Page 38 of Breaking the Ice

Look at me, branching out and making friends. First a hockey party and now this. Amazing. Maybe this transfer has been good for me. Now that I think about it, I’ve been so busy, I haven’t really missed Eastern Penn at all. I had a few friends from the theater department there who’ve texted, but I’m not a social butterfly. I stayed pretty isolated, even living in the dorms and participating in shows. It’s easy to fade into the background with the theater crowd, and I let myself coast along for three years. I’ve only been at Harrison for a few months, but already it feels different. I’m excited to see Ariana and Vanessa tonight in a way I never was about friends in Pennsylvania.

I wave back and motion for her and Vanessa to come sit next to me. “Hey, guys! I’m so glad you could make it!”

“I’ve never been to a hockey game before.” Vanessa smiles and tucks a strand of her silky blonde hair behind her ear. She doesn’t usually wear it down, and it hangs to her waist. The too-large navy Harrison sweatshirt that she’s swimming in makes her blue eyes pop in her heart-shaped face. She gives me a half-hug as she settles next to me.

“This is my first one, too.” Taking the seat on my other side, Ariana tosses a kernel of popcorn in her mouth and catches it with a triumphant grin. I doubt she owns Harrison gear. Tonight she’s clad head-to-toe in her signature black, but no one cares she doesn’t look like a superfan. I’m just happy she wanted to come. “You’ll have to explain the rules.”

I shrug. “Each team is trying to get the puck in the opponent’s net. It’s a lot like soccer but on ice.”

An over-simplification that would infuriate my father but not the worst parallel for someone who is new to the sport. And he’s not here to witness my sacrilege.

“Sounds good.” Ariana shifts in her seat, playing with a hole in her ripped jeans. I hope she doesn’t get cold in her cropped t-shirt, but if I had her body, I’d probably wear stuff like that, too.

Then I remember how, when I voiced a similar thought out loud, Evan kissed me to prove I’m desirable. My inappropriate feelings for him come racing back. My cheeks heat, and I’m sure they are red.

To distract, I point out things on the ice to Ariana and Vanessa—the blue line, face-off circle, and I explain some basic rules.

“Where’s your dad?” Vanessa cocks her head, her clear blue eyes guileless. At the mention, I’m hit with a weird pang of panic. He doesn’t know I’m here. Not like it matters. But every other hockey game I’ve been to, it’s because I’m the coach’s daughter. I’ve sat with my mom in her favorite spot—center ice, up top so she can see everything.

But I came to this game as a normal college student. Not to see anyone, of course. Just because it’s something to do, and I know some of the guys on the team. It sounded like fun. I’m not here for anyone in particular, of course.

“Um, he’s the one down there with the clipboard.” I point to the bench, then realize all the coaches have clipboards and matching Harrison pullovers. “The oldest one with the gray hair,” I amend.

“And where’s your tutoring friend?” Ariana asks, a sly note in her voice.

I pretend like I don’t hear it. “Evan?”

“Yeah, the absolute hottie.” Vanessa nods, practically drooling.

I narrow my eyes at her, then wave my hand like I don’t care. “I’m sure he’s out there somewhere.”

“Come on, don’t be like that.” Her tone turns whiney. “I can’t tell them apart with their helmets on, and I’m sure you know his number.”

Of course I do, it’s sixty-seven. Plus, his last name, Young, is also on the back of his jersey.

I shrug. “I guess I could get you a program, if you’re so invested.”

Ariana gives my shoulder a playful shove. “Didn’t you go to a hockey party last weekend? Tell us all about it and the players you met. I get you can’t date them, but you could introduce your friends.”

“Let us live vicariously through you.” Vanessa holds her hands under her chin, begging, and I relent with a laugh.

“Okay, that’s Jonas, the captain and Evan’s roommate.” I point to him on the ice. “But don’t get too attached, because that’s his girlfriend.” Hadley is easy to spot at the front of the student section. She is head-to-toe in navy and orange, her face is painted, she has a sign and pom-poms.

“Wow.” Ariana’s voice is dry. “She’s really into hockey.”

“More like really into Jonas, but they are cute instead of nauseating, so it’s okay.” Evan’s unabashed appreciation for my looks has given me confidence to not be jealous or insecure around Hadley, and I’ve gotten to know her a little bit. She’s different from my theater friends, but I like her.

As the game starts, I tell Vanessa and Ariana about some of the other players I’ve met through Evan. For the first time, as I watch, I don’t feel resentful of the team and the time my dad is devoting to these guys, but I’m actually rooting for them to beat the Wolverines.

And when Evan passes to Jonas and earns an assist on the winning goal they score? I leap to my feet and cheer as loud as Hadley.

“Do you guys wanna go wait for the players outside the locker room? I could introduce you.”

The minute the words leave my mouth, I want to stuff them back inside my body and pretend I never uttered them.

To my horror, Vanessa jumps up and down, squealing, and Ariana grins. “Hell, yeah! Bring on the hot hockey players.”

I don’t really know that many guys on the team, so I’m not sure what came over me. But I lead the way through the bowels of the stadium, and we join a group of family members and friends waiting outside the locker room.