Page 3 of Defend Her Heart

I may only be a sophomore this coming year, but I’m already one of the captains and led the team in points last year. I also tend to flirt my ass off, and am no stranger to the occasional make-out session at parties. I’m hoping she’s only heard about my hockey skills, not my Casanova ones.

“You’ve heard about me, huh?” My voice is teasing and I watch as she rolls those beautiful greens.

“Don’t be so excited, Smith. It wasn’t all good.”

With that, she turns and makes her way to the locker room.

I watch as her ponytail swishes with every step, and for the first time in my life, I’m turned on by a girl in hockey equipment.

“It must have been pretty good if you want to get to know me!” I holler.

Avery stops at the door and looks over her shoulder.

“I just want to get to know my competition. Because I plan on breaking more records my freshman year than you ever will.” She shoots me one more devastating smirk and disappears into the girls’ locker room.

I stand there staring at the door, feet cemented in place, for who knows how long. It’s not until Luke shoves me from behind that the trance I’ve been under is broken. I turn around and notice the crease between his eyes as he stares at me.

“Dude, you’re gonna be late for practice. What was that all about with the new girl? You good?”

“Her name’s Avery.” It comes out defensive and I have nofucking idea why. Maybe it’s because an angel like her deserves to be known as more than just the “new girl.”

Luke’s eyes widen at my tone and he lifts his hands in front of him before laughing. “My apologies. Is everything okay with you andAvery.” He says her name in a teasing tone, and with my hands in my pocket, I look over my shoulder at the space she occupied a minute ago.

Turning my attention back to my best friend, I can’t help but smile when I say, “I’m gonna marry that girl.”

“Avery.”

The beer bottle I dropped is shattered on the ground in front of me and I can feel the liquid covering my feet and sandals. Niko, my captain and best friend on the team, has his hand on my shoulder and by the way his lips are moving, I think he’s trying to talk to me but I don’t hear a single word he’s saying.

The ringing in my ears is deafening and all of the air is sucked from my lungs.

She’s here.In Green Bay. At my team’s barbecue. And she’s looking at me like she’s seen a ghost.

Because that’s what I am, isn’t it?

Neither of us say a word as we continue to stare at each other, unmoving.

Luckily, my assistant coach, Ellie, breaks the awkward silence that has fallen upon every single person here.

Clapping, she announces, “All right, everyone. The food is ready. Why don’t we make our way over there, away from all ofthis”—she gestures her arms out between Avery and me—“and let these two have a minute.”

My teammates and their families follow Ellie to where thefood is set up near the bar area of Niko’s backyard. Niko stays put and eyes me skeptically.

“I’m good.”

I immediately turn my attention back to Avery, and now that my breathing has slowed and the ringing in my ears has subsided, I can finally appreciate the woman standing in front of me. She’s just as beautiful as the last time I saw her. Even without the white dress, she shines.

Dressed in an emerald outfit, which I believe is called a romper, her green eyes pop and sear into mine as I try to memorize every inch of her face. Her hair is the shortest I’ve ever seen it, cut into a bob, and she looks sophisticated as hell.

The birthmark I’ve kissed a thousand times sits above her painted lips, that are just as plump and beautiful as ever. Moving my eyes upward, there’s no dimple to be found on her left cheek and as my gaze moves up her gorgeous face, I see why. Narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow stare back at me.

I don’t blame her for the scowl on her face. She hasn’t seen me in years since I abruptly cut contact with her and everyone we knew. Well, everyone besides my best friend Luke.

After I broke her heart in high school, we remained civil for years because we shared a friend group. That all changed when she got engaged tohim.

It was too hard. I couldn’t pretend to be okay with it. I ignored every text and call I got from our mutual friends. I just couldn’t do it.

But she’s here now.