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"I am so telling everyone we know," Laney whispers, giggling. She clamps a hand over her mouth and looks around like she's checking to make sure no one heard her. I don't think they did though. The entire team is huddled up a few yards down the ice, gaping at Jonas and Jamie.
I don't think they know what to think.
Jamie looks like she's ready to sink through the floor of the arena. Sympathy wells up hard and fast. I know what it feels like to be the unwilling center of attention. It's not very much fun. In fact, it's downright miserable.
I don't know her, but I want to help her.
I make an instant decision and hop to my feet, cupping my hands around my mouth.
"Hey!" I shout to the team, pulling their attention away from her and Jonas. "Can I come skate with you guys? I want to learn to play hockey!"
"Look out!" I squeal,my arms windmilling wildly as I try to keep my balance. I try to bend my knees like they taught me to do when I feel myself falling. It's no use, though. Ice skates are serious business. They're also way harder to navigate than roller skates, and I only ever tried to do that once. I took out a whole row of skaters. That was the end of my dreams of being in the roller derby.
"Shit," Wes growls, trying to get out of my way. That's no use either. I plow into him at full speed. He grabs for me, and we both go down in a tangle of flailing limbs. Somehow, Kellan and Logan end up going down with us.
I land on my back on the ice, shrieking with laughter. The arena lights gleam overhead like bright stars. The guys dressed me up in pads after I fell the first time, so I didn't hurt myself. Theirs were way too heavy, so they basically just strapped padding around me. I feel a little like a stuffed animal, but the pads help blunt the impact, even if they don't work well against the chill.
Wes falls beside me with a loud thud.
I think Logan lands on top of Kellan, because Kellan growls at him to get his big ass off him.
"You okay, Charlotte?" Wes asks, pushing himself up to a seated position.
"I think it's safe to say I'll never be a hockey player," I say, giggling. I am so bad at this.
"Yeah, I don't think this is the sport for you," he says, chuckling.
"Get off me, you overgrown jackass," Kellan grunts, trying to push Logan off him as they both struggle to get to their feet. He only manages to drag them both back to the ice. Logan ends up sprawled on top of him again.
"Aww, you do love me," he says, making kissing noises at Kellan.
I watch them with a big smile on my face. They aren't even mad I knocked them all down. I think I've plowed into, knocked down, and otherwise run over everyone on the team at least twice. They just help me up each time and tell me to try again.
I even knocked Coach McAthie over once. He just brushed himself off and shook his head. He's sitting in the box with Laney now, keeping her company since Wes won't let her skate. It's probably for the best since she's pregnant and I'm terrible at it.
"Ah, shit," Wes says.
I glance up to see Theo and Kris headed our direction.
My whole system reacts to the sight of Theo, lighting up like the 4thof July. He is so damn beautiful. And it's not just the way he looks either. He's as beautiful on the inside as he is outside. Most people don't know that about him. They don't take the time to get to know him. But he's so much more than gorgeous. He's dedicated, passionate, intelligent, caring… I never stood a chance with him. He's all the best things, wrapped up in one delicious package.
"Little one," he says, smiling at me. "I should have known you wouldn't listen."
"Busted," I whisper, not even sorry about it. If he didn't want me to skate, he shouldn't have left me to my own devices. Besides, I had a good reason. Jamie needed someone to come to her rescue. She and Jonas disappeared while the guys helped me find some skates that fit.
"Come on," Wes says, climbing gracefully back to his feet. He makes it look easy. It's not. Unless they help me up, I end up stuck every time I fall. I don't even care though. For the first time in my life, I've caused one disaster after another, and no one got hurt. No one got angry. They didn't get tired of me either.
"You want to keep those hands?" Theo growls when Wes hauls me back to my feet.
"I can let Logan or Kellan pick her up instead," Wes suggests.
Theo growls.
"Jealous bastard," Wes says, winking at me. He holds onto me until I'm steady and then releases me to flip Theo off. "Your girl likes my hands."
Theo growls again, but Wes just laughs and skates off.
"I'll go fill Coach in," Kris says and then smiles at me before following behind Wes. Even though he's not in skates, he cuts across the ice, planting his feet like walking on the slick surface is no big deal.
