"Maya, are you sure you want to go home for spring break, we can stay here with you if you want?" I hug Maya tightly after she sets her bags down, already packed up and ready to leave.

"My dad is already downstairs waiting for me, besides you have to go to the game you literally made Ryder that sign last night. And Luna don't even suggest you skip because you're Francesca's ride. And Parker you have to go too now that you and Bray are finally on good terms."

"Fine," Luna pouts, joining our group hug. "But I am breaking that twat faces dick off."

We all hug her for another minute and I wipe a sad tear from her face before she grabs her bags. This is the first spring break that the four of us aren't spending together and it is all Pman's fault. Thursday before the team left they went out to lunch and we all thought he was finally going to make things official. Instead he told her she was too clingy at games and then dropped the bomb that they were never exclusive, meaning he had been hooking up with other girls the entire time. Maya was rightfully heart broken and came home hysterical. Since then our entire apartment has been the Pman hate house and thanks to Ryder we had a house key and full access to his bedroom. That was last night's project while I cared for the ladies. Thankfully by yesterday morning I was over whatever stomach bug I had so I could partake.

"I love you guys. Have a safe drive to Notre Dame and tell the team I said have a great final game." Maya leaves and the rest of us return to our rooms to finish getting ready. The game isn't until 6 and it is only a 3 hour drive so we aren't leaving until 2pm.

A little before 2 I head to hockey house to check on the ladies before we leave. Maya in her heartbroken state the last two days has been making them small Michigan jerseys with Ryder's number on them so I put them on and snap a bunch of cute pictures. They look so freaking cute and I know Ryder is going to freak out when he sees the pictures.

My phone vibrates as I take the small outfits off the rats and put them away.

Luna: Here.

I grab my stuff from Ryder's dresser and lock up the house before jumping into Tristian's car. The ride to Notre Dame is chaotic as most things we do as a team are. We took two cars and stayed on the phone with each other the entire time so all 14 of us could talk. The big topic of conversation of course Parker wearing a Michigan Hockey sweater and beanie. Today is the first time he didn't show up to a game dressed like it was a funeral. This is his olive branch to Bray after Bray stuck up for him at the bar after some guys made homophobic comments to Parker.

"Listen, Bray is still an ass but I am trying to be nice for the sake of both teams."

"And because he is hot," Heather who is in the other car yells.

"That entire team is hot especially their captain," someone else also in the other car says.

"Hey, that is Frans man," Tristian jokes. My entire team thanks to Luna knows that Ryder took care of me Wednesday night and also stopped by Thursday to check on me and bring me new soup. They think this is the perfect start of some hallmark rom com, but my team is also full of hopeless romantics who live with their heads in the clouds listening to too much Taylor Swift.

"He is no one's man."

"Says the girl who made him a sign and just had a photoshoot with rats wearing his jersey," Paulie says from the back row behind me.

I stop even attempting to argue with them because everything I say only fuels their delusions. I don't care too much about them joking about it when we are all together, but I have asked they don't do it in front of Ryder. I don't want this shit to make things between me and him uncomfortable. I will admit, I might be developing a small crush on Ryder but that doesn't mean I need to act on it. Anyone with a pulse would have fallen for Ryder a little after how sweet he was when I was sick. Especially when he pressed his lips to my forehead, I never realized how soft they were.

"We are here," Luna announces as the hockey arena comes into view. No one on the team knows we are coming. To celebrate we all brought signs for the team to cheer them on for their last game of the season. They are still #1 in the country so of course they made it to the playoffs, besides only losing 1 game all season is impressive and deserves to be celebrated.

The entire team is buzzing with excitement as we pile out of the cars and head inside. Before we enter I text Ryder and act like I am still at school and not 3 hours away at the game.

Me: Ready to watch you kick ass. Ladies just wanted to say good luck.

I include a bunch of pictures of them in their tiny little jerseys.

Ryder:I am going to explode, that is the cutest thing in the entire world. Thank you Beck!

Me: So you do watch porn before games, I knew it!

Ryder: ... Beck?

I don't answer him anymore as we walk through security getting dirty looks from a lot of the Notre Dame fans. "Fighting Irish, I will fight the Irish," Colleen whispers, giving some big guy who is watching us in disgust a dirty look.

"Simmer," I warn.

We all walk to our seats and wait for the teams to come out. We are sitting back a few rows from the Michigan bench and are easily noticeable given the light crowd in attendance. Our team kind of kicked Notre Dame's ass last night and it seems many did not return to watch it a second night.

When the team is announced we attempt to overshadow the boos with our own obnoxious screams. It isn't all that successful but it gets the teams attention and they all jump around and wave in excitement. Coach gives them a moment to acknowledge us before getting his team back in order.

Ryders line starts the game and the second the puck touches the ice he is doing what he does best. I have watched his play more times than I can count at this point but still every time he steps on the ice I am in awe.

When he scores we all cheer and I hold up my sign for him. In big sloppy letters it reads "you're the best #8! I am proud of you!" Instead of his usual post goal celebration Ryder stands in the middle of the ice just looking at us.

