Page 63 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Grayson
TRISHA STRATFORD
I never thought I’d say this
but please tell my daughter to stop texting me and have fun
GRAYSON
haha I’d love to promise you that but we both know how stubborn she can be
TRISHA STRATFORD
I won’t ask for a miracle
GRAYSON
speaking of miracles was I right?
TRISHA STRATFORD
miracle indeed, you were!
GRAYSON
hell yeah! My first plot twist that I’ve guessed
I knew her uncle was shady the second he was introduced
TRISHA STRATFORD
I didn’t see it coming
GRAYSON
is there a second book?
TRISHA STRATFORD
sitting on my bedside table waiting for you to read to me
GRAYSON
can’t wait
B ella won’t stop pacing.
And I can’t stop staring at her.
“You’re going to give me vertigo,” I drawl as I flop onto the only bed in the room. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t internally cheering over the bed situation.
Her head snaps my way, a glare gracing that gorgeous face. “Then stop watching me.”
“We’ve already been through this, Blaze. I can never look away.”
Her steps falter, that glare softening before she slaps it back up and points a finger in my direction. “You’re sleeping on the floor.”
“The fuck I am.”
Her eyes widen, and I can practically see the smoke coming out of her ears.
“And why not?” She stomps her foot. Actually stomps her foot.
“Because I’m not that much of a gentleman, and something tells me you don’t actually want me on the floor.”
She turns to begin her pacing again and I swear I hear her call me a cocky hockey player under her breath.
Of course I’d sleep on the floor if she was uncomfortable, but I know she isn’t. She’s pacing like a bull who's seen red because she’s still fighting her feelings for me.
I suppose that does make me a cocky hockey player, but it makes sense now after learning about her dad. She has locked her heart behind a vault, but I think if I push with just the right amount of pressure, she’ll open the door for me.
But one thing is for certain, I need to be consistent.
She stops abruptly in front of me, lifting her chin. “Fine, but we make a pillow wall. ”
I smirk. “Whatever you want, Blaze.”
Her jaw unhinges. “Clearly not . You just told me no a moment before.”
My brow lifts in challenge, despite the slight heat spreading across my cheeks. “Only because I know it’s not what you really want.”
She waves her hands in the air. “Don’t you have practice or something?”
“Yep.”
“Well, off you go then. Shoo.”
“Are you shooing me like an animal?”
“Act like an animal and I’ll treat you like one.”
Standing off the bed, I grab my gym bag and call over my shoulder, “What happens if I like you treating me like an animal?”
“As your assistant, I’d have a duty to have you institutionalized.”
Opening the door, I pause to look at her, loving the way her cheeks are slightly flushed and her eyes are filled with warmth.
“We both know you’re more than just my assistant.”
I close the door on a wide-eyed Bella, smiling at the sound of her voice as she curses.
I’m going to make this woman fall for me, even if it’s the last thing I do.
The image of Bella’s flushed cheeks and wide eyes stay with me all through our pre-game skate. In the lockers as we get ready. Even as I skate onto the ice with the arena chanting, “IceHawks.” All I can think about is her .
It’s a miracle I’ve played as well as I have. The guys in the locker room always talk about who’s distracting them and how it fucks with their heads, but I seem to be the opposite. Even just knowing Bella is in the arena watching me, cheering me on, urges me to play the best I can.
I’m like a kid again at my weekend skates trying to impress my parents.
I want Bella to be proud of me.
My thoughts of Bella snap away as the player who I have been dreading seeing from Michigan Bulls skates past, spitting, “Got any more love declarations for us tonight, Crawford?”
Keeping my eyes forward, I ignore Chase as he skates near me again.
Prick.
Chase mother fucking Montgomery. The sexist, cheating pig who is up for my spot on the team.
My temper flares. Chase has always been a foul-mouthed player.
I’ve just never had it turned toward me before.
I’ve never given players anything to talk shit about.
They tried all the general insults with my mom and family but it never sunk in.
Kieran skates past me as the player throws another insult my way. Ice sprays across my leg as Kieran stops beside me. “Just ignore him. They’re amping up the lip because they’re panicking.”
“They’re panicking because they’re losing. They should spend their energy skating, not shit talking.”
Kieran shrugs, a grin spreading. “Sometimes dipshits never learn.”
“Facts.”
Kieran and I settle into the zone as the puck drops, the referee’s whistle blows, and we shoot off. The twin devils are at play as we charge the ice. Michigan once again can’t get their defensive shit together to stop us.
This is the easiest play-offs I’ve ever played. What the hell is going on with their defense?
I skate left, Kieran just behind me, not too far away that I never lose sight of him out of the corner of my eye. And like the idiots Michigan are because their ego and anger are getting the better of them, they set their sights on me .
I’m about to take a hit to the board when I quickly flick the puck behind me.
The pain that explodes through my body as I’m slammed into the board by not one but two players makes my teeth rattle and black spots spark in my vision. It’s worth every moment, though, as that buzzer blares in the arena, alongside Kieran’s distinctive whoop and howl.
I’m smiling wide as I look up at the board to see ten seconds on the clock with a score of 4-1.
We annihilated them.
I push off the board, my body letting me know that I’m going to feel that hit later. Chase skates past me again, bumping his shoulder into mine as he spits at my feet.
“Let’s hope you don’t kill another loved one. Would be a shame to lose that pretty face of hers.”
I turn to him slowly. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”
He holds his arms out to his sides. “You fucking heard me. Maybe make sure she buckles her seatbelt before?—”
He doesn’t finish the sentence.
Because in the next breath, I see red.
My gloves are off, my helmet flying. His head snaps to the side as I tackle him to the ice and make blood spray.