Falling For My Stepbrother On Ice

Dona’s POV

Hockey was really not my thing. Up until a few weeks ago, I had never watched that sport or showed any interest in it, but here I was, sitting on the bench in the ice rink packed full with people.

It was a friendly scrimmage between my college's team and University of Tampa's. I should have been focused on the game, like everyone else. My mates screamed with every near-goal, jumped with each hit, and cheered for the boys who were sweating it out on the ice.

But I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

August Reynolds was the new guy, the one who skated like the ice was made for him. He had transferred just a few weeks ago and already had the school wrapped around his finger. Tall, with tousled dark hair that looked like it never obeyed a comb, and eyes that captured the gaze. Every girl noticed him, and every guy either wanted to be him or beat him.

Usually I didn't care for boys or things they loved, but August and his hockeu had drawn me in from the first day I saw him.

“Seriously, Dona. Can you not drool for five minutes?” My friend, Piper, nudged me hard in the ribs, laughing as she waved a popcorn in front of my face. “He’s just a guy with a hockey stick, amongst other guys with hockey sticks.”

I shoved my hand into the popcorn cup and didn't respond, watching August Reynolds weave past two defenders and with a hurried aim, the puck slammed into the net, and the crowd went wild.

With the spotlight now on him, he threw his arms up, grinning widely as his teammates engulfed him.

“He’s more than that,” I mumbled, not caring that I sounded ridiculous.

“You’re just being obsessed.” She groaned, chewing noisily on her popcorn. She always chewed noisily whenever she was brewing something stupid in her head.

Just like I had thought, she shifted her gaze back to me and with a hand resting under her chin, she murmured, “I told you about Caleb, remember? He asked me about you again. And unlike August freaking Reynolds, Caleb is actually normal. He studies Computer Engineering like us, and doesn’t think the sun rises and sets with his own ego.”

“I’m not interested in Caleb." I said flatly.

“You don’t even know him!” she protested.

“I don’t want to know him.”

She crossed her arms on her chest, a disappointing frown on her face, “You’re wasting your time, Dona. Guys like August Reynolds don’t go for girls like us.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, snapping my head in her direction.

Piper’s expression went soft, but she didn’t take her words back. “You know what I mean.”

“Whatever,” I muttered.

Piper didn’t get it. My obsession with August wasn’t just about the fact that he was hot, but also the way he carried himself. Unlike the other jocks I had met, he didn't seem to care that he was a literal celebrity in our school.

This made me feel the urge to know him more, peel back the layers that made August, August.

The game ended with a win in our favour, of course, and our school erupted into a wild celebration. But I sat there glumly, finishing Piper's popcorn and watching the team members as they returned to their locker room.

Suddenly a crazy thought occured to me.

“Hey, I’ll head home later,” I started, pulling away from Piper.

“Why?”

“I just want to take a walk, I need to clear my head.”

Eyeing me suspiciously, she whispered, “Don’t stalk the hockey team, Dona.”