Slapshot Awakening

⚠️ Warning

This book is not for everyone. It pushes the boundaries of what is morally right. He sleeps with his best friend, the brother of his girlfriend, and then goes back to her like it never happened. If you’re going to be uncomfortable with the fact that he lies, cheats, and pretends he’s still the perfect boyfriend after being in her brother’s bed, this isn’t the story for you.

Read at your own risk.

PLEASE NOTE: Slapshot Awakening is 1 book in a series. The books are not connected and can be read in any order. They all feature hockey themes.

The books are.

Pucking Forbidden

Pucking the Boss's Daughter

Slapshot Awakening

Pucked Into My Room

Ryker POV

I focus on the game, but all my mind can focus on is the other arena, the one where Erin and Jaxon are skating together. I know they’ve got that big move today, and I wanted to be there to support them.

Actually, I wanted to be there for if he dropped her on her head so I could make him pay for it. He won’t, still, I feel anxious anytime they are doing dangerous moves on the ice.

Hockey? That’s fair game, we know what to expect, we’re meant to be hurt, slammed into the boards and thrown to the ice.

Figure skating? That’s meant to be clean, no mishaps, no slips, no fuck ups. I can’t focus, I’ve seen them training and I know they have it perfect but something in me is on edge.

My body is thrown back hard and I slam against the ice, a groan is ripped from me, and I blink out the disorientation.

“The fuck Ry! I shouted move,” Quinn pushes me against the ice and I groan.

“I didn’t see you coming my way,” I growl and shove him back.

“Well get off the fucking ice as you’re ruining our game! Go on,” he snaps and climbs off me.

Moving, I shake off the hit, but the entire team is glaring at me like I fucked up. I guess I have, totally fucked up.

“Oh sweetheart, that was epic, want me to kiss it better later?” Liam mocks as he skates past me. I regret fucking him. My eyes go to the score and I realize I’m messing up the team. Pushing myself forward I focus on it more.

I can’t let the team down, I force Erin and Jaxon out of my mind and go back to the game, I can probably get there before their performance.

The air in the arena burns my lungs as I push forward, and lock my focus back into the game. The puck moves fast, and Quinn takes control instantly, skating down the ice with sharp precision. I shake out the last of my hesitation and drop into the zone, reading the play and looking for an opening. I have to make up for the fuck up I caused, and prove I'm not dead weight out here.

Liam is still smirking when he cuts past me, but I don't bite. The last thing I need is time in the penalty box, I keep my head down and my eyes locked on the puck. Their winger tries to shove Quinn against the boards, but he dodges at the last second, and flicks the puck towards me.

I saw the hesitation in his movement like he is ready for me to fuck up. My stick meets it clean, and I take off down the ice. My skates carve hard into the ice as I pick up more speed. My heart slams like a war drum, and I fake left just to cut right and that's when I see my opening.

There's no hesitation, I shoot, and the shot leaves my stick with force, a sharp sound of cracking erupts through the arena. For a split second, everything around me slows, and I watch it fly, I watch the goalie drop too late. The puck slams into the net.

The goal horn screams and relief washes over me as my teammates rush in, slapping my helmet and knocking against my shoulders.

"Fucking hell Ry! That's more like it," Quinn barks, his grin widening. I don't bother replying, I just get ready to go again.

Liam skates up to me and laughs. "See? You're still useful on the ice, sweetheart."

I don’t hesitate.

Shoving him off me, I push away but I can't help the small smirk that tugs at my lips, Liam's team isn't winning this. Sure the game isn't over, but at least I've evened the score, at least on the ice. Off it? My mind still lingers on the other rink, on Erin and Jaxon. Pushing it down I ignore the worry, I have to finish this first. Then I can go check on them.

I watch the puck drop again, and I force every ounce of my focus onto the game. Digging in, I push off hard and ensure my skates bite into the ice as I charge forward. The other is pissed, it's clear to see in the way they tighten their grip on their sticks. I can see it in the way their bodies shift with more aggression. They didn't expect us to even the score so fast.

Good, I'm glad they feel blindsighted. Let them be mad.

Quinn wins the faceoff, and flicks the puck toward me, there's no hesitation this time. I barely catch it before a body slams into me, driving me toward the boards. The moment I hit, my helmet rattles with the impact, and pain sparks down my side, but I refuse to fall down. I spin off the check, and keep the puck on my stick as I drive it up the ice.

I hear the crunch of skates as they close in, and heavy breathing of my opponents as they close the gap. They're not letting me get another clean shot, at least not without making me bleed for it.

My eyes flicker across the ice and I see Kai up ahead, he's cutting across the blue line, his stick tapping against the ice. I don't hesitate. Faking a pass right, I then quickly send the puck flying toward him, as soon as it flies forward, a body collides with mine.

I go down hard, but I hear it, the sharp slap of Kai's stick and the sudden roar of the crowd that tells me we got another shot in.

Blinking through the sting in my side, I push myself up just in time for the horn to blare signalling a shot was made.

Kai goes crazy, skating past the bench, his fist is raised and I laugh feeling the rush of it. The energy of the team feeding off the goal. Quinn hauls me up off the ice and back onto my feet before delivering a slap to my helmet.

"You back now?" he shouts over the noise.

