Slapshot
Author
Charlie Peter
Reads
16.4K
Chapters
58
Mackenzie is not chasing fame, fortune, or a hockey star. She is hiding, surviving, and keeping her secrets locked tight. Her new neighbor, Matthew, is the last complication she needs. He is sharp-tongued, wildly attractive, and convinced she is exactly the kind of woman he avoids. Their banter crackles, their tension simmers, and neither plans to care. But danger from Mackenzie’s past creeps closer, turning misunderstandings into something riskier. As trust grows where judgment once lived, Mackenzie must decide how long she can keep running. Because sometimes the person who sees you all wrong might be the only one who can keep you safe.
Chapter 1: Glimmers of Gray
MACKENZIE
My gaze drifted across the street, drawn to a figure nearby. He sat by a tree, a book cradled in his lap. His eyes mirrored the overcast sky, a somber reflection of my melancholy spirit.
His hair was a mess of black curls, slightly tousled from the wind. He wore a plain black T-shirt and dark jeans, casual and effortless.
The book in his lap had a soft cover worn from frequent use. His long and slender fingers held the pages gently as he turned them.
“You okay?” my brother asked.
The guy by the tree was the hundredth person to recognize Liam today alone. Ever since Liam had taken me to Boston, at every stop, the scene quickly devolved into chaos as people pushed and jostled to catch a glimpse of him.
Moving me from Chicago to Boston was part of his new contract and our new life. He had always wanted us to be close since we had not seen each other for so long. While I could have managed the relocation independently, he insisted on being by my side every step of the way.
“Always,” I responded to his question, still keeping my eyes on the person reading his book and looking at us simultaneously.
He seemed to be a mental barrier, blocking my thoughts as I tried to process the situation. My brother was acquainted with him, and Liam and the stranger exchanged glances before turning their attention back to me.
“Could you please speed up? We don’t want anyone recognizing you.” I quickly glanced at the guy, who still kept a close eye on us.
He had a tall, lean build, his muscles defined under the fabric of his T-shirt. His long legs were stretched before him, his feet planted firmly on the ground. He looked like he could run for miles without breaking a sweat.
“Are you ashamed of me?” Liam joked.
“No, I’m proud of you. With a limit, so to say. Only when you’re on the ice.” I grinned at him and glanced away from the guy still watching us.
Liam put down the final bag he had retrieved from the trunk and walked over to me. He embraced me warmly and gently kissed my hairline.
“You know I like having you around. I’m sorry for putting you through this.”
“Well, you are paying for my tuition,” I replied dryly. It was my final year of studies. Friends were temporary, I always reminded myself.
For Liam, relocating to Boston was a success, but it felt like a setback for me. However, I had become used to starting over and reinventing myself, or so I believed, in an attempt to stay positive. After all, Liam’s job funded my education, which was nothing to complain about.
One thing never failed to make me uneasy: the curious gazes of strangers. I was adamant about keeping my brother’s identity a secret.
Liam lowered his baseball cap and wrapped me tightly, shielding us from curious onlookers. I peered over his shoulder at the guy still staring at us intently.
His gray eyes were captivating, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from them. I watched as he closed his book and moved to get up. For a split second, I thought he might come over to us.
Damn, I even wished for it. It was the first time out of all our encounters today that I wanted someone to approach us.
He ran his fingers through his black hair and didn’t look back at us again. It somehow hurt to see him leave.
He stuffed his book into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. Without another glance in our direction, he walked away.
I had no idea why it affected me so much. After all, everyone who recognized Liam had acted differently today.
I was probably hypersensitive. Maybe he hadn’t even recognized him, and I was overreacting.
“Can you do me a favor? It’s just a small request. Nothing big,” my brother murmured. I looked at the guy, then back at Liam.
“Of course,” I answered. But the way he asked made me tense up in his arms.
“Watch the games for me?” he asked cautiously.
