PUCK ME ON ICE

Chapter 9

Tessy’s POV

“She is my tutor,” he said dismissively.

Ryder leaned down slightly, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “Tessy, now you enjoy the party. Don’t forget—confidence.”

And just like that, he walked away with the girl, leaving me standing in the middle of the crowded living room.

What the hell?

I knew practically nobody here, and now I was completely on my own.

“Tessy?” a voice called out from behind me.

I turned around to meet Tristan’s gaze, and despite my annoyance at Ryder, a genuine smile spread across my face.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he added, his eyes sweeping over me with pleasant surprise.

“Me neither, but... here I am,” I said, forcing an awkward smile. Confidence, Tessy. Remember what Ryder said.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked softly.

“Sure,” I replied, following him through the dense crowd over to the kitchen counter. He poured a cup and handed it to me—it was bright red fruit punch.

“I know for a fact you hate alcohol, right?” he said with a warm grin.

My heart did a tiny flutter. I couldn't help but smile, touched by the fact that he actually remembered such a small detail about me.

“Thank you,” I said, taking a sip.

“So... is it fun?” he asked over the thumping bass of the speakers.

I leaned in a little, straining to hear. “What did you say?”

“Is it fun tutoring Ryder?” Tristan repeated, raising his voice slightly.

“It isn’t too bad,” I called back with a small chuckle.

Before he could say anything else, a loud commotion broke out near the center of the living room, accompanied by a wave of excited shouts from the crowd.

“They’re about to fight!” someone yelled, rushing past us.

“I should go check that out,” Tristan said, instantly distracted as he began walking toward the noise.

I followed right behind him, pushing through the circle of spectators that had quickly formed. In the center stood Ryder, looking completely unbothered with his hands shoved casually in his pockets. Facing him was a guy who looked like he was ready to murder someone on the spot.

“What’s your problem, Danny?! Ryder and I aren’t hooking up!” Rebecca snapped, stepping between them.

Well, that’s a complete lie, I thought, remembering the day I walked in on them.

“Are you sure about that?!” Danny shouted, raw annoyance and betrayal laced in his tone. He glared at Ryder before looking back at Rebecca. “Am I not good enough for you?! Just because he’s some star hockey player?!”

“Stop embarrassing me, okay? We aren’t hooking up—he literally has a girlfriend!” she spat out. She quickly turned to Ryder, her desperate eyes silently begging him to play along. “Right, Ryder?”

Ryder didn't even flinch. “Yes. I have a girlfriend.”

A collective wave of shocked whispers rippled through the room.

“Oh, bull!” Danny yelled, throwing his hands up in disbelief. “If he had a girlfriend, she wouldn’t leave his side at a party like this! She’d be right here with him! So who the hell is this mysterious girlfriend, huh?!”

Rebecca’s eyes darted wildly around the crowd until they locked onto me. She raised her hand, her finger pointing straight at my chest.

“Her. Her name is Tessy.”

My jaw dropped, my eyes widening in absolute horror as every single pair of eyes in the room—including Tristan’s—instantly snapped directly onto me.

What the actual hell?!