Page 47 of Breakaway Hearts

A waitress ushers us over to our usual table and starts handing out menus. “If there’s anything, my name is Astrid,” she says, blatantly biting her bottom lip as she stares at Jason like he’s dessert. Most of the rookies have to get used to all the attention that comes with being a Wolf, but Jason smiles like he’s flattered, just not tonight, so she shrugs like it was worth a try and walks off.

I’m impressed by the whole interaction, but Jason looks nervous as he turns around, either like he’s clocking the team…or looking for someone. I can’t say I’m not turning around too, hoping I’ll spot Madison.

“One drink,” Jason reminds me as the waitress shows up with a pitcher. “I want to get back to see Maddie before I head out.”

And there goes that hope. She’s not coming if he’s rushing home to her, and he doesn’t seem likely to invite the team over to keep the party going.

“Tonight?” I assumed people who live close just drive up on the day of for family meals, not late at night after playing and travelling all day. But I have also been known to drive through the night or take a red eye to keep a promise, so I get it.

“My mom makes a killer breakfast, but ‘real food’ as she calls other meals, eludes her. Since it’s my stepdad’s birthday, she doesn’t want him to cook, so it’s a brunch. I’d normally play the ‘I’m so tired’ card and let Maddie drive, but she has to cover some debate thing.”

“For the paper?” I ask instead of digging into the whole sleepover he would’ve had with Madison. Not that I’m jealous. And they’re roommates regardless.

“Yeah.” He looks like he’s trying to figure out if he told me about it, or Madison did.

“I saw her name in it.” I even read her article and discovered our student council president is a trans man named Phoenix, which is cool, and he runs the student radio station, which I didn’t know we had. Other than that you can listen to the games on it. Really, I learnt a lot of things, and none of it would have happened if Tab hadn’t slipped and told me Madison left early to work on an article. But I think it’s less creepy if Jay thinks I often read our school paper rather than just the occasional crossword from the back. Which have really gone downhill since Lacey left. Way more fancy words and a lot less obscure pop culture.

“She deep dives into anything she does, so she’s going to sit through all eight hours of it instead of just checking out the finals to see who won.” He’s shaking his head like she’s being ridiculous.

“Well, it’s not like we’d want the sports reporters to just come in for the last five minutes and print the score.” I never thought about it before, but it makes sense.

“I guess my stats speak for themselves, but you might need some credit.” Jason winks.

I’m about to come up with a witty comeback, but Madison walks through the doors and my mind goes blank. She’s wearing a white turtleneck, plain skin-tone nylons, which I don’t see a lot around here, and a burgundy skirt. It’s probably longer than every other skirt in here, and she has no right making it look that hot, but fuck, I want her.

“Earth to Brooks,” Jason tries, letting me know I zoned out, but he looks around to see what I’m looking at and his face lights up at the sight of his best friend. Which I mostly notice because hers does too. I’m not an asshole, so I grab my drink and head over to Mike and Colt so the sight of me doesn’t turn Madison’s smile back into a frown.

“Already shot you down?” Mike asks with sympathy.

“He’s got a reputation to uphold. Didn’t give her the chance to,” Colt tells him, which is true, but that’s not why I left. Not that they’ll make any less fun of me for the truth.

“Hey, Captain?” Aaron Vale asks me nervously.

“You can call me Owen. Or Brooks. Especially off the ice,” I tell him. I did my fair share of teasing Noah when he was the one wearing a C, but Vale doesn’t seem like he’s teasing so much as venerating me. Which is sweet, but way too much pressure.

“Of course, Captain.” His eyes go wide, but he doesn’t correct himself. “I know morning skate is optional tomorrow.”

“Not for rookies,” I say apologetically, assuming he’s about to ask if he can skip it, but Jason steps off to the side with a phone call, and this is my chance to swoop in and tease Madison a bit, get that smile she hates to give me…maybe convince her to have some fun.

Mike hits me in the side so I turn my focus back to Vale.

“I know you don’t have to, yours doesn’t need work, but if you were planning on being there, I would really appreciate it.”

Vale doesn’t notice my confused expression, but Mike and Colt are snickering. I can piece enough together to figure out he wants my help at morning skate.

“I’m the captain, Aaron. I’ll obviously be there, and we can work on whatever you want. I’m always there to help,” I assure him. And I mean it, but as he thanks me and walks off, Mike looks at me like I’m a lovesick puppy, which doesn’t piss me off half as much as the fact that Madison is now talking with Spring, who has her fucking laughing.

“What would you do if he’d been asking for help with his suicides?”

“He wasn’t, right?” I verify.

“Fighting for the puck behind the net,” Alvarez shares. “No idea why he’d go to you, but who am I to judge?”

“Because it’s his job as captain. As opposed to glaring at our backup goalie because your girl hasn’t turned him down yet,” Colt points out.

“You’re an asshole.”

“But he’s right,” Mike betrays me.