Page 18 of Taking Sides

I scan the ice. The boys are livelier now, talking more and starting to work on drills together. I spot Landon helping Pepper with his transitions.

“Good. We had camp last week, so they’re inspired.” At the mention of it, my mind immediately goes to Conrad. “We actually had some Moonshot players here for part of it.”

“Seriously?” Victor asks, and I can almost see his face. Dark brows lifted and pulled together, mouth forming a thin line.

“Yeah. August Penn and Conrad Shepard.” My stomach swoops and flips.

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

My eyes roll back at his surly tone. “I didn’t ask anyone. Grady said Moonshot reached out to him. I guess they try to hit different local schools and this summer they picked us.”

He grunts. “Were they pricks to you?”

“No, not at all.”

“Did they hit on you?”

My cheeks heat.

“What? No,” I deny quickly. “Of course not.”

A lie? Maybe. Although to be fair, even when he was asking me out it never really felt like Conrad was hitting on me.

“I hate those guys.”

“Yes, I know,” I say dryly. There’s a well-established rivalry between Houston and Moonshot for reasons I don’t totally understand, but it stems back to a coaching dispute in the nineties. “But Penn and Shep seemed okay.”

“Penn and Shep?” He scoffs.

Oops. I thought using their nicknames would feel less familiar, but I guess not.

“That’s what the boys called them. I’m down with the teenage lingo.” I play it off with a small laugh.

“That whole team sucks, but Conrad Shepard can fuck right off and die.”

I pause, certain I heard him wrong. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same Conrad Shepard? I ask. “Quiet defenseman? He has to be the fastest skater I’ve ever met.”

And is extremely hot. I leave that out. Victor’s head might explode. The same way it might if he knew I was going out with Conrad tonight.

I always thought my brother’s issue with the Moonshot Hockey team was fueled by team loyalty and strengthened by the fact Moonshot is where our mom lived, but now I think it might be more than that.

“Shepard is the worst of them. He’s always running his mouth.” Victor’s words are so strong with conviction, but I truly cannot imagine Conrad “running his mouth.”

“Stay away from those guys.” Victor’s voice maintains its hard edge. “If you need a hockey player to come play nice with your team, then call me.”

“Oh, now you want to come visit me?” He’s come to see me once since I left Houston and that was only to beg me to go back with him.

“For you, yes,” he says, then adds, “But I’m not stepping foot in that house.”

I get to MVP five minutes early, but Conrad is already waiting for me. He stands off to the side just inside the doors. He looks up and a smile pulls at the corners of his mouth when he sees me.

He looks good. Gray dress pants and a white dress shirt. His blond hair is a little shorter than the last time I saw him, but he is just as knock-the-wind-out-of-me hot. I should have picked somewhere less casual and more first date appropriate. It suddenly feels all wrong. Nerves jump around in my stomach as he steps forward.

“Hi.” The word is barely more than a whisper. He clears his throat and then tries again. “Hey, Whitney.”

“Hi,” I chirp too loudly. This guy throws me off balance. Everything about him. His looks, his quiet demeanor.

His gaze sweeps over me slowly, and his cheeks redden. “You look . . .” He clears his throat again and looks away. I wait for a few seconds, but he doesn’t continue.