Still Beating Jennifer Hartmann Novels & Stories

TRISTAN Three weeks had passed since that shitshow of a game and I owed it to myself to be even more prepared this time. That was why I had clips of Hunter Beaumont queued up on my phone—every last game from last season where that fucker had dominated the ice. I watched him glide through defenders like they were simply traffic cones, his effortlessness when he set up plays. The loops through his highlights made my jaw fucking ache from being clenched so tightly. Fucking asshole.

“Sir, to inform you that the engineer will see us at the site at 2:00, I already sent you the location.” “Then we have time to have breakfast.” Alicia looked at her watch; it read 8:30. “Yes, sir.” Without warning, a girl approached them. “Excuse me?” She turned to Axel a little embarrassed. He looked at the girl. She had never seen such an attractive man. Axel stood up from where he was sitting, putting his sandals back on. “Tell me?” He answered very seriously, but it didn't take away from his attractiveness. “What happens is that... I watched you and I was wondering if you wanted to go have a drink with me.”

My lungs burned, sweat dripping down my neck. “Fuck.” I need to perfect my triple axel spin before the annual figure championship, maybe I’m just too in my head, maybe the song isn’t right, maybe the routine is just bad. I reset and tried again. Halfway through, I stumbled, landing hard on my side. My chest heaved, frustration clawing at me. I pushed my hair away from my forehead, panting… but then I froze, Because he was there. Asher Beckett, leaning casually against the boards like he’d been there all along. Stick in one hand, smirk plastered across his face.

Jennifer protested feeling aggrieved "I'm just perfect, BEAT IT," Jack said without batting an eyelid. "Shameless!" Jennifer berated angrily. "I see you haven't had enough?" Jack asked with a smirk. "You... you... YES! YES! COME AT ME I'LL DEAL WITH YOU!! HYAA!!" Jennifer screamed in anger and decided to at least land a punch at Jack's smug face. Jack simply grabbed her hand and pulling her to himself, he twisted her hands backward making her yelp in pain.

I shut out my thoughts about her so I can give Colton a good beat down. Coach blows the whistle and we’re off again. Colton is trying to be sneaky and exploit my weaknesses, but I know his too. We duke it out for 4 minutes before I finally have him pinned. Slightly harder than Grant but still not the biggest challenge; I still didn’t have to go all out. I look up to see Lindsey in the winners’ area again. “Well well well. You ready for the final four?” “I guess. Are you challenging me?” I laugh but right before I can accept, one of the guys calls me over to be his partner.

STEFAN “Hart.” The name leaves my mouth sharper than I intended. Three days after Leo and Adrian’s engagement party, I’m standing in the Aurora Wolves training facility, leaning against the glass wall of the gym. Across the room, Noah Hart is kneeling beside a stack of resistance bands, organizing equipment for the afternoon physio sessions. He ignores me. Completely. Typical. My trainer pushes through the door behind me, clipboard in hand. “Warm-up in five, captain.”

Marissa told them. “Yes, Marissa is right. You guys did an amazing job. No one will be disheartened if we lost. Everyone who performed today equally deserved the trophy. It depends on the judges whom they liked the best. Be proud of what you achieved till now.” Ronny explained to them. “Guys, judges will be announcing the result soon. Let’s go backstage.” Cameron informed them. “Olivia, Caleb, and Jenny are already waiting there. All of them went backstage and had their fingers crossed for the result.

The other side of the ring was damaged and my opponent was thrown out due to the force of my blow. She lost consciousness and her face was bloody. My whole body trembled at what had happened because I did not expect to be able to beat him with just one blow. I turned to Coach Nieves, who obviously still couldn't believe what I did. He applauded, and all the audience applauded. "Amazing! Did you see that? Just one punch from Ms. Smith knocked down our Champion Ms. Hammer. It's different and extra ordinary! "The host said in amazement.

Coach is subtly agitating for me to find a partner because the prize money for dual matches doubled this year. Miss Jota turns to Ben, I ball my hands into fists. If he so much as mentions a word about the ring, I will deny him. Ben matches her stare with equal intensity, she shakes her head and peeks at her wristwatch. “We will continue next week.” My relief is enormous, I exhale and nod vigorously. Her phone rings, she pulls it out of her pocket and frowns at the screen. “Just a minute,” she says and exits the hall.

I have one job, win this game. Mitchell skates past me, shoulder-checking me harder than necessary. “Nice punch, Hart,” he sneers. “Too bad your head’s not in the game.” I don’t look at him. I don’t react. I just keep skating. He hates that. Next shift, he tries again, a shove to my back, a slash to my stick, a muttered insult about my team. Still nothing. I’m not giving him the satisfaction. But then he says her name. “Hey, how’s your little ice princess? Lena, right? Shame, she got hurt. But maybe I can help her 'heal' up”