RYDER'S POV
I struck the puck with brutal force, sending it flying straight into the net. The roar of the crowd echoed through the stands, but my attention wasn't there. For the third time in the last ten minutes, my eyes darted toward the VIP section.
Empty.
The girl still hadn't returned.
I knew she didn't have any more classes today. f**k. A sudden sense of dread washed over me. Ignoring the referee's whistle and the confused shouts of my teammates, I skated quickly to the edge of the rink. I hopped over the boards, carelessly tossing my helmet and hockey stick onto the rubber floor.
Physically, I might still look like the arrogant captain who couldn't care less about the rules. But inside my head? Damn it. I was panicking.
I stomped down the hallway in my heavy skates, heading to
