Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 8

6 years 8 months ago, December

I limp out of the locker room and fix the strap of my sports bag. My right kneecap hurts after I landed hard at practice, and all I want now is to be back in my room, with an ice pack pressed to my knee and some mindless game on my laptop.

I fucking hate days like this, and it doesn’t help that the day after tomorrow, I’m going home for winter break.

Nothing seems right.

The door to my left opens, and a familiar blonde walks out of the room with a sports bag hanging on her shoulder. She’s in black leggings and a white hoodie paired with white sneakers and a black bomber jacket, sashaying down the hall, her hips swaying with every step. My eyes roam over her body, following every curve of her round hips and toned legs. The view warms my skin, and I speed up in hopes of catching up with her before she leaves.

“Benson, hey,” I call out to her. Layla glances over her shoulder and then slows down, waiting for me. “How was practice?” I ask once I line up with her, and we continue down the hall together.

“Good.” She shrugs and sneaks a glance down at my legs. “How was your practice? Did something happen?”

“Practice was great. Me landing on my knee when I was almost out of the rink, not so great.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Layla reaches out and pats my arm. “I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Just a little bruise.” I crack a lopsided grin, and she smiles in return. “Are you going to the dorms?”

“Uh-huh. You?”

“Me too. Mind if I keep you company?”

“Not at all.”

Making sure I get to the door first, I open it for Layla and let her out of the building. The silence that settles between us quickly starts gnawing at me. Walking with her is nice, but that’s not the reason I’m here.

I want to get to know her.

“Any plans for Christmas?” Layla is the first to break the silence once we’re outside.

“Going home. To spend time with my parents and hang out with some friends who will be back in town for a break.” I look down at her. “What about you?”

“Same as you. Though I’m honestly dreading it a little.” She chuckles softly. “Ava without Colton will be a pain in the ass.”

“Why?”

Layla frowns, glancing up at me. She coasts her gaze over my face and says matter-of-factly, “She’ll miss him.”

“Trust me, Ava won’t miss him as much as he’ll miss her. The guy is on his knees for her, though he tries to hide it.”

“Unsuccessfully. It’s obvious to everyone,” Layla says, making me snort.

“Don’t tell him that. Colt thinks he’s mastered hiding his emotions, and he has…but when it concerns Ava, he’s clueless.”

“She’s not much different, in all honesty, but I think it’s cute. They’re good for each other.”

I nod, calculating my next move. This is a great opportunity to ask her about something I’ve wanted to know for a while. To make sure I’m not reading this situation wrong and simply seeing what I want to see. Hiding my hands in my jeans pockets, I ball them into fists and feel my nails dig into my skin.

Well, all or nothing.

“Are you okay with them being together? I mean, I know they aren’t a couple, but…” Why the fuck am I rambling? “Er, is it okay that Ava is with Colton? You don’t mind?”

Layla’s eyebrows knit together as she halts in her tracks. I stop too and turn to face her. The cold air sinks straight into my bones, making me shiver. The alley we stopped in is dark, streetlights illuminating it slightly. Her eyes are narrowed to slits, her lips collapsed in an annoyed pout. Her reaction isn’t exactly the one I expected, but at least I don’t see any embarrassment on her face. Maybe I did read her wrong before because she looks irritated.

“What are you asking? I’m not quite following.”

My cheeks are burning; even the damn tips of my ears feel like they’re on fire. Thank God it’s dark out. The last thing I want is for her to see how awkward I feel.

“I thought you liked Thompson,” I blurt, waiting for her reaction with my heart beating so fast, it’s like I’m running a sprint. It’s no surprise I never dated anyone. This feelings shit is exhausting.

“Why do you say that?”

“I know you tried to kiss him last year.”

Layla takes a step back, her lips forming a little O. Her face is like watching the sky when a storm is coming. One second, it’s light and sunny—the next, it’s dark, and the rolling thunder that precedes a heavy rain becomes louder with each passing moment. She’s royally pissed, and asking her about Colt doesn’t seem like such a good idea anymore.

“Wow.” She whistles. “And here I thought Thompson wasn’t a blabber.”

