Taming the Ice #21 Ace Andrews

Chapter 7-The Italian Stallion

Ace

“Yo, Andrews, watch your left!” Cooper, one of the rookies yelled, his stick slapping down before smacking into the puck and making it hurtle towards me.

Clearly he wasn’t aiming for my left. If that’s the best he’s got to try and psych me out, then we might just be screwed for this weekend's game.

I slid my knee to the right, blocking the puck easily as it smashed into my shin guard.

“Even your mom has better skills than that Coops. In fact, she showed me a few of them last night.” Pete yelled out while circling around the rookie tauntingly. The smirk on his face made me scoff as I threw the puck back out, waiting for the next guy to try and score.

“Shut the f**k up Daniels. I haven’t seen you score a single shot tonight either.” Beckett retorted, clearly pissed off that he had to be here to begin with. He was grumbling about missing some movie marathon he was supposed to be having with Elodie tonight.

Pete raised his gloved hand before lifting the small nub of his middle finger and flipping the bird to Beckett while skating backwards towards the left wing. Usually I would be laughing my ass off at the s**t Pete pulled. I mean, he’s been like this since we were kids. But at the moment, he was annoying the everliving s**t out of me.

I’m not sure when it started to happen.

Okay, that’s a damn lie. I remember the exact f*****g moment it all changed. It was the moment I saw her. Ari “Princess” Winters.

She was like something straight out of a damn dream. Her glowing brown skin. Those big doe eyes. Those kissable plump lips and not to mention that gorgeous f*****g ass. She was pure perfection. Every single inch. But apparently I wasn't the only one to think that.

“Dibs.” The word blurted out of Pete’s mouth before I could even process what was happening. I was in the middle of a f*****g epiphany. My whole world had just been tilted on its axis and was being rearranged to an hourglass shape that fit Ari’s 5’6” frame perfectly. I can say with complete confidence that it was love at first sight.

And once I got to know her personality, it confirmed it even more.

She was mine. My person. My soulmate. All of that cliche s**t that I wholeheartedly believe in.

But the only problem was, Pete somehow convinced her she wasn’t. He was my best friend. My brother from another mother. And we’ve never fought over a girl before. At least there was never one worthy enough to fight for…not until I met her.

I think that was the first time in my life I started to despise him. I tried to push her from my mind but things only got worse.

Ari was different. Even Pete’s dumb ass could see that. She wasn’t just going to let him slip into her dm’s and take what he wanted. No, Ari was going to make him work for it which she f*****g should. Hell, every girl should.

After growing up with five sisters, I know better than to use a girl just for s*x. Yeah my reputation might say otherwise, but those are just rumors. Never in my life have I had a one night stand and ghosted a chick.

My sisters would cut my damn balls off if I ever did something like that.

But Pete, he was the complete opposite. That’s why I thought he and Ari would never work out. Pete didn’t like a chase. He only went after easy. So when he came to me asking for help, I was shocked.

“Dude, what the f**k am I doing wrong here? She hasn’t texted me back in two days.” Pete groaned before plopping onto the couch beside me.

“Who?” I kept my attention focused on the tv while smashing the buttons on the controller in my hands.

“f*****g Ari.” He sighed, that name causing me to pause as I felt my stomach twist into knots. “I asked if she wanted to come over and chill and she hasn’t responded.”

“You’re still chasing after her? I thought you gave up on that.”

At least I f*****g hoped he had.

“Give up? I’ve put way too much time into this, how can I give up?”

“It’s only been two weeks,” I mumbled.

“Yeah, and I don’t know how we haven’t f****d yet. I thought I would’ve at least gotten a blow job by now.”

My hand gripped the controller tighter. Annoyance flaring through me as the way he talked about Ari really pissed me the f**k off. Ari wasn’t just another chick who was willing to do whatever just because he was on the hockey team.

Ari was a good girl. She was kind and sweet. She was f*****g royalty.

“Why don’t you just call that one chick you hooked up with last weekend? She seems more your speed.” I tried to play it off like I didn’t care…but secretly I was praying to god he would let this go.

“Can you just help me? You’re good at this s**t. Tell me what I’m doing wrong.” Pete grumbled before grabbing the controller in my hand and tossing it onto the couch beside me.

“Seriously?”

“You owe me. I’m pulling the best friend card right now. Remember that time in P.E. when you accidentally took your sister's bag and only had leggings and a crop top to change into? Who wore that s**t for you?”

I narrowed my eyes, trying not to smile at the memory of Pete in tight ass leggings and a crop top.

“You didn’t have to wear that s**t…you chose to.” I reminded him, making his hand wave in front of me. I was just going to wear the clothes I came to school in, but he insisted.

“That’s not the point. It’s the fact that I would do all kinds of crazy s**t for you. I need you on this one. I can’t get this girl out of my damn head. Please, just do your magic. Warm her up for me a little.” He pleaded, those green eyes growing bigger as he tried to pout.

“Ugh, f**k, just give me the phone.” I finally conceded, reaching my hand out towards him as he quickly plopped the phone down in my palm.

