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“Well, we won’t be dating at all if I’m any later to his game. Come on.” I grabbed Mia’s hand and dragged her toward the rink. As we finally caught sight of the ice, a raucous cheer rippled through the crowd. I shuddered, and not just because I was beginning to think it might actually be warmer outside. I was not a fan of hockey.
I’d only been to one game before, years ago, but it hadn’t taken me long to realize the sport wasn’t for me. I couldn’t understand why anyone would volunteer to play in a literal freezer. I could never keep track of the puck as it whipped around the ice, and the game itself was so violent. The players and fans both seemed to get more excited for a brutal collision or a fight than they did for a goal. Also, did I mention the cold?
“I miss the sun.”
Mia laughed and hooked her arm through mine. “We’ll make a hockey fan of you yet.”
“Doubtful,” I grumbled, but Mia probably didn’t hear me over the noise of the crowd. The excitement in the arena was electric, and I was sure Jeremy would be relishing the intense atmosphere.
Mia dragged me up into the stands, grinning broadly at a couple of guys who had torn their shirts off and painted the number twenty-three across their chests. She winked at one of them as she went, and the two guys elbowed each other as they waved back.
“Are you here for the game or the eye candy?” I asked.
“Can’t it be both?” There was a wicked glint in my cousin’s eyes, and she tucked her lone streak of pink hair behind her ear as she glanced back at the topless guys. Mia could be such a flirt and was never the least bit afraid of talking to guys. I wished I had half her confidence. I certainly never would have spoken to Jeremy if he hadn’t approached me first.
“You’re terrible,” I told her.
“I know,” she replied with a laugh. The sound was carefree and contagious, and it surprised me that people often commented that we had similar laughs. It seemed like everything else about us was different. Especially our looks. While I had the same deep red hair and pale skin as my mom, Mia was tanned and blonde like hers. I’d only ever seen my aunt in pictures around my uncle Luke’s house. I’d never had a chance to meet her as she’d passed away when Mia and I were both babies. I guessed that was another thing we had in common—we both grew up with only one parent.
When we finally found some free seats, I turned my attention to the game and searched for Jeremy. The players were whizzing across the ice so fast with their faces mostly covered by helmets it was almost impossible to distinguish between them. Sunshine Prep’s colors were white and gold, so I was confused to find one team was in black while the other was in red. I hadn’t been to a Saints game before though, so I wondered if maybe Jeremy’s team was playing in an alternate uniform.
I was shaken from my thoughts as two players collided with a loud thud, sending the crowd wild. One of the players went flying, but the other stayed on his feet. He was wearing the number twenty-three, and I glanced back at the shirtless fans who were delirious with excitement. Clearly this was their favorite player, and it didn’t take long for me to realize why. With his opponent sprawled at his feet, the number twenty-three took off. He glided effortlessly across the ice, weaving between rival players like they weren’t there at all. I knew he was skating at a breathtaking pace, but it almost felt like everything was happening in slow motion and the roar of the crowd seemed to dull around me. As someone who hated hockey, even I had to admit this guy was impressive.
As if to confirm my appraisal, the number twenty-three dodged past one final defenseman and flicked the puck past the goalie. The siren behind the net blared, and the fans around us screamed. They couldn’t get enough of this guy. Even I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him.
“Uh, Violet?”
“Yeah?” Mia’s tone was urgent enough that I managed to pull my eyes away from the game and focus on her.
“What time did you say Jeremy’s game started?”
“At three. Why?”
“That can’t be right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, I hate to tell you this, but we’re not at the Saints game. This is a Devils game.”
“What?” I quickly glanced at the scoreboard, and my heart sank when I read the two team names displayed there. Mia was right. We weren’t at a Sunshine Prep game. Instead, we’d accidentally turned up to watch their biggest rivals, the Ransom Devils.
“This can’t be right,” I murmured. I’d only been living in Sunshine Hills a few months, but I’d heard all about Ransom, the town across the river. While Sunshine Hills was full of large imposing mansions, golf courses, and country clubs, Ransom was more industrial and working class. Ransom High and Sunshine Hills Prep were just as contrasting. The rivalry between them was entrenched and bitter, and while it impacted pretty much anything the two schools took part in, it started and ended with hockey.
“You’re certain the game started at three?” Mia said.
“Uh, I think so.”
“Are we at the wrong place then?”
I pulled out my phone to double-check the message Jeremy had sent me last night with the details. I’d been half asleep when I first read it, but I was certain I hadn’t got the time or place wrong.
But the moment I opened the message, I swore. “His game was at one, Mia. I missed it…” And Jeremy hadn’t texted me since, which was definitely a bad sign.
“It was an honest mistake, Vi. He’ll understand.”
Another crashing sound pulled our attention back to the ice as number twenty-three slammed a player into the boards surrounding the rink and then stood over his unfortunate opponent for a few seconds, glaring down at him. This guy seemed to enjoy hitting other players more than actually playing the game.
He didn’t have much time to revel in his aggressive display though because he instantly found himself engulfed by an angry mob of opposing players. In turn, his teammates quickly rushed to his aid, and the umpires started frantically blowing their whistles and waving their arms trying to stop the ensuing scuffle.
