Later: Minnes

-

: NORTHBRIDGE UNI

McCarthy

ne before the big game next month, on the nigh

vs Saint Spurs. Onl

the goddamn puck. My eyes are locked on it as I body check Norman to get it. M

s before going down, but he

a new opponent. Avan-left-wing, my partner. But today is different. I'

yells from the sideline

say under my breath, lifting my eyes to the offen

ts, holding his own so brillia

sho

he puck. He picks up pace. I fake an attack with my stick-so fast. He reacts, ready

ate down the ice

Gale echoes f

n his armor, slams his gloves together as he goes down in fr

Russo ye

t at the puck. But I switch hands even faster

too

ng. Even on the ice, sweat runs down my face, back, and chest, but I don't lose con

one is just thr

iew. He knows my moves-the m

his' book of Hockey:

into the ice, stopping. They fly ahead while

Russo sp

rd them, eyes glued to the blue line. As they race for my puck, I make a quic

impossible to switch positions. Bruno predicts my targ

sing the puck to the

sh

enc

ep br

net tr

le shouts. "Goo

slowly pushing my lips up to a

kes his head with an impressed smile on h

stretching my hand to him. "Becaus

gloved hand with his.

arth

to see my teammates flying toward me,

re your nipple covers

all that luck," I answer, slapping my free hand against

re's only one of it in the world, and it was signed by one of the hockey legends we went to watch in NJ. Couldn't stop thinking about her, so I

e covers as he breaks the hug. "We've still got a bunch

kating toward the sideline for a break bef

" Coach takes it upon himself to remind me the minute

ter bottle while yanking off my helmet. And immediat

d that's how you'll defea

s," I object. "Not me. I'm

me as he turns to the othe

. And my mom's the CEO of the company, and the first daughter of Northbridge University hockey legend, Harrold Hozier-my grandfather. He retired early and turned into a business titan. My older half-

n elite hockey player-not bragging; records and stats show it-

e I empty my bottle and begin taking off my

icks his left eyebrow and raises his shoulde

a seat behind the players' bench, take off my skates, and retrieve my phone from my crossbody bag. My thumb flicks across the

rom my brot

on your birthday? Do I hav

an back and ta

r. Stay busy. And I might no

ebrating? Pigs will fly. Your gf's probabl

be. Don'

ou shou

g at his message as a weigh

me to see it as a privilege. Maybe it is. I think Rissa is beautiful and sexy and amazing; she's the most popular girl on campus, and we look so good together. So freaking good. Her

get to fu– whoever we wanna, then we get back together, and we keep going, rinse and repeat. I'm not sure if t

a plan and a party location. I'll shu

sponse: {How about fi

have to find? A

s in those tiny denim shorts, the dangerously sheer top she'd boldly worn that screamed for my attention the moment I walked into the club, how she'd muttered her reques

my head and mutter, "It's all in the past,

Shut down the city ins

s: {S

s are gonna wanna lay claim on our fu–ng den again." Russo's ir

strong legs for another year," Clark laughs, earning a slap

ap

y from my phone, s

rink shared for two more semeste

skaters myself. My jaw tighten

hor's

MMC's of my two previous books: 'Sold To The Possessive Billionaire In A Suit' and 'Ma