Breaking The Ice

CHAPTER 16

Jaxon POV

Monday morning arrived far too quickly. The locker room buzzed with its usual mix of complaints, laughter, and the unmistakable smell of coffee trying, and failing, to wake college students. Gray shuffled through the door carrying an energy drink in one hand and a banana in the other. "I slept for four hours.” Connor looked up from lacing his skates. "That's because you stayed up until two in the morning playing video games."

Gray peeled the banana. "I was supporting the online gaming economy.” He defended. "You were yelling at twelve-year-olds.” Connor said with an eye roll. "They started it.” Tyler walked past, shaking his head. "I heard you through the wall.” Gray looked offended. "My voice carries passion.” Gray said defensively. "It carries everything.” The locker room erupted into laughter. Even I smiled. Briefly.

Coach Reynolds walked in just as Gray took another dramatic bite of his banana. "Morning, ladies.” A chorus of groans answered him. Coach ignored them. "Today's scrimmage is full contact.” Coach said and Gray froze. "...I suddenly miss conditioning.” Gray grumble with a mouth full of banana. "No, you don't," Easton said. "No," Gray admitted. "I really don't."

Practice was intense from the opening whistle. The pace was relentless. Coach barely let us breathe. Riley was exactly where she always was. Calm. Focused. Reliable. If I hadn't known about the housing situation… I'd never have guessed anything was wrong.

Halfway through a battle drill, Tyler pinned her against the boards. The puck squirted free. She somehow fought her way loose, stole it back, and fired a perfect outlet pass to Connor. Coach blew his whistle. “Excellent." Tyler skated backward, laughing. "I swear she's impossible to knock over.” He told me out of breath as Riley adjusted her gloves. "You'll get there one day.” She shot back with a grin. "Oh, now she's talking trash.” Tyler said, laughing. "I learned from the best.” She shot back again.

Gray pointed dramatically between them. "They're evolving!” Connor sighed. "Everything evolves according to you.” Gray nodded. “Science." Coach blew his whistle again. “Walker." Gray straightened immediately. "Yes, Coach?” "Less commentary.” Coach ordered. "...That's discrimination.” Gray said, pretending to be offended. "Another lap.” Coach barked. Gray sighed dramatically before skating away. "I stand by my art.” The team laughed as he disappeared around the rink. I looked toward Riley. She was laughing again. It looked real. Mostly.

Practice ended with shooting drills. As everyone headed for the locker room, Connor fell into step beside me. "You've been thinking.” Heh commented. "I usually am.” I simply replied. "About Bennett.” I didn't bother denying it. Connor rubbed the back of his neck. "I asked her yesterday.” I looked over. “And?" I pushed for an answer. "I asked if she'd found a place.” Connor said and I waited for an answer that wasn’t coming soon enough. "What did she say?” I eventually asked. “'She's working on it.’" I wasn't surprised. "That all?” Connor nodded. "Then she changed the subject.” Of course she had. Tyler joined us as we reached the locker room. "You guys talking about Bennett?” Connor nodded once. Tyler sighed. "I've been keeping an eye on rental listings.” I stopped walking. "You have?” He shrugged. "My cousin rents apartments near campus.” He said. “Anything?" I asked hopefully.

He shook his head. "Nothing she'd be able to afford.” The words landed heavier than I expected. None of us spoke for a moment. Then Gray wandered over, towel slung around his neck. "You all look depressing.” Tyler filled him in. Gray's usual grin faded. “Huh." That was all he said. Just… “Huh." It was strangely unsettling coming from him.

Later that evening, the four of us were back at the house. Connor sat at the kitchen table working on an assignment. Tyler had stopped by after class. Gray was searching every cupboard. "What are you looking for?” Connor asked annoyed that he was being interrupted during his studying. “Cereal." Connor glanced at him briefly before turning back to his books. "We're out."

Gray opened another cupboard anyway. "I refuse to believe that.” He said. "You ate the last box.” Connor reminded him. "I was hoping more had appeared.” Tyler laughed. "I'd like to live in your version of reality.” Tyler said. "It's optimistic."

Gray finally gave up and leaned against the counter. "You know…" He looked around the kitchen. "This house is too big.” Connor looked up. "It's a four-bedroom house.” Gray nodded. “Exactly." Tyler frowned. "We use three rooms.” Silence. Gray blinked. Connor blinked. Then… Gray slowly looked toward the hallway. "The spare room.” Connor followed his gaze. “Oh..." Tyler's eyes widened slightly. None of them spoke for several seconds. Finally Gray said quietly, “...Bennett." The moment he said her name I felt like I could have slapped myself. I should have thought about that.

Connor leaned back in his chair. "You think?” Gray shrugged. "She's looking.” Tyler folded his arms. "It would solve her housing problem.” He said. "It would.” Three pairs of eyes turned toward me. I already knew the question before anyone asked it. It would definitively solve her problem but the question was… would she ever agree with it? It was going to be hard to convince her.

Connor spoke first. "What do you think?” I looked toward the hallway. Toward the empty bedroom at the end of it. I'd lived in this house for three years. It had always just been… A spare room. Now it suddenly felt like something much bigger. "It isn't that simple.” Gray frowned. "Why not?” I looked at him. "She's the only woman on the team.” Understanding slowly crossed Connor's face. "People would talk.” "They already do.” Tyler admitted. Gray scratched his chin. "They'd probably assume…" He stopped. None of us needed him to finish the sentence. Connor nodded slowly. "They'd make her life harder.”

The last thing Riley needed was more people questioning whether she belonged. She’s spent weeks proving she deserved that jersey Gray sighed. “So... We don't ask.” I looked around the table. “No. At least not yet.” Tyler frowned. "What if she runs out of time?” That question stayed in the room long after anyone answered. Because none of us knew. And somehow… That worried me more than anything else.