“He didn’t follow me,” was all Jett could get out.
And then he shut the door behind him, slid slowly to the floor andcried.
Jett
“Can someone let me know when Fraser decides to show up? It’s getting boring out here without that little ferret running around, trying to fuck up my defence.”
“Mind your own business, Wolfy! Leave Fraser alone, or I’ll have Coach push you down to fourth line.”
Jett ignored their argument and tried to focus on what he was doing, which was getting the damn puck into the damn net—a skill he seemed to be lacking lately.
It was easier to steer clear when Bracken and Wolf clashed over something stupid. Between Ryan Bracken’s fiery Scottish temper and Detlef Wolf’s cold, calculated fury, things could get explosive fast. Most of the time, they were great friends. But when it came to hockey, all bets were off—and so were the gloves.
It didn’t help that Wolf liked to aggravate Jett because he was younger and smaller than him, and Bracken was crazy protective over him because he saw him as another little brother. Wolf wasn’t actually trying to be rude; he was joking like all veterans did with the younger players. Bracken didn’t care about that, and Wolf had a habit of getting under his skin.
Match, meet gasoline.
Jett was glad they had time to work out their aggression before a real game. It was a different vibe when they got down to business. Their friendship and bickering were well known and celebrated, and the fans loved watching their pregame fist bumps and brotherly razzing on the ice.
There were those two, and then there was—
Maniacal laughter ahead wasn’t enough to make Jett stumble, but he knew he had missed his shot when he touched the puck.
Jason Powers was on fire today. He snatched the puck out of the air with effortless precision, making it look so easy that Jett felt like he hadn’t tried.
Fucking goalie.
Good thing he was on their team.
They paused their play, since Wolf and Bracken were still arguing, and Jett took a moment to practice his stick-handling with the puck Powers had tossed in front of him. At this rate, he was the one who was going to end up on the fourth line.
He shouted as someone lifted him off his feet in a quick hug, then dropped him back onto his skates. He wobbled, slipping slightly before regaining his balance.
“Jetty!”
A big glove touched the top of his head and gave him a shake, knocking him off balance again.
“Is everything alright?” Powers asked, spinning Jett around so they could talk face to face. “Ryan was saying you were acting shell-shocked.”
Jett wasn’t surprised that Powers and Bracken were swapping info. Their goalie and captain were best friends and roommates, and despite how close they were and how much time they spent together, they were astonishingly very straight and both single.
Their relationship had fooled Jett when he first joined the team. He and Powers started their rookie year together, and they both had been roommates with Bracken long enough to get settled on the team while they found a place to live.
Okay,Jettmoved out, but Powers had been content to stay where he was at Bracken’s house, and they were still going strong.
Bracken and Powers were openly affectionate with each other, and always went around saying they werework husbands.Jett had assumed they were a couple because they were still living together, and it wasn’t like they’d been lifelong friends, but Bracken was quick to correct him when he asked.
“We just clicked.”
That’s what he’d said. And now that Jason had signed another contract for eight years with the Sunbursts, they were practically inseparable. Preston Rose—their previous starter goalie—was happy to let Powers take the lead and help him grow before he retired next year.
The team’s chemistry with Powers in net was electric. He was young, sure—but undeniably talented, and it brought out the best in everyone around him.
In other words, their team vibe was fantastic right now, and Jett was the only thing bringing them down.
“I’m fine,” Jett lied. “I didn’t get much of a break during the off-season. I’m easing back into things so I don’t burn out.”
Powers wasn’t like Bracken, who had been on the Sunbursts since the beginning of his hockey career. He was a new and shiny star—the same age as Jett, young and energetic. Burn out was a foreign concept to him.
