Just One of the Boys (Chicago Falcons Book 1)

by Leah Rooper

“My own boyfriend can’t tell us apart when we’re on the ice!” “Oh yeah,” Xander says, rubbing his chin. “He grabbed my ass once. That was awkward.”

“You okay, Alice?” Madison whispers. Snip. “Call me Al.”

All I can hear is that voice inside of me repeating over and over: You aren’t good enough. And you never will be.

You really played like a man out there.” “Coach,” I say, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

But I can’t do that, not without talking to Xander first. Because when Freddy pulled me close, he had whispered: “If you tell Alice, I’ll tell your secret to the whole league.”

But has Freddy been blackmailing Xander? And did Xander know Freddy was cheating on me?

xander's gay isn't he

A smile crosses my face. “Maybe this time, I found the right reason to fight.”

“But if I can’t fight, what kind of player am I?” I shake my head. “I’d just be…worthless.”

For some reason, I feel so much more comfortable with Al here. It’s almost like being on the ice: when I have my skates on, I know exactly who I am.

when I look up into the sky, it’s like I’m lost in all the millions of possibilities of the world. But when I look at him, I’m not lost anymore.

“If I went back home, would you want to come?” I suck in a breath. Hayden wants me to come back home with him? To the place where he hasn’t been in over a year?

“You know what?” I whisper. “I feel like all this chaos has spit me out exactly where I need to be.” I turn to meet his eyes. “I know it will for you, too.” He takes a deep breath but doesn’t look away. “Maybe it just has.”

I’m a boy. I’m Al. And even if he knew the truth…why would he ever like a liar like me?

But now, I’m even more lost. I don’t even know who Al is. But the scary part is…in becoming Al, I think I’ve lost Alice too. I don’t know who I used to be. And I most certainly don’t know who I am.

“Y’know, you’re my best friend.” You’re my best friend. A sad smile crosses my face. That’ll do. I sniff, and a tear whispers down my cheek. And that thing—that elusive thing that was hanging in front of me—suddenly becomes clear. And all the possibilities, well, they all point to it. You’ve done it now, Bell. I’ve fallen in love.

“Except he’s not just your friend,” Xander says, his words harsh and cutting. “You love him.”

It’s not Madison standing in the doorway. It’s Hayden.

“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” I walk to the door. “It always would have been.”

He sails forward and crashes face first onto the ice. And doesn’t get up.

“You’re manipulative, Alice Bell, and I’m tired of being your pawn. Leave.” The shadows and light