Everything revolved around hockey with him.
“You’re lucky to have a spot on Kevin Parks team, Asher. Don’t take it for granted. This is an incredible opportunity for you. You’re a talented athlete.”
Clenching my jaw against the disrespectful words aching to get out, I stared at my nearly full plate. We’d had this discussion before. Dad wanted me to play hockey. I wanted to pursue my music. He hated everything about my love of music, and refused to acknowledge any amount of talent I might possess.
Like I said before, I didn’t blame him. But just because she chose music over us didn’t mean I would turn out like her and do what she did. She hurt me, too. I’d never make the same mistakes as her. Sure, I’d make my own, but that was life. Right?
Hockey wasn’t my passion.
Dad had to stop playing competitive hockey as a sophomore in college because his leg got crushed in a car accident. He could walk, but he couldn’t skate, not enough to play hockey.
Somehow his dream for himself had become his dream for me. It sure wasn’t the dream I had for myself. Not even close. I knew Dad wished I’d inherited his love for hockey rather than Mom’s love of music, but I didn’t.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I haven’t forgotten our agreement. May I be excused?”
Dad frowned, but nodded.
I put my dish in the sink and went up to my room.
What a day.
I flopped on my back on my bed and let my thoughts turn Jordan once again. I hadn’t been able to get her off my mind.
I knew from what her friends had said at lunch, she’d likely show up at the same hockey practice as me, but it had still been a shock when she arrived in the parking lot outside the rink.
I hardly knew what to do with the wave of attraction I felt. Despite being a raving lunatic that morning, everything about her hit me in all the right ways. If she hadn’t been screaming at me, I might have asked to walk in with her.
Seeing her at lunch had only reinforced the physical attraction. I liked the way she dressed. Kind of edgy. A lot sexy. It was obvious she had no idea, which just added to her appeal. And her hair. So soft and feminine.
During practice, I’d had to skate my butt off to keep up with her. I admired her determination, her drive. She was fierce. The girl could play. Everything about her effort on the ice testified her love of the game.
Even the fear in her eyes when she realized we’d be competing for the same position on the ice told me Jordan’s passion for the sport far exceeded my own.
I wanted to reassure her I didn’t care about hockey, and she could have the starting position without any kind of competition from me, but that wouldn’t fly. My dad expected me to do my best which meant working my tail off to start in games. Either that, or I knew he’d make good on his threat to my dreams.
And I just couldn’t let that happen.
The next day at school, I gave into the temptation to yank Jordan’s chain and showed up to school early to park in her spot again. I shouldn’t have done it and it made me a douche for sure, but I wanted to talk to her. We were teammates. And even though we’d be competing for the starting position, we still had to play as a team.
I leaned back against the trunk and waited.
About five minutes later, Jordan came barreling into the parking lot. By the expression on her face, I’d done the exact wrong thing if I wanted to make amends. I just hoped she’d forgive me since I’d scared off two different people who tried to park in the spot next to me so she didn’t have to go all the way to the back.
She parked, jaw set, and avoided my gaze as she got out of her car.
“Jordan! Wait!” I called, chasing after her. She didn’t even hesitate, just kept going. Well, what did I expect?
I couldn’t move very fast with my guitar case banging against my legs, but I still caught up. Walking backwards in front of her I got an eyeful of just how angry I’d made her.
“Jordan, I’m sorry. I was just messing around.”
She moved to side-step around me, but I got in her way again.
“Come on. If I really meant to be a jerk, I wouldn’t have saved you a spot next to me.” I gave her my most charming smile.
Stopping short, she planted her fist on one hip. “If you didn’t want to be a jerk, you should have parked in the other spot and let me have mine.”