HAYDEN

The rink smelled like fresh ice and sweat. It was a familiar, grounding scent. I tugged my practice jersey over my head and rolled my shoulders, muscles stiff after the lazy pace of summer.

“Feels weird to be back, huh?” Jason said, tossing his stick onto the bench beside me.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “But good weird. Like, this is where we belong.”

Logan, stretching his long legs on the floor, smirked. “Speak for yourself. I wouldn’t mind another week at the ...