luck dealing with this guy.”
“Thanks,” she said, shaking his hand. “I’ve been told that a lot.”
I smirked, leaning closer to Coop. “Careful, man. She’s got a bite worse than her bark.”
Riley’s eyes narrowed. “And you’ve got a mouth worse than your reputation.”
Coop laughed again, clearly entertained. “I like her,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “You’re in trouble, Hayes.”
***
After practice, Coop cornered me in the locker room. “So,” he said, his tone teasing. “What’s the deal with Riley?”
