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Luna turns to me, lowering her voice. “What’s the story with Felicity’s ex?”

I lean back toward her ear. “In a word. Asshole.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

ZACH

Jon’s wide open when I send the puck toward him during our three-on-three practice drill.

It's intense for early pre-season, but Coach Burrows wants to start feeling out the team as soon as possible, especially given the trades that arrived during the offseason.

Jensen is screaming instructions at me—nothing new there—but I feel one length behind the entire team. I’m conscious that these types of drills are especially effective at exposing weak links in the team, and right now, I feel like one of them.

“Alright, wrap it up for tonight, but Evans, I want to see you in my office, stat!”

“Got it, Coach.”

“What do you think he wants?” Jon skates alongside me on the way off the ice.

I grab my Gatorade from the bench. “Likely to ream me out for my game. I was already on his shit list from last season.”

“I wasn’t gonna say it, but you aren’t yourself out there. Wanna talk about it?”

Luna would be screaming“yes”at me right about now. Taking a deep breath, I stop in the player hallway and turn to my best friend. “I think I have a hangover from the hit in New York.”

“As in?”

I run a hand roughly through my hair. “I could’ve died that day.”

His face pales slightly, and I know he’s recalling the hit as it played out, but I have no memory from the moment since I blacked out. “But you didn’t.”

“Another angle and it could easily have been more than my career.”

Jon drops his head between his shoulders and nods. “I get it, man. What do you need from me?”

At this point, I don’t know. “I guess, I just wanted to tell you I’m still trying to work through the effects. I didn’t expect it to impact me like this. It’s like when I’m going in on a player, I’m hesitating for that split second. I’m in my head about what might happen.”

“That’s understandable, but I would talk to Coach. It’s not something you should carry alone.”

“He already thinks I’ve lost my way.”

“Nah, he’s more worried about you than anything. He’ll appreciate the honesty, and you can work through everything. You got this, bro.” He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Felicity’s on a long-distance call with Darcy tonight, so that’ll take three hours.” He laughs. “Want to head back to your place and watch the Dallas footage? First game of the season, might be good to get it in early.”

I scratch at my chin, “I’m meeting Luna here in half an hour.”

“You are?”

“I’m teaching her how to skate, or at least just helping her not fall on her ass every five seconds. She’s never been ice skating before.”

With one hand on the locker room door, there’s a knowing look in his eyes. “Just admit it to yourself already. You’re gone for her.” He low chuckles and shakes his head. “Let me guess, you even bought her skates.”

LUNA

Butterflies swarm my stomach as my Uber pulls into the ice rink’s parking lot. I’m nervous, but at least I can arrive in style. Zach booked me an exclusive ride.

I know this isn’t a date, but it still doesn’t stop me from feeling like a nervous wreck. I’m also about to spend ninety percent of my time on my ass with a guy I can’t stop thinking about. It’s kind of vulnerable and definitely embarrassing.

Walking through the maze of hallways, the rink is easy enough to find using the instructions Zach texted me. He also made sure I had the codes to get in. But as I push through the doors, all the lights are out, and there’s no one here.