Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
Luci Forrester
“I’m late, I’m late…” The words spill from my lips in a frantic whisper, my feet pounding against the cold, hard floor as I dash through the bustling corridors of Kenton University. The clock is ticking, and with every hurried step, I can feel the weight of impending doom settle in my stomach. Professor Elkins is not one to tolerate tardiness; her sharp glare and biting remarks are legendary among students. The mere thought of standing before the entire class, stammering out an explanation for my lateness, sends a shiver of dread down my spine.
As I weave through the throng of students, my mind races, and I hear a familiar jingle begin to play in my head-an echo from my childhood. “I’m late, and I’m late for a very important date. No time to say hello, goodbye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m…” The imagery of the animated white rabbit from *Alice in Wonderland* dances in my mind, and for a fleeting moment, I’m lost in that whimsical world.
“AHHH!” The shriek escapes my throat before I can stop it, my body colliding with an immovable force. I look up, my heart sinking, and wish I could disappear. Instead of a wall, I’ve crashed into a solid mass of muscle and ice-cold indifference-Easton Reed, one of the infamous Reed brothers who rule the ice at this university. He’s not just any player; he’s the center of the hockey team, the epitome of the entitled playboy that everyone warns you about. The puck bunnies-those desperate girls who throw themselves at him after every game-are a testament to his charm, or rather, his reputation. But to me, he’s the coldest and cruelest of the four kings of Kenton.
Just what I needed to make my day even worse.
My left pointer finger instinctively begins to scrape its nail along my thumb, a nervous habit I can’t seem to shake. I brace myself for the inevitable explosion of anger that’s sure to follow. Easton is notorious for his short temper, and I silently pray he doesn’t remember our previous encounters from the last two years. My mind swirls with thoughts, and I shake my head slightly to clear the fog. That blasted white rabbit analogy has thrown me off course.
“I’m…sorry. I was chasing a rabbit,” I manage to say, irritation lacing my tone. I watch as he narrows his piercing eyes at me, the color striking-like silver flecked with the faintest hint of icy blue. My heart races, and I wince internally, realizing how ridiculous I must sound. He’s probably thinking I’m a clumsy idiot. Focus, Luci! Get it together!
“Luci!” A familiar voice calls out, breaking through my panic. I glance around the towering figure of Easton and spot my best friend, Syd, waving her arms like a windmill in a storm. The giant in front of me shifts, blocking my view, as if he’s oblivious to the world beyond his broad shoulders. They call him the Icebreaker for a reason; he bulldozes through everything in his path.
An annoyed frown creases Easton’s face as I dare to look back up at him. “Is that your ‘rabbit’ you were chasing?” he drawls, his voice deep and gravelly, sending a shiver up my spine. It’s the kind of voice that could wrap around you like a warm blanket, yet it makes my heart race with anxiety. I’ve never heard anything quite like it, not even in those romantic audiobooks I sometimes listen to.
“Ummm, no. I…” My words falter under the weight of his gaze.
“Easton!!! Jackson!!!” A cheerful wail, bursting with laughter, rings out from behind me. I don’t dare turn around, but I catch a glimpse of Jackson Reed’s striking blue eyes darting from my face to the hall behind me, narrowing as if assessing the situation. Last year, I had a class with him, and he was the king of aloofness, ignoring me and every other girl in the room. He towers over me, nearly as tall as Easton, both of them giants among men. I could easily get a crick in my neck from looking up at them.
Easton tilts his head slightly, his intense gaze never wavering. “Shouldn’t you be running after your rabbit… Luci?”
And just like that, my heart does a somersault. What is wrong with me today? This guy looks like he wants to rip me apart, and yet here I am, practically swooning over his voice. I really shouldn’t be feeling this way, especially knowing he finds me as unremarkable as the rest of his team does.
I nod quickly, attempting to sidestep him, but not before whispering, “Sorry.” I hope that doesn’t come back to haunt me later.
I hurry away, my heart racing as I dart around the corner, glancing through the thin strip of glass in the door to see Professor Elkins at the front of the classroom, deep in conversation. Syd catches my eye and holds up three fingers. I nod in response, waiting for her cue. With a swift motion, she reaches down and throws something at the windows on the opposite wall.
Professor Elkins turns, her attention diverted, and I seize the opportunity to slip into the classroom, making my way to the nearest available seat. Syd gives me a thumbs up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. Thankfully, none of the football or hockey players are in this class; their presence would undoubtedly draw attention to our little act of rebellion.
