Free Off the Ice (The Penalty Kill Trilogy) (Volume 2) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith

still snow on the ground and it’s freezing, but in his arms, I’m perfectly warm.
    “ Wanna come home with me?” Levi asks.
    “ What? We hardly ever go to your place.”
    “ Yeah, but I figure change is good. Besides, I have a better selection of beer and DVDs than you do.” He smirks at me.
    “ Yeah, right.” I slap his shoulder, which doesn’t do anything since he has a hoodie and a jacket on. “But, yeah I’ll come over. I need to grab some stuff from my apartment.”
    “ About an hour then?” I nod and he leans down and kisses me.
    I head back to my place and begin to pack an overnight bag. I’m almost done when there is a knock.
    “Hey, you.” I greet Zack on the other side and let him in.
    “ I thought I would come over and see what you’re up to. I haven’t talked to you in forever.” He gives me a hug.
    “ Are you drinking?” I ask as I push away from him.
    Zack shrugs. “A few beers.” I know better than that. His words are slurring.
    “Oh.” Zack always drinks. He loves partying, and that’s something I’m not into at all. I head back to my bedroom, and he follows. “I’m heading to Levi’s tonight. What are you doing?”
    “ Well, I thought we could go out tonight.”
    “ Sorry, maybe we can grab lunch sometime this week.” I zip up my bag and turn to look at him. He seems angry. “Zack?”
    “ What the hell, Pres? We’ve hardly spent any time together since I’ve come back. It seems like your little boyfriend doesn’t want us hanging out.” He’s shouting at me, and he is growing angrier.
    “ First, I’m busy with classes. Second, Levi isn’t little. Third, stop yelling at me.” I count out to him.
    “ Whatever. If you want to follow your boyfriend around like a lost puppy, so be it. But that’s bullshit. I thought you wanted to be your own person.”
    “ Get out, Zack. Just go.” I don’t need to listen to him putting down Levi or me.
    “ Fine. Just forget it.” Zack turns and walks out.
    I roll my eyes on how he was acting like a jerk. I grab my bag, keys, and head out to Levi’s.
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
    “ Hello, Presley.” Nichols opens the door for me.
    “ Hello.” Even though Nichols and I had issues, I know that Levi and he have made up. I’m not going to hold a grudge either. “Where’s Levi?”
    “ He ran to grab the pizzas. He said that he’ll be back shortly. We’re in the living room getting ready to watch a movie if you want come in there.”
    “ Sure. Let me put these in Levi’s room.” I motion to the bags in my hand.
    I take my bags and drop them on the bed. I put my purse on the desk, and it falls over, spilling my contents everywhere. I curse and begin to pick up my items. I accidentally move the mouse on the pad, and the computer wakes up. On the screen is an email. I look and see a Pittsburgh Penguins logo.
    As I began to read the email, it states that Levi has an option of being drafted in June and there is an invitation for prospect camp in July. This June . Levi is going to be drafted in June. He’s going to Pittsburgh. Why didn’t he tell me? I look at the date, and it’s dated for today. He’s known about this all day and didn’t tell me. My heart is beating so fast with excitement, worry, and nervousness. What will happen to us if he gets drafted and leaves? Will he finish college? Will he get signed right away? My brain is trying to process this information as I stare at the screen.
    “ You’re so nosey,” Levi’s voice brings me back to reality.
    “ Why didn’t you tell me?”
    He smirks. “Well, I was going to tonight. I just got done telling Pops.”
    “I’m so proud of you.” I rush to him and wrap him in my arms. My eyes fill with tears of happiness and anxiety of the future.
    “ I wanted to tell you the second I got the email.” He looks down at me. “Hey, why the tears?”
    “ I’m happy, Levi. I know you’ve worked so hard. Plus, you’ll be playing with Sidney Crosby and I’m a little jealous about