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"Yeah, I know him." Unfortunately. The guy is a pylon. "What happened? If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to, but I hear I'm a pretty decent listener." I lean back on my hands and raise my eyebrows.
"I was just young and stupid," she replies shortly, staring at the blanket's red plaid pattern.
"Want me to kick his ass?"
The confident question earns me a giggle as she brings her eyes back up to meet mine.
"No, I'm a big girl. I can fight my own battles, but thank you."
She holds my eyes captive in hers. Staring into her eyes is proving to be dangerously addictive. I feel myself starting to inch forward, getting closer to her. Snap out of it, I tell myself sharply. Luckily, it's Ava who breaks eye contact with a shrug as she changes the subject.
"I've been wondering something ever since I heard you joined the team."
My interest sparks at her words, a smirk spreading across my lips. "Keeping tabs on me, hey?"
Her cheeks flush once more as she tries to hide her obvious embarrassment. "It's hard not to when the entire campus is gossiping about the new hockey star in town."
"What is it you've been wondering about, Octavia? Ask away."
Her arm brushes mine once again as she places her hands behind her. She cocks her head to the side and stares at me through narrowed eyes. "Why Vancouver? I'm sure you had much better offers than our crap team. We haven't won a championship in... I'm not even sure how long."
My body tenses. Her question is causing a familiar ache to reappear deep in my chest. It's far too personal.
"I just wanted to stay close to my family. That's all," I push, my words sounding vague and dull. She nods, her eyes comforting as they melt away one of the many walls I’ve just put up.
"How long have you been playing? You're really talented."
"Since I was five. So, fifteen years. I can't say I plan on stopping anytime soon, either."
"So that's the dream then? Going professional?" she asks.
"Yes, gotta make my momma proud." I'm sure my chest puffs out a little as I say that. I do everything for my mom.
"I think she's already proud of you," Ava says casually as if it is the most obvious thing in the world. With a small burst of confidence, I reach for her hand. Without looking at her, I lace our fingers together while laying them on my thigh. I can feel my own face getting warm.
I swore I wouldn’t let anything or anybody distract me from making this year all about hockey, but I can’t find it in myself to care at this very moment. Not when this girl is smiling at me the way she is.
