Page 91 of Pucked Together

I had bigger things to worry about these days anyway. And I'm a little grateful that I can't remember our falling out.

It was bad enough that I left Cali and moved in with my brother. But with my hormones all over the place and my brain still in a fog, I'd rather forget it and move on.

We didn't say anything else before he put his helmet back on and skated over to the other end of the ice.

I pick up my camera again and aim it toward the ice, and the first photo I snap is one of Ryker, his eyes boring into me from behind his mask. I can't make out what his face is saying, but his body looks tense.

I lower the camera and look at him.

He's still staring at me as the rest of the team runs drills. I'm sure he has a million questions. But he doesn't make any moves. He turns his attention back to the guys in front of him just as Hicks hits a one-timer toward him, and he catches it in his glove.

Something in me stirs. Feelings that I haven't recognized or put words to. But I feel warmth toward the icy goalie in the net.

His eyes shift back to me, and I snap another photo of him. He wanted me to see him catch it. And I smile at him, finally ready to give the man a real chance—to give us a real chance.

Chapter 29

Ryker

"So you're back on the ice?" Row says between bites of his burger. Veggie burger, to be precise. Because any smell of real meat sends Izzy into a puke frenzy.

Keelan stuffs a sweet potato fry in his mouth, "I mean it's about freakin' time. Augie is good, don't get me wrong, but he's not you."

"We've been getting murdered," Hicks says.

"Yeah, I've noticed. Maybe if you actually scored some goals..." I smirk and fries are thrown at me from all angles.

Izzy walks out of her room.

"You ok there, Izzy McGuire?"

She shrugs, but her face is pale, like she just finished throwing up again. I push my chair back and go to her.

"I'm fine, Goalie-zilla."

The boys all look up from their places at the table.

"Did she just say what I think she said?" Fergie asks first.

"Don't get so excited. It's from an article she read about the fight with Sincaid," I clarify.

"You know you're not supposed to be doing that, Iz. Doc says—"

"I know what the doctor says, Keelan. But neither you nor she have lost your memories before, so when it happens to you, please feel free to tell me how to live my life. In the meantime, fuck off." Izzy storms back into her room, slamming the door shut.

Fergie is about to say something when I hold my hand up to stop him.

"I think we should go," says Keelan, picking up his plate. "Thanks for dinner, B."

Hicks gets up next. The three of them look more defeated than they did at the last game they played.

"Hey," I say to Keelan. He looks over at me. "Just give her some time."

He nods and grabs his coat from the back of his chair, and they all shuffle out.

I lock the front door and turn to see that Rowan is already heading back to his casita.

There's music playing from Izzy's room. Soft, instrumental music.