Page 55 of Heartless As Puck

Surprised to hear someone calling my name, I looked around, and my eyes widened as I spotted Hazel waving from the end of the row.

“Can I?” she asked, gesturing at the chair beside mine.

“Of course,” I replied. “Have you met Simon?”

They both nodded and greeted each other with smiles.

I angled myself toward Hazel. She was wearing jeans and a dark jacket, with a cute cream beanie pulled low over her ears and a fluffy pompom on top.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I said.

“I thought I’d surprise Austin. Plus, you know, there was that whole article this morning. I figured he could use all the support he could get.”

Impulsively, I hugged her. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.” She really did mean the world to him. “How’s college?”

While she and I were both studying, we attended different campuses.

“Fascinating. I’m taking a psychology class this semester and it’s making me see so many things in a different light. How about you? You’re nearly done, right?”

“Nearly,” I agreed. “It’s good. I shouldn’t have any problems graduating on time.”

She lowered one eyebrow and raised the other—an impressive feat. “Your classmates haven’t been weird about the whole Austin thing, have they?”

“No more so than usual. They were always trying to get the latest news out of me, so that hasn’t changed.” I might have gotten a couple of side-eyes and the occasional comment, but I’d expected that, and it didn’t bother me as long as I kept my distance from those people.

Simon stood. “I’m going to get a coffee. Would you like anything?”

“Nothing for me, thanks,” I demurred.

“I’d love a hot chocolate with Baileys and a serving of whipped cream,” Hazel said brightly.

Simon grinned. “My kind of drink.”

He sauntered off, and Hazel and I chatted about nothing in particular until the players emerged onto the ice.

Simon returned with the drinks and passed Hazel hers. I had to admit, it smelled good.

The players warmed up, and soon enough, the game began.

It started out rough.

The Mountain Lions had a reputation for being very physical and they lived up to it as they bowled players over and cross-checked them into the wall at every available opportunity. The Chaos played hard too, though, and Coach Dunn gave more ice time to the bruisers in the fourth line forwards than usual.

Despite the casualties, I couldn’t help but smile. The Chaos were operating more like a team than they usually did. They were passing and working together enough that they came across as being kind of cohesive. That might sound like a low bar, but it was an improvement from their previous performances.

There were no goals scored in the first period.

In the second, one of the Milwaukee players we’d seen at the fundraiser skated over to Austin and shouted something, but I couldn’t hear what.

Austin didn’t react, and the game continued, but within a matter of minutes, Drew had picked a fight with the guy and been sent to the penalty box. He sat below us, slumped on the bench, quietly fuming.

When his time was up, he flew back out with a vengeance.

The third period started with nothing on the scoreboard. The teams were evenly matched, with the puck getting sent down one end, only for it to immediately be propelled back to the other.

I was so enthralled, I’d hardly eaten any of the Oreos I’d tucked into my purse as a snack, and I’d forgotten any thought I’d had about recording notes that might help Austin in a postgame breakdown.

I leaned forward, my forearms on my thighs, and clasped my hands together because they were chilly despite the way my blood was pumping with excitement.