Penalty for Boarding (Curves on Ice #3)

13. Calvin

CALVIN

T he shriek of Coach's whistle pierces the air, signaling the end of another grueling practice session. I glide to a stop, my breath coming in harsh pants as sweat drips down my brow. It's been a good day on the ice, my ankle feeling stronger than it has in weeks, my moves sharper, more precise. I have to attribute at least part of that to the gorgeous doctor who's been occupying my thoughts… and now my bed as of last night.

As I unlace my skates, Declan plops down beside me, a knowing smirk on his face. “Another impressive showing out there, Barrett. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to impress someone.”

I shoot him a look, trying to keep my expression neutral even as my heart kicks up at the mere thought of Olivia. “Just trying to prove I've still got it. Gotta keep you young guns on your toes.”

Declan snorts. “Right. It has absolutely nothing to do with the dopey grin that’s been on your face all week. Who is she?”

“Who says there’s a she?”

His brows shoot up. “OK. It can be a he. There’s no judgment here. I’m just saying I like seeing you happy, old man.”

I’m quick to jab him in the shoulder with a playful shove. “Just focus on doing your part for the next game, and let me handle my own love life, Declan.”

“Love life? Oh, so it is someone special!” he teases, wiggling his eyebrows. “Come on, spill the beans! I haven’t seen you grinning like this in…Shit. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you look happy.”

I roll my eyes, but the corners of my mouth give me away. “All right, fine. I can’t tell you who she is. But I can tell you that she’s brilliant and absolutely fierce.”

Declan leans in closer, his expression shifting from playful to intrigued. “What do you mean you can’t tell me who she is? Is she some other guy’s girl?”

“What? No. Never. I’d never cross that line,” I answer, a bit more heated than I mean to. The thought alone sends a surge of protectiveness through me. “It’s just… complicated.”

“Ah, the classic ‘it’s complicated’ situation.” Declan rolls his eyes dramatically. “Spill it, Barrett. Complicated usually means messy feelings and all sorts of drama waiting to unfold, and since we’ve got the playoffs in our sights this season, I kinda think you’d be better off keeping your head in the game.”

“Thanks for that terrible advice,” I retort, his words making me feel anxious when all I want is to scream from the rooftops that Olivia is the love of my life and that’s all that really matters. And while I can’t go and do that just yet, I can offer him this, “Look, all I can say is she’s headstrong, brilliant at her job, and knows how to put me in my place when I need it.”

Declan opens his mouth to retort but pauses when Luc limps over to join us, his knee still heavily wrapped after a nasty spill during practise last week. “Did I just hear you mention you’re seeing someone? Barrett, you dog! Holding out on us.”

“Well, get used to that,” I say, stuffing my skates into my bag with more force than necessary. “My personal life is just that—personal.”

Luc's eyebrows shoot up, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Oh ho! It must be serious then. The elusive Calvin Barrett, settling down again. Never thought I'd see the day!”

I stand abruptly, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “You know what? I've suddenly remembered I have somewhere very important to be. Catch you jokers later.”

I stalk out of the locker room to a chorus of good-natured jeers and wolf-whistles, shaking my head even as a small smile tugs at my lips. They're not wrong. Olivia has completely upended my world in the best possible way. But it's still so new, so precious. I want to keep it to myself for just a little while longer—or at least until we can both figure out how to bring this thing out in the open without it messing with our careers.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I nearly collide with Sara, the coach’s daughter and the Nighthawk’s marketing whiz, as I round the corner. “Woah! Sorry about that. Wasn't watching where I was going.”

“Calvin! Just the man I was looking for,” she says brightly, her ever-present tablet clutched to her chest. “I was hoping I could have a quick word?”

“Sure thing,” I say easily. “Is this about that fan meet-and-greet next week? Because I've been meaning to ask?—”

Sara's smile falters slightly, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. “Actually, it's about something else. I think it's best if we talk in private. Coach is waiting for us in his office.”

A tendril of unease unfurls in my gut. Coach wants to see me? With Sara? That's...unusual. My mind races, trying to think of anything I might have done to warrant a private meeting, but I'm coming up blank. Shit.

I follow Sara down the hall in tense silence, my unease growing with each step. When we enter Coach's office, I'm surprised to see not just Coach but also the team's owner and PR manager waiting for us, their expressions grim. Double shit.

“What's going on?” I ask, my voice sounding oddly loud in the oppressive quiet of the room.

Coach says nothing, simply gestures for me to take a seat as Sara hands him her tablet. He taps the screen a few times before turning it to face me, sliding it across the desk.

My heart stops as I stare at the image on the screen. It's an article, splashed across some gossip site, the headline screaming, ‘FORBIDDEN LOVE ON THE ICE?’

But it's the pictures that make my blood run cold. There, in full color, are Olivia and I. Together. In my truck. Locked in a passionate embrace. My blood quickly turns boiling hot with rage.

“She works for the Fury, Barrett. What the hell is going on?”