Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
My brother hasn’t been the same since then.
I can admit it, even if he won’t.
“Have you tried reaching out to her?”
His lips flatten as he gives his head a slight shake.
Even though Sabrina and I still follow each other on social media, we haven’t spoken in years. I’ve seen pics of her with a few guys, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone serious in her life.
“Maybe it’s time for you to—”
“I don’t want to talk about Sabrina.” There’s a brief pause. “Or Maverick McKinnon. Sabrina is part of my past, and nothing is going to change that.”
Even though it’ll fall on deaf ears, I can’t resist adding, “It doesn’t have to be that way.”
“Yeah, it does. End of story.”
When my fingers brush across my collarbone for a second time and come away empty, I realize that I need to get my necklace back.
The question is how.
14
Maverick
Sweat drips down the back of my neck as I shove into the locker room and throw my stick in the holder near the door. Even though practice ended a few minutes ago, I’m still breathing hard.
It only takes one glance around to realize that I’m not the only one. Coach has been skating our asses off since the loss on Saturday night.
Hey, losses happen.
No one likes it.
But when it’s against our biggest conference rival?
That’s when it becomes unacceptable.
We’ve just given our opponents for the next scheduled game a massive mental boost.
I unsnap the chin strap and yank the helmet off my head before tossing it into my locker and dropping down to the bench to unlace my skates.
Ryder huffs out a tired breath and takes a seat next to me.
As far back as I can remember, we’ve played for the same team. First, house teams, then when we were older, travel teams. I always played up with the older kids, so we were together. The only exception is when Ryder graduated from high school and started college.
I’ve never admitted this to anyone, but my senior season in high school sucked because Ryder wasn’t there skating beside me. When I was on the ice, it felt like a vital part of me was missing. We’ve been teammates for so long that I know the moves he’s going to make before they happen.
Maybe even before he realizes it.
There’s comfort in being able to read someone so easily.
One glance and I understood how the play was going to unfold and where I fit into the schematic.
We were like a well-oiled machine.
Everything fell back into place once I graduated and started at Western the next fall. I’d assumed that we’d coast through the next three years before he signed his contract with Chicago.
“McKinnon, see me before you take off,” Coach calls out, meeting my gaze as he crosses the locker room to his office.
“Fuck, you’ve done it now.” Ryder chuckles from beside me.
I shoot him a dark look before glancing at the frosted glass door Coach disappeared through.
“Any idea what that’s about?” Ryder asks as guys joke and strip off their gear around us before hopping in the showers.
“Nope.”
All right, so maybe that’s not altogether true.
I have the sneaking suspicion that this might have something to do with my shitty English grade.
He already ripped me a new one for getting into it with River after the game on Saturday. I can’t imagine he’s going to bring that up again.
Here’s the thing about Coach—once we’ve discussed a topic, he expects you to take care of it and puts the issue to rest. He doesn’t treat us like we’re a bunch of toddlers in need of constant supervision.
It’s one of the things I like about the guy.
When I sit and stare, lost in the whirl of my thoughts, Ryder bumps my shoulder. “You better get a move on. Don’t want to keep Coach waiting.”
A sigh escapes from me.
He’s right about that.
Better to get it over with.
Ryder and our new coach haven’t always seen eye to eye. It took a few months for their relationship to even out, but it’s much better now. Any time a new coach comes in and shakes things up, there’s bound to be growing pains.
Coach Philips had to break down Ryder to build him back up again so he could elevate his game. As much as I’m going to miss playing with him next year, I’m excited to see what he achieves. It wouldn’t surprise me if he takes the league by storm.
He’s that fucking good.
And I’ll be stuck playing here for another year before moving on to the pros.
That is, if I can get this damn English grade up.
If not…
A shudder slides through me before I force the possibility from my head, unwilling to dwell on it.
Once I’m showered and changed, I rap my knuckles against the door and poke my head inside his office.