Page 126 of Devious Obsession
Aspen sits off to the side, her feet on the back of the seat in front of her. She’s not looking at the ice, but she’s impossible to miss. Her dark hair is fanned out over her shoulders. She’s wearing her jacket and a fuzzy blue scarf.
She’s alone.
Why did she come?
“O’Brien!” Coach yells. “Get your head out of the clouds!”
I snap to attention. Most of the team is staring at me from near the wall. Coach must’ve given an order while I was fixating on Aspen—no surprise there.
Jacob claps me on the back. “No worries, Coach,” he calls. “O’Brien can help me demonstrate this move.”
I raise my eyebrows at him, but he just grins. It’s a bit manic, and I have a feeling this is going to hurt. With a sigh, I go where he points me. Miles stays in the goal, at the ready. I flex my fingers and adjust my grip on my stick.
Sometimes being a defender sucks. Jacob was the starting defenseman with me last year, so he knows the ropes.
Now, he winks and controls the puck in front of him, then comes charging at me. I bite my mouth guard and skate forward to meet him. He dips his shoulder and slams into me, knocking me flat on my back.
It happens too fast.
One minute he’s in front of me, the next he’s faking a shot at Miles and then putting the puck in the net.
Silence from the rest of my teammates.
And then Jacob looms over me, and he offers his hand.
I swat it away and rise on my own. I punch his arm.
He skates out of reach, grinning at me. “What’s wrong, O’Brien?”
“You asshole,” I hiss, tearing off my helmet. It rolls away on the ice. I drop my stick next and shed my gloves. “What the fuck was that?”
I glance over at Aspen again. She’s staring at me.
Jacob shoves me. I whirl back around, surprised that he’s even in my face.
“Get your head in the game.”
“It’s fucking practice.” I swing at him.
He grabs me by the front of my practice jersey and yanks me closer. He shakes me back and forth like a freaking rag doll.
I punch him as hard as I can.
His head snaps around, his grip loosening.
Coach is suddenly between us, pushing Jacob away and forcing me in the opposite direction. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” he screams at me. “Get out of my fucking sight.GO!”
I circle around Coach, too pissed to even say anything, and collect my helmet, stick, and gloves from Knox. I hurry off the ice and into the locker room, throwing my helmet into my locker with a short yell.
Fuck.
I pull out my phone and text Aspen.
Me
I’m hunting you tonight, sweetheart. Better run.
Don’t think hiding will work—I’ll find you either way.
