Scoreless

"I'm a goalie. You don't take my position without being tied to your team."Audrey:

My life is one giant blocked puck.

Growing up around a pro hockey team means I've always had a built-in posse of big brothers. Date a hockey player? No. Way. If they even catch me thinking about a guy, I don't hear the end of it.

Now, I'm the team's media manager. Hockey is life. I love my job. I love the team.

I don't love the new goalie, Quentin "Quinn" Paris. I want no part of that quirky goalie's smug smile, blue eyes, or too-smooth Quebec accent.

Except that's a lie. I want it. All of him. I just can't risk the fallout if I let on. Not that he thinks about me that way, anyway. Media manager or not, I'm still the team's little sis.

Like I said. One giant blocked puck.

***

Quinn: This is my breakout season in the pros. I won't do anything to jinx my luck, especially when I'm on a shutout streak and playing the best hockey of my life.

Not that I'd ever admit that out loud. One block at a time. One game at a time. Don't shake up the routines. Stay cool. Stay focused. Don't let them rattle you.

But Audrey Cathcart has me rattled. She works to get a rise out of me every time we're face-to-face.

And can she get a rise out of me.

My teammates think of her as a sister. But trust me: There is nothing familial about how I feel about her. But can I tell her and keep my focus? Because the playoffs are coming, and it's either win... or go home empty-handed.