“He isn’t. He didn’t tell me anything,” I say hurriedly.

Layla folds her arms over her chest and tilts her head to the side, observing me skeptically.

“That’s not how I found out.”

“And how did you replace out? I don’t remember seeing you that night.”

“Do you remember everything from that party?” I cock an eyebrow. A smug smile grows on my lips.

Shaking her head, Layla drops her arms from her chest. She wraps her hand around the strap of her sports bag and lifts her chin, looking me straight in the eyes. “I don’t because I was wasted. But I certainly remember that it was just Colton and me.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

I smile broadly. “No.” Bending my head, I hold her gaze. “I helped him get you into the car, and I stayed behind when he took you to your room. But your cell started ringing—you forgot your purse in the back seat. I brought it to your room and saw you all over Thompson.” She listens to me, pursing her lips tighter. “I backed away and pretended I didn’t see anything when he walked out of your room a few minutes later. I said I brought your cell, and he believed me.”

Layla takes a deep breath, exhaling through her nostrils. Anger still simmers from her, but now there’s an uneasiness in how she avoids looking at me. I wait, keeping my mouth shut. The reason I’m asking is because…I like her. Liked her all this time, ever since I first saw her at that coffee shop a year ago. If she was or still is into Colton, I’d respectfully fuck off.

“I don’t like him,” she mutters. “Like, he’s hot, but no, I don’t.”

“Then why did you try to kiss him?”

The eye roll she gives me makes me chuckle. “Because I was wasted and wanted to hook up. Everyone knows that Thompson is a good fuck. I shot my shot, and he turned me down.”

The emotions brewing inside me are new to me. I’ve had a lot of girls in my bed, had some serious crushes in high school and college but never like this. I never felt tempted enough to want a relationship, preferring to have some fun instead of investing in anything serious. With Layla around, everything seems less depressing, more colorful. It feels better in general. I can blame Colt for falling for a girl for the first time in his life, but I know that’s not why I’m making a fool of myself in front of Layla now.

I’ve wanted Layla since the moment I saw her…and Colton’s experience just pushed me to really think about making a move. To put myself out there in hopes she’ll consider me. Not my best friend, not her little boyfriend, not all the other boys I’ve seen her with.

I want her to give me a chance.

“You chose the wrong guy that night,” I say on an exhale.

A shadow crosses her features, and she looks away. Her lips move, but she doesn’t say anything. I lean closer, desperate to know what she’s thinking.

“Layla.” Her name slips past my lips, and she brings her gaze back to me. “I would’ve never turned you down.”

Laughter springs out of her mouth, making me take a step back. She keeps laughing, pressing her open palm to her forehead. I stare at her with my jaw clenched hard. Out of every possible outcome of this conversation, this one hurts the most.

Fuck this. This is why I don’t want a relationship. It’s too complicated and too hurtful.

“I won’t bother you again,” I state with a nod. “Bye.”

I walk away from her, limping harder every time I shift my weight onto my right leg. My fucking knee is like an imposter. Right when I need speed, I’m moving like a turtle.

“You did turn me down before, Rodgers.” Her words are like a bullet that found its way right to the target because my heart squeezes painfully.

Turning around, I replace her rushing toward me, her face contorted in anger. She doesn’t pause, though, just passes me at full speed with her chin held high. I’m ready to fucking scream in frustration.

“Layla, wait.”

She whips her head and looks me up and down as I’m trying to catch up with her. “You said you wouldn’t bother me again, so please, Rodgers, keep your promise.”

I close my eyes, silently cursing my life. “Bullshit.” I seethe through my teeth. With one hard burst, I chase after her, wincing every time my right foot touches the ground. I’m going to pay for this later, but for now, I ignore it.

When I reach Layla, I grab her elbow and pull her back into me. Her body collides with mine, and a whoosh of air leaves my mouth.

“What the hell?” she yells, trying to push me away.

Without taking a moment to assess the situation, or even thinking it through, I wrap my arm around her waist from behind and drag her with me to the alleyway between our dorms. I turn her around to face me; her back is pressed to the wall. Her chest heaves. A few locks of hair have fallen out of her high ponytail. Red blooms on her cheeks because of the cold wind. She glares at me, her lips in a tight line.