“Sure, I’ll come. You got me a season ticket, remember?”
“I wasn’t talking about mine. That goes without saying.” He chuckled and pushed me away so he could look into my eyes.
Now I knew what he meant. “I don’t go to college hockey games,” I grumbled. I watched his games; that should have been enough. I definitely wouldn’t attend a game here.
Andrew was a hockey player here, which was my personal nightmare. My ex, and the last person I wanted to see in my new city. I hoped we wouldn’t run into each other, and I definitely didn’t want to run into his arms.
“There is someone on the team that I’m interested in. He plays the same position as me and… I’m a little nervous. He’ll graduate in a year, and I’m just starting. I guess I’m under pressure.” Liam scratched the back of his neck and looked at me with uncertainty.
“Name?” I muttered, taking a deep breath.
“Matthew Arrow.”
“Terrible name,” I grumbled.
“An incredibly talented center,” Liam sighed. That was the position he played. Of course, he was nervous. Impressive, if his statement was anything to go by.
“They didn’t recruit you because you’re no good. He’s still in college. You have plenty of time to prove yourself and renegotiate your salary at the end of the season,” I encouraged him.
“I’ve got enough money, Mac. That’s not what is in it for me. I want to prove to everyone that I can reach the top and belong here.”
Liam’s face broke into a smile, and his eyes lit up. As I watched him, my own smile spread across my lips. I mirrored his expression, a wide grin spreading across my face.
“Sherlock is activated.” I chuckled.
“You’re a gem. I would never have made it this far without you. You know that, right?” He rested his head against my forehead, and I chuckled to myself.
“Of course I know that.”
“Your slap shot technique is the best,” he murmured.
I remembered the countless days, the long winters when we had frozen outside trying to perfect his technique. We had started building our ice rink as soon as it had gotten cold in Montana.
We had secretly flooded the grassy areas overnight. Every year, a different spot so it wouldn’t be noticed.
“What do you say we hit the ice together sometime?” I asked.
Now that he was in the NHL, his busy schedule probably didn’t leave much room for practicing with his little sister. They might not even let me into the arena without causing a fuss.
“I found a small rink nearby. Most Thursdays, they let us relax and recharge before games. I need the opposite.” He grinned.
“Recharge? That’s outdated. You need a good push to get going. I’ll be the one to ignite you,” I joked, flashing him a smile.
“Until the ice melts.” The corners of his eyes crinkled.
“I’ll make it happen. I have a few ideas that I want to try out.”
“You’ve always been better than me,” he said.
I paused, taken aback.
I might have been a more skilled tactician. My mind was filled with various strategies that he lacked. However, I couldn’t outmatch him in skating or the precision of his shots.
“It’s great that you see it that way. You still have a lot to learn. No coach is as good as I am.” I grinned at my brother.
“There’s always something new to learn from you.” He chuckled. Despite being the expert, he enjoyed practicing with me.
“It will not be a simple task to defeat me.”
“I suppose so. Anyway, can you make sure you keep an eye on him for me?”
“Who?”
“Matthew Arrow,” he said firmly. “You noticed him; he was by the tree,” he stated with conviction.
“The one by the tree?” I asked.
My brother confirmed with a nod. I cursed internally. I couldn’t let anyone know that he was my brother.
On top of that, I only wanted some quiet to focus on my studies.
“I thought he was going to request your signature, like the numerous others today.” I chuckled, attempting to push away the image of his intense gaze.
“It’s been a bit overwhelming today, huh?” He smiled and embraced me again. “I suppose that means I should make myself scarce.”
“Please,” I mumbled.
He chuckled and reached for my bags, quickly lifting one and carrying two more. “Let me take these to your room for you,” he offered with a smile.
I glanced at the tree where Matthew Arrow had been sitting moments before. I couldn’t shake off this uneasy feeling about him for some reason. He’d acted like he knew Liam and hadn’t been pleased to see him.
