Rookie Season Quotes

“She has more passion inside of her pinky finger than most people have in their entire being…and she’s all mine.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“Noah Downsby, you’re just a big softy, aren't you?” Only for beautiful dancers who bake delicious cookies.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“Penn huffs a laugh. “I’ve never seen you flustered over a girl like this.” “I didn’t know you were even capable of looking at girls in the same affectionate way you look at your hockey stick,” Fisher adds,”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“my cat is now my best friend and closest confidante, and I really don’t want him to be pissed at me. He’s the only toxic man I’m willing to put up with.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“I love you too, Noah Downsby. You're the best man I've ever met.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“I round the corner into our main living area and blink in surprise to find all three boys seated at the dining table, a spread of pancakes, fruit, eggs, bacon, and a full pot of coffee on the table in front of them. In the background, the kitchen looks like a bomb full of pancake batter exploded in it. “What on earth?” I blurt, my jaw practically on the floor. Penn—who’s wearing the stupid pink frilly apron again—grins. “It’s a good luck breakfast.” “Made by us,” Fisher chimes in, looking ridiculously proud of himself.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“She’s grouchy, from what Penn says. Ally Sounds like you two would make a good match. Want me to go downstairs and put in a good word for you? Noah Nah. Don’t tell anybody, but I’m kind of into someone else. Ally I’m intrigued. I bet she’s awesome. Noah She is. Smart, sexy, funny. The total package. Noah Nobody you know, obviously. Ally Obviously.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“Something about losing people you love in a car accident is that you always worry about it happening again. Car accidents happen every day, every hour, every second. It’s hard to let go of the fact that twelve years ago my parents got into a car and never came back home. The anxiety of keeping the people I care about safe is a weight always pressing on my chest. It’s the main reason I stayed close to home for college, close to Mitch and Andie. It’s why I was so relieved when I heard they were coming here for Mitch to coach. My logical brain realizes that living close to them won’t protect them from harm, but there’s a false sense of control somewhere in there that makes my heart feel lighter all the same. And I can’t deny my growing feelings for Ally when I feel the same strong protective instinct toward her. This is exactly why I’ve always held girls at arm’s length—why I've held everyone at arm's length. Even Penn doesn’t know me the way I know him, and we’ve been roommates and teammates for four years now. Getting close to people is terrifying…because it means more people you can lose. It means more opportunities for your heart to shatter.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“After all those cookies last night, the three of us agreed to hit up the gym in our building to do an early workout. And yet here I am, the only one awake at eight in the morning.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“I was fully clothed under that jersey, and he still looked at me like Penn is currently looking at the cookie in his hand.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“Fisher and I follow Penn’s lead, removing our jackets and rolling up our sleeves. We’re probably all thinking the same thing—the more we help, the faster we can eat the cookies.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“A few minutes into my hair appointment, the back door swings open and Mitch walks through with a platter full of burgers. He stops in his tracks, staring at me. “Wow.” “That bad?” I mock whisper. “Hey!” Laini says, offended. “We worked hard on this!” “Uncle Noah, you look beautiful,” Harlow adds, looking at me adoringly.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“I’m lying on my back on Mitch and Andie’s sectional while my two younger nieces, Laini and Harlow, are playing spa. I won’t lie; it’s nice to lay here after a long practice this morning. If Laini wasn’t currently painting my fingernails, or if Harlow wasn’t rubbing some strange gunk on my face, I’d probably be asleep. Whatever product is being smeared across my forehead smells like cotton candy and I can only assume it has glitter in it. I’m going to need another shower when I arrive back at the loft tonight. Mitch is on the back deck grilling burgers, and Andie should be home from picking up Paige after dance class any minute now. “Okay, done!” Laini announces. I peel one of the cucumbers off my eye and bring my hand up to see the damage. My nails are painted bright purple. “It matches the purple on your hockey jersey!” Laini says, looking so proud of herself. She runs a hand through her tangled blonde hair, which leaves a streak of purple nail polish. Hopefully that’s easy to get out… I smile. “It really does. Good work.” She preens, eyeing her youngest sister. “Did ya hear that Harlow? Uncle Noah likes his nails.” Harlow pouts, removing my other cucumber and looking down at me with her big, brown eyes. “Uncle Noah, did you like your facial, too?” “Of course,” I say with conviction. “Best facial I've ever had.” It’s not a lie, because this is my first facial. Harlow beams, showing off the gap where she lost her two front teeth. She pops a fist onto her hip. “Best facial he’s ever had.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“Because I’d come back home after and Ally would be standing there holding her stupid cat with her stupid long, tan legs.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“Never mind that Ally was on my mind for hours, the events of the night playing in a loop on repeat at the forefront of my brain. First, it was strange that Fisher—designated house party animal and wild child—was prepared to call off the entire party the second he looked at Ally after the game. What was that about? And then, when I saw Sandine closing in on her, it looked like she was shaking. And while she stood her ground, chin tilted defiantly as she stared up at my drunken teammate, her body language was tense. Rigid. Afraid. I know fight or flight mode when I see it. And she flinched when I touched her arm. Flinched. Like she thought I might hurt her…but then, when she saw it was my hand on her arm, sheer relief washed over her features. What the hell had that asshole said to her? I have no idea what caused her panic, but I do know I never want to see that look on her face ever again—because seeing her like that made me want to punch Sandine square in the face.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“He turns to make his way back to his room, and I call after him. “Hey, Noah?” “Yeah?” His eyes find mine. “Thank you.” The two words come out more loaded, heavier, more meaningful than I intend, and Noah studies me for a long beat before he simply nods. “Anytime, Ally.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“There’s no security at the door, therefore nobody to stop an underage girl wearing a dance leo and carrying a freaking cat in a crate from entering the premises. Which is kind of a them problem, not a me problem.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“watching as the tightly-wound dance teacher kneels in front of a gray crate. The angle affords me a very nice view of her very nice backside. Squeezing my eyes shut, I remind myself I don't have time for women. Especially the ones who hate me for no reason. Women are just a distraction from hockey—and my one goal for this year is to have a flawless NHL rookie season…so I’m officially off the market until I hit that goal. No distractions. And actually, it doesn’t even matter in this particular case, because I will never see this woman again. With that reminder, I take one more peek at her ass. It’s a free country. “Are you staring at Miss Ally’s cat? Isn’t he cute?” Paige asks. I clear my throat, glancing down at my niece whom I'd forgotten about. Uncle of the year over here. “Um, yeah,” I answer, glad she’s too young to realize what I was actually looking at.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season

“He’s twenty-two years old.” She says this like being twenty-two makes a person an ancient, sage-like being. “That’s very, very old,” I agree, matching her solemn expression. “How old are you?” “Also very old—almost twenty-one.” “Wow!” She exclaims.”
― Leah Brunner, Rookie Season