“What do you want?” Layla hisses.

“When did I turn you down?”

“Really? You have a very short memory, Clay Rodgers. Did you forget how you flirted with me when we first met? How you invited me to that party?” She drops her bag to the ground, and I do the same. My hands are still balled into fists. “Remember that?”

I nod.

“Well, do you remember how you bailed on me the second you realized Drake was my brother?”

“I wanted⁠—”

“No.” Layla shakes her head vigorously. “You acted as if we’d never even met when Drake introduced me to you and Thompson. I was just your captain’s little sister.”

“You were off-limits.”

She raises her voice, stepping into me. “If Drake knew I was happy, he would’ve accepted it. You didn’t even try!” We’re chest to chest now. All I need to do is loop my arm around her waist and pull her against me. To finally know what it feels like to hold her. “You’re a coward.”

I slap my hands against the wall near her head, caging her in my embrace. “Take it back,” I growl.

“The truth isn’t something that can be hidden or stored away. You better learn to accept it. I’m not taking back what I said.”

“I didn’t try because I’ve never even dated anyone! Do you think that’s what your brother wants for you? Does being with a college fuckboy sound like a good idea for Drake’s little sister?”

“Were you going to date me or Drake?” Layla answers my questions with her own, staring at me defiantly.

I have no words because nothing I can say is going to be enough. Actions speak louder, and I did nothing to show her that she’s the girl I haven’t stopped thinking about for over a year.

My gaze bounces between her eyes and her lips. The air stills around us. Layla is waiting for my answer, but I’m fucking done talking.

I’m done denying myself something I want.

Slowly, I cradle her cheek with my palm, enjoying the warmth of her skin. Her lips part, her eyes becoming bigger as she holds my gaze.

“I want to kiss you,” I whisper. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the day we met.”

Standing on her tiptoes, she closes the distance between us. Her lips are an inch away from mine, tempting me out of my wits and making me so damn weak for her. “Then why are you wasting our time talking?”

A smile curves my lips, but it’s gone quickly because I smash my mouth on hers. When our lips touch, a rush of energy zips through my body. All I can think about is her and how perfectly our mouths mold together. I tilt her face up to me, deepening our kiss and urging her to open for me.

The moment her tongue brushes mine, fire erupts in my veins. It’s powerful, earth-shattering. Nothing will be the same after this. I wrap my arm around her waist, holding her against me. My heartbeat pounds in my ears, and the soft moan I hear makes me desperate for more with her.

“God, you’re perfect,” I whisper, sliding my lips down her jaw. Nuzzling my nose in her neck, I inhale her scent: cotton candy mixed with some flowery smell. My head is spinning from her sweetness. I lay kisses on her cheeks and jaw, moving down her throat. “I want to kiss you again and again and again. I never want to stop kissing you,” I confess, bringing my lips back to hers. “I shouldn’t have waited.”

“Maybe it wouldn’t feel this good if it wasn’t a little bit forbidden,” Layla says quietly, her eyes glimmering with joy.

“No. With you, it would always be perfect.” My gaze roams over her flushed cheeks and puffy lips, and I can’t help but feel proud of how messy she looks. In the best way possible, she’s a mess because of me. “I want to ask you on a date.”

“I’m going home tomorrow evening.”

“Fuck this stupid winter break,” I mutter.

She chuckles, winding her hands around my torso. “It’s a good way for us to figure out if we really want this, what⁠—”

“I want this. Winter break won’t change my mind.” I swallow my nerves. “You think it will change yours?”

Layla studies me intently. Her chocolate brown eyes are the most beautiful masterpiece that has ever existed on this planet, and I can’t look away from them.

“No.”

That little word is all I need to cover her lips with mine again. It’s dark and cold out, but it doesn’t matter. I’m finally holding a girl in my arms, the girl I’ve been dreaming about for over a year. It feels endless.

One kiss from Layla Benson is going to change my life.

I just know it.Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 7