Clicking on his chat with Ari, my stomach tightened as I tried not to let those jealous feelings take control. I hated how he had her number. I hated that he was texting her and was treating Ari like some conquest.

Looking through his texts, I couldn’t help but scoff as I saw each reply he sent.

“You seriously responded to her with a K when she said she wanted to go see a movie?” Wow, my best friend was an i***t.

“Yeah? It was some chick flick or something.”

“She wanted you to ask her out.”

“What? When did she say that?” He rushed, coming to lean over the phone as he peered down at the screen.

“She didn’t say it but she clearly hinted at it…come on dude.” I shook my head, scrolling through every response and seeing how shitty my friend was at communicating.

“So should I ask her now?” He asked excitedly.

“No, you already f****d that one up. You’re going to have to do some major damage control. Why not try and be friends with her first? Actually get to know her.” I said, going to pass the phone back but Pete didn’t take it.

“How do I do that?”

“How do you make friends?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“Ugh, can’t you just do this s**t for me?” He groaned, falling back onto the couch as he draped his arm over his eyes dramatically.

My gaze flicked back to the screen. The texts Ari wrote to Pete stood out to me the most as I swear I could hear her voice with each word written on that screen. Maybe what I did next was stupid…maybe it was part of the reason why she even ended up with Pete and I screwed myself over in the process. But at the time, I felt like it was the only option I had to get to know her.

So I started to text her…not as me, but as Pete.

Not just that day either, but for weeks. Every f*****g morning and some nights even. I got to know her favorite things…the places she wanted to go and the ones she dreamed of visiting again. I got to know about her grandma and the father she loved but lost too f*****g young. Not only did I get to know Ari more…but that love I first felt the moment I saw her grew beyond measure.

Then came the obsession. I started to follow her around. My eyes constantly searched for her everywhere I went. And once her and Pete made things official, I tried to bury it down. I tried so f*****g hard to let her go, but I couldn’t. So I waited. I waited in the background hoping to god my best friend f****d this up.

Which he did. Multiple times, but Ari was in love with him. She continued to forgive him when he definitely didn’t deserve it. And yet here I am, still wishing she was mine.

This time though, there is no going back. Pete f****d this up beyond repair. And yet he still thinks he has Ari in the palm of his hands.

I know he doesn’t though. I could see it in her eyes. Pete ruined the best thing he could’ve ever had, and now, she was going to be mine.

Of course I’m aware that this has the potential to ruin our friendship. But she is worth it. She’s worth all of it and I’ve sat back long enough, waiting to make my move. Now I just have to wait a little bit longer for the perfect moment to act. I can’t rush this or pressure her. She’s not going to trust me at first. So I’m more than prepared to play the long game. First I have to make sure she doesn’t get back with Pete.

“Let’s take ten and get back to it.” Hudson, our captain, called out. His voice was clipped and that usual smile he held was nowhere to be seen as he skated towards the side of the rink before stepping out.

“Damn, Caps still taking it pretty hard huh?” Parker mumbled, his hand reaching out and offering to help me stand.

“I’m sure he’ll get over it. He just has to meet the right girl.”

So much f*****g drama has been going on lately, it’s hard to keep up. But since Hudson’s best friend, Elodie, fell for our resident bad boy, Beckett Storm, things have been a little tense to say the least.

I personally love how it all turned out. I mean, considering Beckett and I are practically besties now, I can’t help but feel happy for him.

I skated towards the bench, seeing my hoodie lying there as I stripped off my gloves and went to reach for my phone. Pete was still talking s**t to the rookie so I decided to take this time and check all of Ari’s socials just to see if she posted anything.

The last thing was from three days ago. It was a picture of a latte she made and the flower on top of it was perfect–just like her. My girl is artistic. She’s so damn good at everything she does.

I was about to click on my insta when a text popped up, making my brow furrow.

Lexi…oh god, what did she do now?

Lexi was two years older than me. She had to be the one who caused my mom the most stress in the family. I swear my nonna almost had a heart attack when she saw the pink hair.

Lexi: Damn, Pete sure f****d up on this one. She is AMAZING.

With it was a picture…not just of anyone…but a picture of MY girl. I swear I almost dropped my damn phone as I quickly brought it closer to my face, getting a better look.

Fuuuuuck. She looked good. Really f*****g good. Wait, where the hell was she? And why the f**k was Lexi with her?

“Okay, times up! Let’s get back out there!” Hudson yelled, making my eyes dart up.

Without a single hesitation, I stood up.

“Sorry guys. I gotta go. Something came up.” I yelled, making everyone on the team look towards me in shock as I grabbed all of my s**t and began shuffling out of the box.

“What? Where the hell are you going? We still have an hour left.” Pete asked as I started to skate off of the ice.

“Let the rookie take over. It would be good for him to switch up positions!” I yelled over my shoulder. There was nothing in hell that would keep me here right now. Not when my girl is in some f*****g club looking like that…

I’m coming Princess…don’t you worry.