A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Eighteen

Kayla's skates glided against the ice as she did her usual drills, her mind focused on the warmups. She was visibly tired, her muscles aching from days of pushing herself to keep up with the rest of the boys. The burn in her thighs and the sharp sting in her shoulders were constant reminders that playing with men required more than just skill, it demanded every ounce of strength she had in her. She tightened her grip on her stick, as she approached the net. The puck danced at the blade of her stick, and in a swift motion, she shot it toward the goal. The satisfying clink of the puck hitting the post echoed through the rink, but instead of pride, all she felt was fatigue. Playing with men wasn't just a mental challenge anymore, it was a physical toll she hadn't anticipated. Her body was beginning to betray her.

From across the rink, Kayla spotted Louis standing beside Edward, their postures starkly different. Her eyes narrowed, gazing at them from afar. Edward, with his usual robotic composure, seemed unbothered, his hands tucked behind his back as if he were merely overseeing routine business. Louis, on the other hand, was visibly tense. His shoulders were squared, his jaw tight, and the stiffness in his posture betrayed his discomfort. Whatever they were discussing, it was clearly getting under his skin. She whipped her head in the opposite direction the moment her gaze locked with Louis's, as embarrassment flared hot in her cheeks at being caught staring...once again.

Kayla dropped to one knee, pretending to tighten her already secure skates. Her fingers fumbled with the laces as she tried to steady her breathing, hoping to appear casual. Against her better judgment, she glanced back toward them, only to find Louis's gaze locked with hers. His blue eyes held a hint of something she couldn't quite place, frustration? Curiosity? She pursed her lip and forced herself to break eye contact, focusing instead on the puck at her feet

Louis was back on the ice, more determined than ever. After his brief hiatus, his return had been nothing short of impressive, almost as if he had something to prove. He had been skating hard, pushing himself in drills as if to make up for lost time. But despite his progress, Kayla knew the consequences of missing practice. Louis wouldn't be playing in the next game. Coach had made that clear.

"Okay boys. We're going to have a brief scrimmage. Get in place!" Coach Cleaver clapped his hands enthusiastically as the other guys started getting in place, 

The whistle blew, and the familiar sound of skates cutting into the ice filled the rink as the players split into two teams for the scrimmage, she got into position. Kayla tugged her helmet down tighter. The teams were mixed for the practice, but of course, Louis and Edward were on opposite sides, something that always seemed to happen when they were playing these mock games, fueling the unspoken tension between the two

Kayla's legs still ached from the earlier drills, but there was no room for hesitation now. Her mind focused as the puck dropped between the centers, and the scrimmage was underway. Louis was already flying across the ice, his movements crisp and precise. It was as if his time off the ice had only sharpened his edge, and now he played like he had something to prove.

Edward, on the other hand, was methodical, controlled, always in the right place at the right time. He didn't rely on flash or speed; instead, he used his sharp mind to anticipate plays before they even happened. His controlled demeanor extended to the ice, every pass, every movement calculated.

Kayla found herself facing off with Louis, the puck between them. His eyes narrowed as he studied her, a smirk curving on his lips.

"Let's see what you've got today, Kingston," he muttered under his breath, loud enough for only her to hear. 

She rolled her eyes playfully, fighting the smile tugging at the edge of her lips "I always win. You and I both know it."

He chuckled and she swallowed ignoring the heat pooling in her stomach at the sound of that deep rumble, "Don't get too cocky Kingston."