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She was standing in the back line, to the left, in skintight black leggings, with a little black-and-green dress on top, the Hellions’ logo emblazoned on her chest. Her long hair was tied up in a bun. She stared across the ice, right at me, and grinned, and then the short routine started. She moved with fluid grace, bending and swooping and shaking her delectable ass with style. I couldn’t look away. Eve was a great skater. She and her brother had spent hours at Miller’s Pond in winters, when it was frozen over and free to skate on.
The back of her outfit had a player’s name on it. It was tradition for the Ice Girls to have a particular player to “represent.” Eve had Marcus. Just the sight of his name emblazoned across her back was like a red flag to a bull. I wanted it off her now. Turned out I had a trigger I’d never known before; the sight of Eve in anybody’s jersey number but mine.
Blood pounded in my ears. It felt like every single pair of eyes in the place was fixed on her. Not on the ice dancing team, but on Eve specifically. Of course they were. Where else could they look? She was that good.
The short song ended, and the dancers held their final pose. My eyes were glued to Eve, and she finally met my burning gaze.
And smiled.
The little minx smiled at me, like she was winning a point against me. How did she come up with this plan? Had that idiot football player given her the idea? Next time I went after him, I’d just hit him with my truck, reverse over him, and be done with it. Some people were too dumb to live.
I skated in her direction. Her eyes were daring me to come and say something, but just then, the team was getting into their starting positions, and the buzzer sounded.
I’d get her later. I’d make sure of it.
Eve
The Hellions won resoundingly,despite the opposing team putting up a fight. Beckett was on a rampage, and no one could get past him. The number of times he went to the penalty box was impressive, even for him. He’d always been an aggressive player, and he had the build to cause serious damage.
I knew I’d never forget his expression when he’d seen me dance. Just like the game we’d played last night, the thrill was edged with anticipation and a tiny touch of fear. I had no idea what he’d do next, and I liked it. I liked it a lot.
I nearly lost my voice cheering. I had to admit, despite joining the Ice Girls to prove to Beckett that he couldn’t tell me what to do, it was fun being back at the rink and in on the action. I hadn’t realized how important being in the hockey world had been to me, until Asher had moved away and I’d had no direct connection to that world anymore.
It was also a fun challenge to dance on the ice. So far, the girls on the team were friendly, and I hoped that in time, I’d be able to feel part of the group. There was no instant sense of suddenly belonging at HHU, like my teenage mind had imagined therewould be, once I was finally accepted, however. Maybe one day soon, that would come. I was grateful to Coach Eric for helping me join the team when a spot unexpectedly opened up. Though I’d spent nearly the entire day learning some of the routines for the game tonight, and my muscles were screaming at me.
I changed in the women’s locker room and waved goodbye to the rest of the squad. They were going to celebrate at a campus bar, but I was tired and needed to head home. I had my first assignment due for a class in the morning, and I needed to proof it one more time before bed.
I left the sports center’s bright lights and headed along the dark walkways winding toward the Hellions’ dorms. I had my wireless headphones in and was humming along to the music when one started to beep with the low battery warning.Damn it.I never remembered to charge them. Instead of taking out the fussy things, I continued on my way with them in, even after they died.
It was then that I heard them.
Footsteps.
Footsteps right behind me.
I kept going, every instinct in me telling me not to stop or glance back. But the curiosity was too strong. Plus, what if I was just being paranoid and worrying for no reason? Steeling my nerves, I turned around and looked behind me.
The path was empty. Adrenaline fizzed in my blood.Damn it.I was jumping at shadows. Two girls passed by on a different path, giggling loudly, further putting me at ease.
I started forward again, shivering a little in the cool air. I’d showered at the sports center and now I just wanted to get to thedorms. It was always warm and dry there. Fall would soon sweep over Maine, and the nights were already getting chilly. I needed to start wearing a scarf and hat.
I’d been walking for a minute or so when I heard it again. The tap of a footstep falling just after mine. If I hadn’t already been listening for it, I never would have caught it.
I took a step, my foot crunching on the gravel path, and then a moment later, another foot did the same. I glanced over my shoulder. There was no one there. This section of campus had some trees. There were lots of paths crisscrossing each other and about a hundred places to hide.
Was there someone following me in the shadows? Why? The latestHeraldheadline flashed through my mind.
NINE GIRLS DOWN. COULD YOU BE NEXT?
Panicked thoughts raced through my mind. I didn’t stop to consider whether my next move was crazy or an overreaction. I just acted. I burst forward into a run, sprinting along the darkened paths that would lead me to the main campus.
I ran as fast as I could and didn’t look back. I kept running even when I passed a large group of students coming from the opposite direction. The way the campus was laid out, there was another dark and twisty walkway to get past before the Hellions’ dorm came into view.
The skateboarder came out of nowhere. One second I was running, and the next, I was spinning around, trying desperately not to fall on my face when the skateboarder raced by, taking up nearly the whole walkway.
I spun, my momentum carrying me, and barely had time to let out a sharp cry before strong arms closed around my middle. I didn’t fall.
“You need to be more careful with this body, Evie…Don’t forget who it belongs to, and just know that I don’t like people scratching up my things.”
