e P

rnoon. The Br

. I told myself that three times, while stubbornly ignoring the fact that I ha

d onto the ice wearing a dark gray hoodie and black track pants, every phone in the facility tilted in his

en off-duty, people stopped what they

d pushed off into an aggressive

mist

into the ice. His feet flew out from under him, and two hundred pounds of varsity capt

Hayes was leaning on his stick, howling, while Be

glass right at me with an embarrassed, devastatingly hand

with careful, basic strides. I deliberately kept my balance flat and unremarkable, mo

'?" I asked, stopping beside

and intense, his pale blue eyes holding a heat that made my breath

its rhythm. I tightened my core, pulling him up. His immense weight tilted t

eeks. "Stop leaning forward like you're charging a defender. Stand tall. Keep you

kates, his warm breath stirring the hair

s just driving an ov

ed laugh, the deep vibration

t on earth a

voice sliced thr

in matching designer athletic sets. She skated right up to Julian, familia

ghts! Why are you wobbling aroun

hers, taking half a step toward me. "

on my nose, down to my faded sweater and scuffed rental boots-measuring my bare face and total lack o

ulian, you got the four-eyed creek girl who digs in mud to coach you? Can

Seriously, can she even skate without those heavy specs slipping down h

the barrier in front of me, her red c

, her green eyes blazing. "And her four-eyed brain has more pro

"Cute hair, Bright. Did you dye

d I'll dye the ice

eeve, firmly pulling her back before she cou

rms like a ringmaster. "Hey! Since everyone's here, let's make it interesting!

s screamed, and people in the stan

she looked at me. "Count me in. What

a step back toward the exit gate. "I came here to coach basic ed

on. "That's what I thought. Good girl. Know

t. They weren't just attacking me; they were reducing my h

The only person in this building who knew

realization cl

a

am captain... then winning wasn't about romance at all. Winning meant I got guaranteed, one-on-one

d computational rescue dis

gleaming with dark, knowing amusement. He took a deliberate step tow

an whispered, offering a devastatingly subtle half-smile. "Wh

as calculating. He was h

"Sage! Look at these plastic vultures! Destro

oke's arrogant face, th

my chest turned into s

ringing clear across the