IER'

re, alone on the rink with a beating heart, u

it was from something different, somethin

repeated quietly

issa

eth, the next she was blushing. Then she hit he

at? And most important

the last puck, and shot

lac

ouldn't have teased her. But honestly, I lik

aise a little whenever I call her

could score a game-winning goal and she'd just nod and skate off, like nothin

der her skin, and I wan

y gloves and pul

whenever I was alone, I shouldn't be d

in the bad way, in the pulling at th

fingers were already typing o

tats, mostly. An highlight ca

Into Men's League". Another call

e 'ice queen' but seeing a part of that ice br

ush, I'm not sure I could take the picture off m

lays-clean passes, tight de

rviews, no social posts,

. No dumb TikToks.

name I should've never b

d shoved it back

ister. My girlfriend's sister and this? Was p

d and lef

r before I knocked. "There you are!

and some kind of floral shampoo. She pulled back just enough to l

" I said, keeping it casual.

Oh how I love being in your

kissed her foreh

me a little too

my hands into her s

und my waist. "You

"You say tha

oked my chest. "MVP and trus

too," I said before

linked. "Ye

eck. "I mean... she's fast.

er," Katrina sai

cleared my throat. "I'm

e was

e faltered

arm around her, "You don't have

small nod. "I

r chin gently

t now. People notice her more. They look at her

e harder tha

the world owed her attention and acted like a real queen but

She looked

ou, you're beautiful, smart and intelligent. I'd never

e said, half-laugh

I d

el sheets. Her leg was over mine, her head on m

I asked, trying to pull her ou

just a girl who plays hockey, nothing more." Th

say. What should I have said 'i don't think

to say to someone who was already feeling

ing asleep. And I should've been

lier. The way Melissa looked under the soft arena lights. Th

e? What's wrong with me? In bed with on

sig

smiles, a complete grumpy

manages to interest me,

elissa was cold, very cold. You couldn't ign

g the very space she occupies. Espec

essly, I was almost tempted to pick my ph

going to see that blush, none of

and I'm sure this would be the s

g and snuggled closer, her

ou," she

" I said softly,

ame out from my mouth a moment ago felt like

I stop thinking about