Page 25 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“Take the photo down, Stone,please.”

“I don’t see why you’re so out of sorts about a silly little photo, so I’ll get around to it… eventually.” I laugh. “That’s fine, right? I mean, it’s not like I can take it back. It has a life of its own. It went viral. But we can discuss that later. Right now, you’ve got to go.”

I point her in the direction that she came.

She takes two steps and slips.

I manage to snag her arm before she hits the ice on her ass. She jerks out of my hold, muttering about being able to do it herself, and hurries forward.

Well, she tries.

Apparently, her sure-footedness is only connected to her anger, and that’s run its course.

“For fuck’s sake,” I groan. “Up you go.” I grab her by her hips and lift her off the ice.

Her back connects with my chest, and she immediately squirms in my grasp. I skate her to the door fast, skidding to a halt and sending a shower of ice spraying at the ledge.

When I dump her on the mat, she stumbles.

I shake my head at the sight of her, strangely at a loss. I just can’t pinpoint why.

“Foster!” Coach yells. “Work with Maverick on passing drills. The rest of you need to tighten up your shooting.”

I nod to him and head in the direction of Josh Maverick. He’s a damn good player, although there’s nothing he loves more than a fight. It’s why he rarely starts—and nowadays, he ends up kicked off the ice more often than not.

We go to the far side, away from the other players. Through the glass, I find Wren. She’s still fucking here, having taken a seat a few rows up and adjacent to where Maverick and I now practice.

Her gaze is locked on me. And she slowly peels the shirt off, turns it back the correct way, and slides it back on. The display grates on me.Anyonecould’ve just seen that. But she’s so fucking smug I can’t stand it.

Always trying to one-up me. Always trying to put me in the worst spot imaginable.

“Focus,” Maverick orders.

The puck sails past me and slams into the boards.

Wren smiles.

Fuck.

New rule: Wren Davis is not allowed anywhere near the hockey rink.

I glance back at her, and she’s staring down at her phone. Her mouth is open, and I pause what I’m doing just to watch her. Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen her lookthatshocked.

She answers it, rising from the seat and hurrying away.

The puck hits me in the gut, bringing me sharply back into focus. I flip Josh off and let the puck fall to the ice.

“Game on,” I mutter.

CHAPTER11

WREN

The amountof anger I feel is more of a wrath than anything. The air is crackling with rage, and although I’m in hardly any clothing, I’m sweating. My hands shake as I watch Stone skate toward center ice with my nerves in the palm of his hand.

I sigh, flicking my eyes to Evan for a quick second before my phone vibrates. I assume it’s Jasmin to make sure I haven’t flung myself off the side of the building, but when I see the number flashing on the screen, my entire world shifts.

NHCF — State Prison for Men.