On the Ice (Stick Side, #1)

by Amy Aislin

A shouted “Yo, Grey!” followed by an ear-splitting whistle had Mitch scanning the audience. About midway down, Chuck Yano, his teammate and closest friend on the college’s hockey team, waved at him and gestured to the empty seat beside him. Mitch pointed at his own chest. For me? he mouthed. Yano gave him the finger. Taking that as a yes, Mitch wove his way around people propping up the walls and sitting in the stairs. More than one person gave him the stink-eye when he settled into what looked like the second to last seat. He dropped his cafeteria smoothie—dinner of champions—in the cup holder attached to his chair’s armrest. “I thought you weren’t coming,” he said to Yano. He nodded a hello to their friend Marco Terlizzese sitting in the row behind them. “Changed my mind,” Yano said. “What are you doing?” “Huh?” Yano flicked a finger against the notebook Mitch had taken out of his backpack. “What’s this? You taking notes? This is an optional lecture series. We’re not being tested on it.” Mitch dug into his backpack and found a pen at the bottom. “It’s just in case someone says something useful. Possible career paths, helpful resources, post-grad degree or certificate programs that might be beneficial. Things like that.” Yano squinted at him. “This from the guy who’s determined to get drafted into the NHL.” “Well, yeah.” Mitch shrugged. “But just because I want to be a pro hockey player, that doesn’t mean I will be. I’m good, but somebody better than me could come along. ...