“Fuck, Vinny,” I growled. “I said it doesn't matter.”
“Alright. Sheesh.” Vinny rolled his eyes.
The door swung open and Coach charged into the dressing room to rally his troops. “Game time, boys. Let's do this.”
***
First five minutes of the game.
“I'm open, Vinny!” I shouted, tapping my stick blade on the ice. “Slot, slot!”
Vinny heard and sent a no-look pass from the corner to me—in the slot. As the puck arrived, I dropped to my knee and leaned into the shot. The puck rocketed off my stick the second it arrived, a laser placed right where I wanted it—glove side high. Which just so happened to be the Boston goalie's weakness.
But the goalie—my old teammate—slid across the crease with his glove held high. He never even saw my shot. But he didn't need to; the puck blasted into the trapper of his gloveperfectly.His arm bent back with the sudden impact of my shot, and he looked as surprised as everyone else did when he saw the puck still resting in his glove.
That lucky fucker.
The Colorado crowd groaned. Taking an early lead there would've been huge, and everyone knew it.
I shook my head as I skated back to the bench.So damn close.
With the play stoppage on the ice, it was time for a TV timeout—and that meant it was time for the ice girls to come out and sweep the ice. I looked for Honor. I knew it was her first night in front of the crowd.
Vinny elbowed me. “Who ya lookin' for, captain?”
“Just watching, Vinny.”
“Yeahh, right.”
Me and my line-mates were still gliding our way back to the bench as the first group of girls weaved through us. A sweet, fruity-smelling trail of perfume wafted behind them as they skated past, waving and smiling at the crowd.
Vinny drew a long whiff through his nostrils and elbowed me again. “I never get sick of that smell.”
That's when I spotted Honor, on the far side of the rink, skating with Madison and Cora. Actually, I didn't know how I'd missed her. A golden glow adorned her—her smile, her upright skating posture, really, her entire presence. Normally the new girls seem a little nervous at their first game, but Honor looked like a natural on the ice.
Some of the other girls' strides looked more like they were trying to walk on the ice, rather than skate on it. But damn.Honor could really move. Hell, her stride was like ballet in motion. Smooth, effortless, elegant—yet deceptively powerful. She'd obviously spent a lot of time on the ice in her life.
I leaned up against the bench, waiting and watching for the moment she'd pass by. I wanted to say something to her. Welcome her. Say hi. Something. Make eye contact, at least—give her a wink.
But, as the girls approached, Honor wasn't looking my way at all. I kept waiting for her to sneak me a peek as she neared, but it never, ever came.
“Hi boys!” Madison piped as the girls went by. I knew she was staring right at me, trying to get my attention. But I kept my eyes on Honor.
Madison brushed right by me, adding huskily, “Hi Hunter.”
Still, my eyes stayed on Honor. Who didn't say anything to me. Who didn't even look my way. She went right past me, happily smiling at the crowd instead.
Her rejection put a spark of indignation in my stomach.Hey, what the hell?What kind of treatment was that? Do a girl a favor, and she acts like you don't exist.
Once Honor and the girls zoomed past us, every last head on the bench turned, as we stared at the girls' behinds.
“Damn,” Vinny squawked. “Love it when they wear those yoga pants. Godblessthe person who convinced all these women that yoga pants are a legitimate fashion item.”
From the bench, a Canadian-accented chorus of like-minded, grunts agreed.“Got that right, bud.”“Uh huh.” “Oh yeah.”
“Hey, who's the new girl?” Iggy asked, pointing his gloved finger at Honor.
“I dunno,” Vinny answered him. “But look at that. She canskate. Got a great ass, too. Damn—look at that butt, boys! Mmm!”
