PUCK ME ON ICE

Chapter 2

Tessy’s POV

Music blasted from the house before Sophie and I even made it up the driveway. People were everywhere, holding red cups and laughing on the lawn.

I stopped at the steps. “This is a terrible idea.”

Sophie hooked her arm through mine. “You said that the whole drive here.”

“And I was right.”

She laughed and pulled me inside.

The house was packed, hot, and loud.

Find Tristan, I thought. Just find Tristan.

“Sophie!” A broad guy with messy hair pushed through the crowd toward us.

“Owen!” Sophie smiled.

“Glad you came.” He looked at me. “And you brought a friend.”

“Tessy,” I said, giving a quick wave.

“Nice to meet you, Tessy. Drinks are in the kitchen.” Owen leaned in and whispered something that made Sophie burst out laughing.

I pointed toward the hall. “I’m going to leave you two alone.”

“Don't go far!” Sophie shouted over the music.

I nodded and moved through the room, scanning the crowd.

Then I saw him sitting on the stairs.

Tristan.

My heart flipped. He looked relaxed, completely unbothered by the noise around him.

Just one conversation. You can do this.

I fixed my sweater and started heading over. But before I got close, four girls sat down on the steps right next to him, laughing loudly and touching his arm.

I froze.

“Found him?” Sophie appeared next to me. Her smile dropped when she saw them. “Oh. He’s busy.”

I stared at the girls. “Look at them.”

Sophie grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. “Don't compare yourself to them. You look great. Just talk to him when they leave.”

“I will,” I muttered. “When he’s alone.”

“Sophie!” Owen called from the kitchen.

Sophie shot me an apologetic look. “Be right back. Stay here.”

As soon as she walked off, the girls stood up and moved away. Tristan was alone.

My pulse jumped. This was my chance.

Then Tristan stood up and walked toward the back door.

“No, no, no,” I muttered. I pushed past people, keeping my eyes on him until he stepped outside onto the patio.

I opened the screen door and rushed after him. “Tristan!”

He turned around.

My foot caught the edge of the doorway. I tripped and fell forward.

“Whoa!” Tristan caught my arm, pulling me up against his chest before I hit the ground.

My hands pressed into his shirt. For two seconds, we just stood there.

I scrambled back, my face burning. “I-I’m sorry. Thanks for catching me.”

He smiled faintly. “Can’t let a pretty girl fall.”

My stomach flipped.

He looked closely at me. “Wait. I know you. You’re from the café today, right?”

A nervous laugh escaped my mouth. “Yeah. I’m the coffee girl—I mean, I served your drink.”

He chuckled. “It was good.”

“Thanks! I can make it anytime… since I work there.”

I cringed. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

Tristan nodded and shifted toward the house. I couldn't let him walk away yet.

“You don’t like parties?” I asked quickly.

He stopped. “Not really my scene.”

“Oh.”

“I’m just here because my teammate threw it,” he added.

“Right. You’re the team captain, so you have to be here.”

Tristan looked confused. “I’m not the captain.”

My eyes widened. “You’re not?”

I had thought he was the captain for two years.

“Nope.” He smiled. “Did you come here alone?”

“No, with my roommate, Sophie.”

Before he could answer, someone yelled from a window, “Hale! Get in here!”

Tristan looked back. “Duty calls. The actual captain wants me.” He waved. “See you around, Tessy.”

He walked back inside. I gave it a minute, then followed him out of the cold air.

Inside the kitchen, Tristan was standing next to a tall guy holding a red cup.

Ryder King. The real captain.

He stood in the center of the room, surrounded by teammates, laughing. He's the captain? He looks arrogant.

Ryder turned his head. His eyes locked onto mine across the room, and a smirk spread across his face.

I looked away immediately.

I spotted Sophie near the hallway, pressed against the wall, making out with Owen.

I stopped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Time’s up, you two!” Ryder called out, tapping Owen’s shoulder with his cup.

Sophie stepped back and walked over to me, looking completely unbothered. “Best five minutes ever.”

“Pretty sure that was longer than five minutes,” I muttered. “Are you guys together now?”

She laughed. “No, we just make out when we drink.”

She suddenly grabbed my arm. “You’re playing the next game.”

“No way.”

“Tristan is playing,” she whispered. “This is your chance.”

“I’m not kissing anyone in front of all these people!”

“Too late!” Sophie yelled to the group. “Tessy’s playing!”

“Sophie!” I hissed.

Someone bumped into me from behind. I stumbled straight into the kitchen circle and hit a solid chest.

Two hands caught my waist.

“Careful,” a deep voice said.

I looked up. Ryder.

He let go of me, looking amused. “Do you always fall into people, Miss Tessy?”

My cheeks burned. I backed up quickly. “Sorry.”

“Cute,” he smirked. He turned to the crowd. “Alright, simple rules. Pick anyone in the room and take them to the pantry for five minutes.”

My stomach dropped.

“No,” I said firmly. “I’m not playing.”

The crowd started booing.

Ryder leaned against the counter. “Are you backing out, Tessy?”

“Yes.”

Ryder grabbed a half-full bottle of whiskey from the counter and held it out to me. “If you don't play, you finish this.”

I stared at the bottle. “Are you insane?”

He shrugged. “Your choice.”

I looked at Sophie. She bit her lip and mouthed, I’m sorry.

“Well?” Ryder asked.

“I’ll drink it for her.”

Tristan stepped out of the crowd, grabbed the bottle from Ryder, and drank the whole thing without stopping.

The room went wild, cheering and clapping.

Tristan wiped his mouth, set the empty bottle down, and looked at me. “Thanks for getting me out of morning practice.” He winked and walked back into the crowd.

My heart hammered against my ribs. He actually did that for me.

“You look at him like he hung the moon.”

Ryder’s low voice sounded right beside my ear.

I snapped my head toward him. “What?”

Ryder picked up the empty bottle and spun it between his fingers. “Just don’t look so surprised when he walks away.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ryder didn't answer. He turned away, called out the next player, and ignored me completely.