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Every single action I took that fall was focused on recovery.

I delayed all things related to college so I could solely focus on getting back on the ice as soon as possible.

My days consisted of PT appointments, work outs, and dumping protein shakes down my throat.

I meticulously followed my doctors’ directions, but I was starting to lose my patience because they still hadn’t given me the green light to skate full-force yet.

So when Mer asked the group chat if Ali and I wanted to meet up in Toronto to watch the boys, I decided I earned a weekend off and said yes. And deep down, I wanted to see Richard.

Ali texted a couple minutes later: Yes, I’m in. I need a weekend away from Mark lol.

That was an interesting response. Ali was still training back at Centre Ice where her boyfriend, Mark, was coaching hockey.

Mark was a couple years older than Colt, Kappy, and JP, so they only vaguely knew each other.

I met Mark a handful of times, but I always sensed he was a bit controlling of Ali.

Her text kind of confirmed something was off.

It sounded like all three of us needed this weekend.

_______ _

The boys were living on the first floor of an old house, which was modified specifically for billeting hockey players.

JP, Kappy, and Colt all had their own small bedrooms, and then they shared a bathroom, living room, and tiny kitchenette.

An elderly couple, their “billet family”, lived on the second floor and made meals for them a couple times a week and cheered them on at some of the games.

Pulling up to the house, I was practically shaking with excitement to finally see everyone again.

Mer ran out of the house at the same time I exited my Range Rover, and she basically body slammed me with a hug.

“I missed you!” When she pulled back, she had to wipe tears forming in her eyes.

“Don’t cry!” I said, fighting back my own emotions.

“You’ll ruin your makeup, and it looks perfect!

” Her blue eyes popped with a little bit of sparkly eyeshadow and winged eyeliner.

She had her dark hair pulled back in a braid that ended in a messy bun, and she wore leather leggings and a dark-wash jean jacket with Colt’s last name and number stitched to the back.

She laughed while fanning her face with her hands. “Ali should also be getting—ope! There she is!” She pointed at the jeep turning onto their street.

Ali waved from the driver’s seat. She pulled up to the front of the house and jumped out of the car without even shutting it down, then she came running at us with her arms stretched out for a hug.

She had a beanie over her long blonde hair and wore a hoodie with a hockey lace as the drawstring, baggie jeans, and converse tennis shoes.

While Ali had a bangin’ body—the girl practically had a six pack and the best glutes at Centre Ice—she always hid her curves with baggy, comfy clothes.

“We should’ve coordinated outfits,” I said, frowning down at my tight skirt, off-black tights, and boot heels. “You guys are dressed for the game, I dressed for going out. And now I’m going to tower over you two.” I eyed my car, which still had my suitcase in it. “Maybe I should switch shoes.”

“No way.” Mer’s eyes widened with shock. “You look perfect, and your legs look a mile long in those, don’t you dare change. ”

“Okay, but—”

“Ahh!” Ali released a shriek as her feet went flying up and her upper body went slamming down on the snowy driveway.

“I told Colt they needed to get salt for this driveway!” Mer yelled as she grabbed Ali’s elbow to help her up.

“It’s okay, not the driveway’s fault,” Ali said with a sigh as she brushed off her butt. “And in his defense, it’s still only November.”

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “How does one land a triple lutz, but can’t walk in a straight line without falling?” I swear, the girl could trip on air.

Ali just laughed as she threw her arms around us. “I miss you at home, Piper.”

Home. She was right. Centre Ice was our home. My heart ached to go back, but it wouldn’t be the same anymore. Not without Richard there.

“Your hair is getting so long,” Mer said, which was true, her dirty-blonde hair almost touched her butt. “You should wear it down more often, it’s so pretty. And your makeup is on point today.”

“Ugh, thanks, Annie begged me to do it. She was practicing competition makeup and said I was the perfect canvas.” That was actually pretty convenient for Annie, seeing as the two of them were twins.

“Mark was all pissy about it because I don’t usually wear any.

” She rolled her eyes, then mimicked him, saying, “ Who are you trying to impress out there, huh? ”

Mer and I made eye-contact with each other, confirming we were both thinking the same thing: that Mark had some major red flags.

“Don’t let him dictate your life,” I told her. “Do what you want.”

“Oh, I know.” A sheepish smile played on her face. “That makes him sound bad. He loves me, he’s just stubborn about certain things.”

