On the Ice (Stick Side, #1)

by Amy Aislin

Mitch took his time removing his equipment, then dawdled some more by checking his phone. He could see Yano eyeing him, but Mitch wasn’t in the mood to talk. If he could time it so that everyone was already on the bus when he exited the showers, he might be able to avoid the “What’s going on with you?” conversation he knew Yano wanted to have. There were three texts and a voicemail on his phone. The voicemail was from his mom. Apparently, he was a sucker for punishment, because he gave it a listen, when usually, he deleted them unheard. “Mitch, it’s your mother.” Her smooth, cultured voice made him grit his teeth. “I’ve just been informed that your college hockey team lost tonight’s game against…” A pause as she no doubt double checked who they’d played against. “Denver. As I’ve told you time and time again, hockey is not a real career. If you were any good, you wouldn’t have lost tonight’s game.” Mitch growled low in his throat. “I do think it’s time you invested your time and energy into something else. Now, I spoke with the dean at Columbia. Transferring to another college usually takes several months, but Ms. Aberdeen is willing to expedite yours so that you can start your business degree in January, in time for the new semester, provided that you make up any missing courses you need to catch up over the summer. Here’s what I’ll need from you to make the transfer happen: your transcript—” He hung up, then leaned his forehead against the metal divider between his locker...