Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
After constructing some makeshift goalposts with towels brought outside by Jude, each of them takes their position; Jude and Brad in goal, and the others dotted around the street. In the center, Ky faces off against Mike with their choice of puck—a tennis ball—at their feet. After knocking their sticks three times, play starts and Ky gets to the ball first, hitting it with force to Saul, who runs it toward Mikko. Mikko takes a shot at goal and the ball flies through. If I thought ice hockey was fast, street hockey is a close second. These guys sure know their game and are a force to be reckoned with. Even though this is all for fun, I know each one of them is taking it seriously. Especially the tall, dark, disheveled one standing front and center. The game continues, and the teams are evenly matched, which promises us an entertaining and thrilling afternoon. After thirty minutes of exhaustive play, Jude calls time for a ten-minute refreshment break and we pour some lemonades and hand them out. All except one willingly take a glass. He’s standing across the street, holding his hockey stick behind his head and resting it on both shoulders with a sheen of sweat glistening off his body in the afternoon sun. My eyes can’t help but trace the tattoo on his shoulder, and I wonder if there’s a story behind the intricate ink.
“What’s with you and Kyler?” Millie asks me quietly, interrupting my perusing.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Girl, please. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed him staring at you every time there’s a break in play? It’s like he’s trying to do a Jacob and imprint on you or something.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I reply. “He’s probably just looking at one of the others for some kind of direction in play or something.”
Millie laughs in response. “Sure, believe whatever you want, but I’m telling you. That boy cannot keep his eyes off of you. It’s like he’s obsessed. And you seem to be doing everything in your power to ignore him.”
“No, I’m not!” I reply quickly.
“Yes, you are. I see you both, you know. Him with his intense stare, you with your avoidance tactics. It’s ridiculous. Honestly, the electric charge between the pair of you is fierce enough to cause a power outage down the entire street.”
I look over toward Kyler and noticed he’s moved from his position and is no longer standing across the street. I take a quick glance to both sides and can’t see him anywhere. Maybe he’s decided he’s had enough for the day.
“That for me?” his deep voice sounds quietly behind me, quickly awakening a blanket of goosebumps across my neck. I glance to my right to check where Millie is before turning around. The last thing I need is to fuel her ridiculous fantasy.
“Sure,” I say to him, as I hand him the cool glass of lemonade. He takes it and downs the liquid in one smooth gulp. He never breaks eye contact with me and it feels like the most intense, isolating moment between us. The others melt away and it’s just me and Kyler in a little bubble. Yet, as soon as it starts, it quickly dissipates, and Jude claps his hands and calls for the second half to start. Kyler places the glass on the tray and walks back to the middle of the street without another word, leaving me to wonder what the hell just happened.
“Nothing going on, huh?” Millie whispers quietly beside me, and I just roll my eyes in response, because it’s clear she’s not going to let this go.
The game continues and every time my eyes find Kyler, I realize Millie is right. When he’s not in play, he’s looking at me; not moving, not paying attention to anything around him. It’s only when the ball comes hurling toward him, he focuses on the game without a blink of the eye. It’s unnerving, but it’s also thrilling. And the more I look, the more I find myself wishing for the intense bubble to form around us again, just as it did when he drank the lemonade earlier.
After an hour or so the game finally comes to an end with a victory for Jude’s team, much to my brother’s delight. He whoops and cheers along with the others and backslaps are traded all round.
“Let’s have a barbecue,” Devon suggests as the others begin to clear away the makeshift goals.
“Good idea,” Jude replies.
“I agree,” I say. “I’m pretty sure we have enough things in the fridge to make a salad or two.”
“Cool, I’ll drive to the store and get some other supplies so we can set up,” Nolan offers. Devon agrees, offering to go with him.
The rest pile into the house and straight out to the back yard. I start to pick up the blankets we were sitting on, and see Kyler unlock his car and throw his belongings on the passenger seat.