Booktok Hockey Books Novels & Stories

I crashed backward into the lockers with a deafening bang, pain shooting through my spine as the metal dug in. The crowd erupted, phones started flying up, people shouting and recording. Natalie stormed in and raised her arm, clearly wanting to slap me back and I'm ready for that. "An eye for an eye, a slap for a slap." But when her hand was about to land on me, another hand caught her wrist. "Hands off, Blondie!" Asher's deep voice boomed through the chaos like a command on the ice. The star winger of the hockey team pushed through the crowd with powerful strides, his broad shoulders cutting through the sea of phones and staring faces.

There were tons of students who were reading this book in high school, it was mandatory freshman year. “What, does that shock you?” he asked with a grin. “Kind of, yes.” He rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to be so blunt about it. Just because I’m a dumb jock, doesn’t mean I don’t like doing things other than playing hockey.” I hated that I felt a little bad, he did have a point. “Sorry, that isn’t what I meant,” I muttered. He pulled up a chair and sat down backward on it next to me.

one of the athletic assistants greeted, handing me a digital tablet. “Morning, Aaron. Is the first student ready?” “Yeah, he’s warming up on the treadmill.” Aaron smirked slightly. “You’ve got the hockey team today. Just a warning, they’ve been talking about you since the schedule dropped.” I raised a brow. “Talking?” He chuckled. “Let’s just say motivation levels are through the roof.” I sighed, shaking my head but hiding a small smile. “Tell them to keep their focus on the tests, not me.”

“You don’t have to be great at it. You just… let people in, little by little. On your terms.” Something in his voice made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I tried to laugh it off. “Careful, Michaels. You’re starting to sound like one of those broody romance novel heroes.” His lips twitched. “Do those guys play hockey?” “Not usually,” I said, grateful for the lighter turn. “They’re usually running through fields in the rain, confessing their undying love.” “I could do that,” he deadpanned. “But I’d probably slip on the ice and take you down with me.”

Every muscle in my body tightened immediately. Beside me, Lily muttered under her breath, “Oh absolutely not.” Ryan’s expression went completely unreadable beside our table. Daniel dropped his bag onto one of the desks loudly before speaking. “Damn. Brookshire still smells the same.” A few hockey players near the back laughed awkwardly. Then Daniel’s gaze shifted toward Ryan. “There he is.” One of the hockey guys frowned slightly. “Thought you quit school.” “Nah.” Daniel leaned back casually against a desk. “Just needed a break.”

“There it is.” I looked at her confused. “What?” “The hockey voice.” My stomach tightened in an instant, and I immediately looked away. But I could still feel Harper leaning closer. “You know,” she said quietly, “ it’s nice hearing you talk about hockey again.” Suddenly the room felt smaller, and I found myself staring at the wall—at the photos I’d never bothered taking down, at the medals hidden inside a drawer. At a version of myself I didn’t want to speak about until God knows when.

The rink was empty, except for the faint scraping of skates against the ice. Mila pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders, her breath visible in the chilled air. She had stayed late to check the equipment, organize some notes, and make sure everything was ready for the next day’s session. The solitude was familiar, comforting even. She liked this quiet moment after the chaos of practice, when the echoes of shouting and skates pounding the ice had faded, leaving only stillness.