Page 42 of Guarded Love

We set our bottles down and slide our gloves back on. Knox gives me a quick fist bump before skating toward center ice. I follow, positioning myself at the blue line.

The rest of practice flies by. It includes more drills, more corrections, more praise and constructive criticism, which is Coach’s style. By the time Coach dismisses us, I’m ready for a shower not only because I need to get this sweat off of me, but I need to ease my sore muscles. After going into the locker room and getting showered and dressed, I quickly realize I’m the first one ready to head out for food. I walk over to where the other guys are still packing their stuff up.

"I'm telling you," Wilder says as he stuffs his practice gear into his bag, "Professor Donovan's exam is going to destroy me. Who tests on the entire semester's material?"

"Every professor ever?" Levi replies, rolling his eyes. "That's literally what a final is."

"Yeah, but he's adding new material too! It's fucked up, bro."

"That's because you missed quite a few of his classes," Knox says, toweling his hair dry. "Can't blame Donovan for your poor attendance."

Wilder flips him off. "I had legitimate reasons."

"Sleeping through your alarm isn't legitimate," Asher chimes in, lacing up his shoes. "Neither is 'the vibe wasn't right today.'"

"You wouldn't understand my process," Wilder snaps as he zips his bag up.

I check my phone, scrolling through notifications while half listening to their conversation. Two emails from professors about final assignments, a reminder about a study group meeting tomorrow, and...an email from Professor Wallace with the subject line: "Puerto Rico Trip - Room Assignments."

I tap it open before I can think better of it.

"Earth to Blaise," Knox's voice cuts through my thoughts. "You still with us for breakfast?"

I lock my phone quickly, shoving it into my pocket. "Yeah, sorry. Just checking something."

"Important?" Knox tosses his bag over his shoulder.

"Just trip details," I say, keeping it vague on purpose.

Wilder raises an eyebrow. "Trip? What trip?"

Damnit. I didn't mean to let that slip. I hesitate as everyone’s eyes are focused on me.

"It's a study abroad thing over winter break," I explain, trying to sound casual. "Political science department. Puerto Rico for a week."

"Puerto Rico?" Knox repeats. “The one Professor Wallace is running?"

"Yeah.” I already know where this is going.

Knox stares at me for a long moment, and I can see the pieces clicking together in his head. "Willow mentioned she was going on a poli-sci trip to Puerto Rico."

The locker room suddenly feels ten degrees warmer. Levi and Asher exchange glances while Wilder's mouth forms a perfect 'O'.

"Did she?" I ask. "Small world."

"Yeah," Knox says slowly. "Small fucking world indeed."

Wilder, never one to read a room, claps his hands together. "Well, this just got interesting! Dalton and Little Sanchez, tropical island?—”

"Shut up, Wilder," Levi cuts him off with a warning look.

"What?" Wilder holds up his hands defensively. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking."

"When were you planning to mention this?" Knox asks, and I can hear the underlying tension in his tone.

I shrug, aiming for nonchalance. "It's just a school trip. And I literally found out last night when I walked into the orientation meeting."

"Wait," Asher interjects, "you just found out yesterday that Willow's going too?"