I nod, although my mind is already ahead, thinking about the time on the clock. It's the third period, with five minutes left. I can make it, if I play this right. I can still get to Erin and Jaxon before they hit the ice.

The puck drops again and we dig in, grinding down for the final few minutes. The other are desperate and getting sloppy, they ar throwing everything at us, but we keep shutting them down. Every check, every blocked shot, every clear, and it all adds up.

They pull their goalie with only a minute left, further proof they are desperate and grasping at any chance to pull this back.

I watch as I skate and I see my chance then their winger tries to thread a pass through the middle. I read it before it happens and I intercept the puck and take off. My skates cut in hard, my legs burn with every stride. Their defenseman lunges, but he's too late. Flicking my wrist, I send the puck sailing down the ice.

It goes straight into their empty net, and the horn blares sending the crowd wild.

Quinn is the first to slam into me, his glove smacks the back of my helmet. "There it is! Finally focused, huh? Right at the fucking edge, talk about cutting it close."

I let out a breath, nodding as the rest of the team piles in. "Yeah, I had to lock in eventually."

We kill off the last few seconds, and then it's over. We take the win, shaking hands with the other team before we skate off and go to our locker room.

The second I step inside, I start ripping off my gear. I don't have time to mess around, I need to get out of here.

Quinn notices right away. “Jesus, Ry, you in a hurry?”

Snorting, Kai nods, pulling off his jersey. “Bet he’s trying to make it to Erin and Jaxon’s performance.”

His words get a reaction and a few of the guys whistle, a couple of them laugh. "You're stressing that much?" Quinn shakes his head and tosses his gloves down. "They've had that move locked in for weeks."

“They should,” I mutter, yanking off my skates. “But it’s different in front of a crowd. If he drops her—”

“He won’t,” Kai cuts in. “They’ve got it.”

Yeah, that's what everyone says. I don't answer, I just pull my hoodie over my head and shove my gear into the bag. The rest of the guys are still celebrating, but I don't care. I grab my phone and check the time.

The performance starts soon. I sling my bag over my shoulder as I stand.

"You coming out tonight?" Kai looks at me.

"Sure, I'll meet you there after," I say as I walk towards the door.

"Wish them luck right, that's if you have time to see them before they start," Quinn call after me.

I lift my hand in response and walk out into the hallway, my legs are still burning from the game, but my mind is on one thing. Getting there in time.

Shoving out of the arena doors, my breathing comes out in sharp puffs as I make a beeline for my car. My bag weighs down on my shoulder, but I don't let it slow me. The parking lot is still half-full, a mixture of players, staff and fans filtering out of the game. I weave between them, digging out my keys while ignoring the fans trying to get my attention.

Jaxon and Erin’s event is across town, at the main civic center where they hold most of the figure skating competitions. I check the time on my phone as I unlock my car. I’m cutting it too damn close.

Tossing my bag into the backseat, I slide behind the wheel and start the engine. The heater kicks in, but I barely register the warmth as I peel out of the lot. I should’ve left the second the final horn sounded, but I had to finish the game. I had to make sure I didn’t completely abandon my team. Now, I just have to hope traffic doesn’t screw me over.

I grip the wheel tight, eyes flicking between the road and the time ticking down on the dashboard. I don’t bother blasting music, my mind is already too full, nerves twisting in my stomach like I’m the one about to step onto the ice.

The lights change and I stop. I tap my fingers against the wheel, exhaling sharply. The civic center isn’t far, maybe ten minutes if I push it. I just need to make it before they go on.

The lights turn green and I gun it, weaving through the evening traffic, barely registering the buildings flashing past. The second I spot the parking lot up ahead, I swerve into the entrance, cutting it tighter than I probably should.

The lot is packed. Figures. I don’t have time to waste looking for a decent spot, so I pull into the first open space I see, killing the engine before jumping out.

I take off toward the doors, my legs still sore from the game but my adrenaline carrying me forward. The sound of the crowd hums from inside as I push through the entrance, scanning for the staging area.

There off to the side, near the tunnel leading onto the ice. A few skaters wait, stretching, fixing their costumes, but my eyes lock on two familiar figures.

Jaxon is there standing tall, rolling out his shoulders, his face unreadable as he mentally prepares. Erin is next to him, adjusting her gloves, her expression focused but tense.

As I step closer Erin’s gaze snaps to mine. A flicker of relief crosses her face before she nudges Jaxon.

Jaxon turns, his brows raising slightly. “Didn’t think you’d actually make it.”

I huff, catching my breath. “Yeah, well. I had to win a game first.”

Erin shakes her head with a small smile. “Priorities.”

Glancing between them, my jaw tightens. I should say something, tell them to be careful, but they already know. They’ve trained for this.

Still, it feels wrong not to warn him. “Don’t drop her,” I mutter under my breath.

Jaxon exhales sharply, shaking his head. “Jesus, Ry. I’ve got her.”

“You better.”

Before they can step away, I pull them both in, my arms slinging around their shoulders. Erin leans in immediately, squeezing me back, and after a second, Jaxon does the same.

“You got this,” I say quietly. “Go kill it out there.”

Erin steps back, nodding once before turning toward the ice. Jaxon follows, exhaling slow and steady as they step out.

I stay back, watching them skate into position, my pulse matching the steady rise of the music. I made it, just in time. Now all I can do is watch.