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)
To River.
I swear under my breath, realizing that he managed to get away from me while I was focused on the other player.
My blades dig into the ice as I take off, attempting to catch him, but it’s too damn late. I’m not even close enough for a back check.
He swoops in front of the net before Ryder can get there and scores another goal.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
The horn blasts throughout the arena before echoing in my ears. River grins around his mouthguard as he points to the girl in the stands.
When his gaze settles on mine, he smirks. “Better luck next time, McKinnon. Looks like Sabrina wasn’t the only thing I stole from you.”
My vision goes red as I slam him against the boards for a second time.
River gets knocked off his skates and hits the ice with a thud. Even though the sound is satisfying as hell, it does nothing to assuage my fury. He scrambles to his feet before taking a swing.
Now I’m the one who’s smiling.
Until his gloved fist connects with my helmet and sends my head careening to the left. My teeth snap, sinking into the mouthguard as I lunge.
A whistle gets blown as players from both teams pry us apart.
“You’re a fucking asshole!” River growls.
I do the only thing I can and grin.
One of the refs stabs a finger in my direction. “In the box you go, McKinnon.” Then he looks at River. “You too.”
“What?” His incredulous voice escalates. “He started it!”
“Doesn’t matter,” the other ref says before skating away.
The Rattlers coach has a few choice words with the refs, arms flailing, but it doesn’t change the outcome.
I glance at the blonde on my way to the penalty box.
Her wide eyes stay pinned to me the entire way.
It’s exactly where I want them.
4
Willow
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to stick around and wait for River?” I cajole Holland.
She gives me an are-you-cray-cray look. “Consider yourself lucky that I came to watch the game at all.” She sends a sidelong glance toward my mother. “You know there’s only so much of Becks I can handle, and I’ve reached my quota for the year.”
My gaze reluctantly resettles on Mom. She’s still foaming at the mouth that River was sent to the penalty box at the end of the game for a fight he didn’t provoke.
“Oh, come on. She’s not that bad.” Even as I say the words, I know they’re a lie.
Holland snorts. “Um, yeah, she is. And we both know it. At some point, you’ll need to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with her. The woman has to cut the cord and take a giant step in retreat. For both of your sakes.”
My shoulders sink under the heavy weight of her comment. Holland isn’t telling me anything I haven’t secretly mulled over a million times before. The more I try to spread my wings, the harder Mom doubles down and hovers, refusing to hand over the reins to my own life. It makes me want to scream.
When I fail to respond, she says, “I’ll see you back at the townhouse, all right?”
I nod. “Yup.”
With one final wave, Holland takes off, navigating her way through the thick crowd. After she disappears around the corner, I join my parents to wait for my brother. Other than the fight at the end of the third period, he had an amazing game.
We chat about school and the tutoring center until River walks out of the visiting team’s locker room, freshly showered. A grin flashes across his face when he sees us.
Dad claps him on the shoulder. “You had a great game.”
“Thanks. Coach said there were a few scouts in the stands.” His eyes darken. “Hopefully that jackass McKinnon didn’t ruin it for me.”
That’s enough to wipe the smile from Mom’s face. “Every time you two play against each other, there are issues. Why can’t he just let—”
“You were on fire,” I cut in before the conversation can go off the rails. We all know why Maverick McKinnon has a bone to pick with River. Even if Mom doesn’t want to acknowledge it. “I’m sure they were impressed.”
My twin’s expression softens. His first love has always been hockey, and I can’t imagine that ever changing. “Thanks, sis. Glad you were able to make it.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“Are you hungry?” Dad asks. “We can get some dinner before heading back home.”
River shakes his head. “Nah, a few of the guys were talking about grabbing something to eat. You don’t mind if I go with them, do you?”
“Of course not.” Mom glances at her watch. “If we hurry, we can catch the news.”
River flicks a glance my way. “Any interest in coming out to celebrate with us?”
I blink, thrown off by the unexpected offer. He usually doesn’t invite me out to party with his teammates.