Page 68 of Icebound

“That goalies don’t get bodychecked?”

I turn back to the blue crease. “Because I’ve been spending way too much time watching hockey when I can’t sleep at night. I’ve picked up on a few things.”

I shift my focus to where Micah’s shouting in Rhode’s face. “Why are they yelling at each other? They should be fighting the other team.”

“Things are heating up on the ice, folks!” the announcer's voice blasts through the stadium's speakers, blending with the crowd's roar. “It seems we've got ourselves some friendly fire here between two teammates.”

“What’s happening?” Gwen waves a foam finger in my face. “Why’s Rhode arguing with him? Aren’t they on the same side?”

“Yeah, they’re being ridiculous. Watch the puck!” I shout over the screaming hockey fans. “The ref’s making some bad calls, so I bet he’s pissed about that. I mean, come on, Thirty-Nine clearly hit his stick above Micah’s shoulders, and the ref didn’t even give him a high-sticking penalty.”

I cup my hands around my mouth, shouting, “Dick!”

Gwen stares at me like I started speaking Spanish, which reminds me I need to start learning more than just the curse words for my fellowship. “Since when do you know penalty calls in hockey?”

“I’ve been watching every game. I was bound to pick up on something.” Rhode blocks another goal, and the stadium’s roar turns deafening. “Woo! Go Thirty!”

I know he can’t hear me, but it looks like he tilts his ear as if he feels me watching. Gwen stares at him with a twinkle in her eyes, but every woman in this crowd is looking at Rhode that way. My stomach knots.

“And Forty-Nine makes a breakaway!” the announcer shouts.

The stadium sucks in a collective gasp of air, but I feel like mine’s the loudest.

The puck shoots across the ice, and Rhode drops to his knees, blocking the shot. I jump from my chair, cheering along with everyone.

“Trem-blay! Trem-blay! Trem-blay!”

As I chant, I can’t stop my eyes from drifting over Rhode’s tall frame. There are no blood or injuries in sight, and even though he’s fine, my shoulders still remain rigid with worry.

Gwen leans over to me, clapping her hands. “Okay, be honest, have you slept with him, and if you have, how good is he in bed? I don’t know if it’s all the gear, but he looks like he’d be amazing. I hear goalies have really good stamina.”

I snap my lips together so an insult doesn’t fly out of my mouth. I don’t think Gwen would do anything with him, but I can’t be sure after everything that happened with Isaac.

I’d never forgive her if she did anything with Rhode. “Stop lusting after my… Never mind, I’m not talking about this with you.”

“I’m not lusting, I’m commenting, and I have Isaac, anyway, but you better get used to everyone wanting him. He’s Rhode Tremblay. The girls in the concession line couldn’t stop talking about his underwear commercial.”

Irritation bursts through me at the thought of all those women flocking to him, but I tamp it down with a forced breath. “They should talk about how he donated to charities last year instead of whether he’s a boxers or briefs guy.”

“You know, it’s cute how you always stand up for him.” Gwen keeps her eyes on the rink, squinting. “Look. They’re fighting again.”

I swing my gaze to the ice. Rhode's in a full-on shouting match with Micah, who's waving his arms faster than the ref. Wyatt rushes over and breaks them apart again, holding them both back by the shoulders as they scream in each other’s faces.

Well, Micah looks like he’s yelling while Rhode seems to be trying really hard not to lose control. I swear I can see the veins straining in his neck from here.

Micah keeps pointing in my direction, but Rhode refuses to look my way. I can’t see much behind his mask, but it seems like he’s fuming.

It’s a good thing they’re in the middle of a stoppage because Wyatt starts ranting like he's giving an angry motivational speech, and points straight at us.

Micah shoves Rhode, and then he pushes him right back, getting in his face before Wyatt forces Rhode back toward the net. I see why they call him the Golden Giant. Wyatt’s a teddy bear, but on the ice, he turns into a grizzly.

I’m imagining Wyatt in full-out Patty-Daddy mode, shouting something like, “You better get back to the net, young man!”

Rhode skates across the rink, never once looking in my direction. Micah waits until Rhode is in the crease before he takes a roundabout way to get into position. Then, he skates past me and Gwen.

He looks like a sweaty warrior in all his gear, but it’s nothing compared to Rhode. Micah stops in front of me, and I quirk my head.

“Um. Hi?” I shout over the glass. “What the hell are you doing?”