The game continues and every goal Ryder scores he points toward our little group of lunatic Michigan fans. Everyone who was sitting around us slowly moves away and by the end of the game we basically have a whole section of the arena to ourselves. A few of my teammates have formed a mini cheer squad and are chanting and performing full blown routines.

When the game ends we all run to find the locker room so we can see the team. They aren't going home until tomorrow but we decided to make the drive back tonight since we are all broke college students that can't afford to pay for a hotel.

By the time we manage to find where the locker room is the team is already showered and waiting for us. When they see us, complete pandemonium breaks out as both teams sprint toward each other in excitement.

I run straight for Ryder in his signature backwards cap. His smile is so big I think he might hurt his face if he smiles any harder. As soon am I am in arms reach of him he lifts me up and spins us around.

"Beck, you're incredible."

"Were you surprised?"

"About which part? It just kept getting better and better." Ryder makes no moves to set me down and I wrap my legs around his waist so I can look him in the face. My arms are resting on his shoulders and his arms are around my lower back holding me up.

"I wanted to thank you. For my brothers, for the soup, for taking care of me. I hope you know I appreciate you a lot Ry."

"You know, I never liked being called Ry."

"Oh, I am sorry." I can feel my cheeks heating a little bit. I don't know why, he literally calls me butt so if he doesn't like Ry he can get over it.

"Don't be, I think I like it. Well, at least when you say it."

Is Ryder flirting with me? This feels like flirting. Is this flirting or am I just out of practice? I haven't been on a date in so long I must be out of practice. Ryder surrounds himself with gorgeous women constantly and I doubt someone like him flirts with cheesy lines like 'I like when you call me that generic nickname'. Come on, even my cheeseball Ryder would have more game than that.

"What did you think of the ladies' little jerseys?"

"They are so fucking cute, where did you get them?"

"Maya, she was trying to distract herself."

Ryder does a sweep of the group, probably looking for Maya to thank her. I wonder if now that Pman is out of the picture I can set them up. Not right now of course, she needs to recover from Pman, but I think they'd get along together.

"How is she holding up? I am guessing she sat this game out?"

"She went home for the week, she will be back Thursday to come to our competition this weekend but she needed time away. I don't like your teammate right now."

"Honestly, no one is a big fan of his right now. We all yelled at him on the bus when you texted me what happened. My team really likes hanging out with your team and even Bray was furious that his stupidity jeopardized that."

"Speaking of Bray, look at those two." I nod my head toward Bray and Parker who are standing with a couple other people talking. They are basically shoulder to shoulder and it looks like they are having a civilized conversation with no fighting.

"I think hell has frozen over this week. They are getting along, you admitted I am usually right, an-"

"I was sick! Clearly delusional! You can't hold that against me Ryder!"

Ryder laughs tilting his head back. My hand twitches wanting to reach out and run my finger along his strong jawline. Up close like this he looks like he was sculpted by the gods.

"I just wish I had a recording of it," he teases while hoping a little to adjust me, my legs still around his waist and his arms still around mine. The way he holds me up like I weigh nothing makes butterflies erupt in my stomach.

"You're a bully," I pout while dramatically flinging my head into his chest and fake crying.

"Welcome to my life, I learned from the biggest bully ever."

I am about to fake cry more when someone clearing their throat grabs my attention. Ryder sets me down finally and we both look at the source of the noise. Bray and Parker are standing together while a number of people stand huddled together behind them nervously. "Fryder."

"Yes," we question in unison, becoming a united force to counter their united force. Never did I think this day would come.

"We have a proposition," Bray says while Parker nods.

"Which is," he best friend replies while I just watch the two hockey players sizing each other up.

"Assassins," Parker answers and now I look at him gauging the situation.

"Are we putting a hit on someone? I know we are all kind of ticked at Pman but I don't think I can condone murder Parker."

"We want to play," Bray clarifies.

"Who is we?"

"Both teams. We know that you two probably want to make rules and stuff which is fine but we figured with all the down time we are going to have during spring break it might be fun," Parker explains to Ryder and we both look at each other.

"Beck, side bar?"

We turn our backs to everyone and whisper to each other. "I think it might be fun as long as we have rules about what is off limits like practices and other vulnerable places like showers and bathrooms."

"Agreed, and since your team has competition this week we can use silly string instead of sharpie. I don't think your coaches or the judges would like a team of figure skaters with sharpie marks all over them."

"So we are saying yes?"

"I think so."

I nod at Ryder and we both turn around. "Ok, tomorrow we will meet at the arena when the team bus gets in to go over some rules and pick who is assigned to who, everyone good with that?"

Both teams cheer at my announcement and break off into little groups to strategize. Coach comes out a few minutes later and announces the team bus is waiting and they need to go. We all say out goodbyes and I give Ryder a hug before he leaves.

"Oh Beck, wait before you go."

"Yeah?"

"Can I maybe have the sign," he asks nervously, motioning to the crinkled sign I am still holding.

"Of course." I hand it to him and he gingerly takes it. He opens it and reads it once before giving me one last hug and jogging to catch up with his team.