I pull out my notebook, flipping it open and trying to focus on the board as Professor Elkins begins her lecture. This class is one of my least favorites, a mandatory requirement for graduation, and I find myself struggling to stay engaged. Numbers make sense to me, unlike the dry, monotonous history lessons that seem to stretch on forever. My mind wanders, as it often does, and I reflect on my past.
When I was ten, my teacher noticed I was frequently lost in thought, completely disengaged except during math class. She called my foster mom, Janet, and they had a serious conference about my focus issues. That led to a visit with a specialist, who suggested I had inattentive ADHD, a milder form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. I was the daydreamer, the one who floated away into my own thoughts while the world buzzed around me. My mind was like a chaotic whirlwind, a strange tapestry of thoughts and ideas that rarely followed any logical path-much like living in Wonderland alongside Alice.
Janet was the most wonderful foster mom I ever had, and I lived with her for nearly ten years. She introduced me to play therapy and various interactive methods that helped me manage my attention challenges. It was during one of those sessions that I met Sydney Olmos. She was waiting for her older brother, Banning, who also struggled with focus issues. Syd walked right up to me, introduced herself, and asked me three simple questions: my favorite color, favorite food, and whether I thought Tommy Baldon from our class was cute. After I answered, she declared that we would be best friends from that moment on-and we were.
Syd learned how to keep me focused, and she always stood up for me when I needed it. It was a blessing that most people overlooked me when she was around; it gave me the space I needed to breathe.
“Luci, you’re beautiful,” she often says, but I’ve never been too concerned about my looks. It’s just another thing on my long list of worries. I am who I am, and if people want to judge me based on appearances, then that’s their problem. I stand at five feet seven inches, with little to brag about in terms of my figure. My light brown hair and brown eyes are as ordinary as they come, adorned only by a sprinkle of freckles across my nose and cheeks.
Sydney, on the other hand, is the quintessential American dream girl-blonde, curly hair, and captivating dark blue eyes. She stands just an inch taller than me, with a perfect figure and a sun-kissed glow that seems to draw everyone’s attention. All eyes are usually on her, which works to my advantage, allowing me the time and space to gather my thoughts.
As class finally wraps up, Syd waits for me outside the door, her face lit up with a big smile.
“That was close,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Thanks, Syd. I hit an icy impasse back there,” I reply, and she tugs my arm, putting a finger to her lips as we step into the hallway.
“Did he do anything to you?” she whispers, concern etched on her face.
“No, I think one of the puck bunnies showed up, so he was more focused on that. He just let me go with a little taunt, and that was it.” I shrug, and we cautiously navigate around the corner, relieved to find the hallway mostly empty.
“So he didn’t remember you from last year?” she probes as we make our way toward her car.
“Didn’t seem to,” I reply as I climb into the passenger seat.
Last year, I had been heading to a table in the student center with my lunch, completely lost in my thoughts, trying to organize my assignments for the day. I wasn’t paying attention, which was my fault. That’s when Jim, one of the football players, tripped me. My tray went flying, and while the fries and nuggets were no big deal, the open yogurt cup was a disaster waiting to happen. Strawberry yogurt splattered everywhere, hitting none other than Julian, the quarterback of the football team. He erupted in anger, shouting obscenities at me as he retaliated by dumping his water bottle over my head. My shirt, mostly white, turned transparent, and I felt the heat of humiliation wash over me as laughter erupted around me. I sat there, hunched over, until the football team finally cleared out.
Then, a pair of enormous feet came to stand right in front of me. When I dared to look up, I found myself face-to-face with Easton Reed, those narrowed, furious eyes locking onto mine. It was the first time I heard his voice, and I was taken aback to see blotches of strawberry yogurt staining his jeans.
“I… I didn’t…” I stammered, but before I could finish, he growled, a feral sound that sent chills down my spine.
“You f*****g did! Here, it’s already ruined because of you. You should cover yourself!” His anger was palpable as I stared at the floor, a mix of humiliation and fury bubbling inside me. I looked up just in time to see him reach behind his neck with one hand, pulling off his black hoodie in one swift motion. He tossed it onto my head and strode away, leaving me stunned. I tugged the hoodie on, grateful for its warmth while simultaneously wanting to burn it. All day, I tried to ignore the lingering scent of him.
Syd teased me about it at first, but she stopped when I recounted the entire humiliating saga.
“Burn it when you get home. But it’s useful for now, babe,” she had said with a wink.
“Luci… Luci… tune back in, babe,” Syd’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I shake my head, snapping back to reality.
“Sorry, Syd. Are we going to pick up Barrett? I can watch him while you head to the lab tonight.”
“I appreciate it. We’re going to make it, Luci. Last year of school,” she replies, her voice filled with determination.