“Okay, but you let me know if he needs a talking to.”

“You’re offering?” She gave me an amused grin.

“Um, yes, of course.” I flicked the end of my ponytail off my shoulder. “I’m not called Piper the Viper for nothing.” I shot her a wink, making her laugh.

________

When the puck dropped at the boys’ game, I was too distracted to watch because I was shocked at how many people filled the stadium.

That was the first time I realized they weren’t really our Centre Ice boys anymore. The days of them being ours were over because they weren’t the troublemaker kids who loved pranking each other and cackling loudly through the rink hallways anymore. They were close to the NHL, and they were good .

Watching them from our upper-bowl seats, I could tell they were going to be famous, and while that was great for them, my chest ached with a little bittersweetness.

“Wow,” Ali said, breaking into my thoughts. “I didn’t realize they had so many fans. People are actually wearing their last names on their jerseys.”

I snorted. “I’d love to tell them, hey, just FYI, Kappy’s pre-game bathroom break smells up an entire rink.”

“And Colt snores louder than fifty old men put together,” Mer added with a giggle.

“And JP hacks and coughs for like a full hour in the mornings after he wakes up,” Ali said.

I side-eyed Ali and struggled to keep a grin in check. “How do you know what JP sounds like when he wakes up?”

Her face immediately flamed up. “Ope! All three are out!” she said, definitely trying to distract me.

Richard and Colt surged into the offensive zone while JP replaced a defenseman on the blue line. I shook my head wryly because Richard’s jersey looked a little dingy compared to the rest of the guys’ white jerseys, almost like it had permanent sweat stains.

“I think we should buy Kappy some new laundry detergent,” Ali snickered. “I wonder if that jersey has ever seen the inside of a washing machine.”

I smirked, but it quickly turned into a grimace.

I was so used to seeing Richard’s number 14 jersey zooming into the corners, sacrificing his body for the puck, but today, he was a beat late, almost like he was afraid of fully committing.

I couldn’t entirely blame him because this league was rougher, and the guys were bigger.

But still…avoiding the corners was a bad look, especially to scouts.

Mer, who was sitting on the other side of Ali, gasped loudly when Colt barreled into the boards to check a guy.

“Why does he have to go out of his way to hit that hard? Doesn’t he know they’re gonna get his number and dish it back?

” Mer asked with wide, scared eyes. “He promised me no fighting tonight.” She started scratching at her already blotchy neck.

Mer developed a nervous condition from skating that made her neck erupt in hives every time she was anxious.

“He’s a big boy, he’ll be fine,” Ali told her with an encouraging nod, but I could understand where Mer was coming from.

The next shift out, Colt interrupted an opponent’s pass at center ice and took off with the puck to the net.

Kappy sped to catch up with him to make it a two-on-one.

But when Colt slid the puck over to him, instead of shooting, Kappy froze for a second before hastily passing it back.

Only problem—Colt was going too fast and already passed the goalie.

He tried to shoot at an odd angel, but it was too late, and the goalie easily stopped the shot.

Colt crashed into the boards, and a second later, an opposing defenseman plowed into him— after the whistle—making Colt’s helmet fly off.

Instead of reaching for his helmet, Colt ignored the ref blowing his whistle and started swinging at the guy who hit him.

The crowd went wild as Colt and his opponent tipped onto the ground, their fists still swinging.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the guys on the ice to get involved. Kappy started brawling with a guy just to be clobbered from behind by another opponent. JP was there in a flash, pulling the new guy away from Kappy and smashing him in the helmet.

“Get him, JP!” Ali hollered, throwing her own fist in the air.

“Oh my God.” Mer covered her face. “He doesn’t have a helmet. I can’t. I can’t watch.” She was practically shaking like a leaf. “Tell me when it’s over.”

A couple seconds later, the three refs finally had things under control. One ref held the back of Colt’s jersey while he escorted him to the penalty box. Of course Colt was still chirping and smirking at his opponent the whole way across the ice.

“Thank God,” Mer whispered. “I can breathe for two minutes.”

Ali laughed. “Pretty sure you’re supposed to be upset when he gets a penalty.”

Mer shook her head and scratched her neck. “I wish they gave him a five minute.”

“Let’s go to the concession stand, yeah?” I asked. Mer’s nerves needed a break.