Page 28 of Game Misconduct

“Viv like Vivi? Like Vivian?” Murray repeated.

“Vivian Ashwood,” I clarified. “Jess’s roommate.”

Murray straightened. “You be good to that one. Chloe really likes her, so if you mess with her, you face not only her wrath but the entire Pride’s.”

Schultz and Hartman confirmed.

“Plus, we like her,” Olli Letang called from a few feet away. “So you’ll deal with us too.”

I wished I could record this to prove to Viv how much everyone here liked her. Then she would finally believe me.

“It’s not like that.” It was time to explain.

“You and Viv?” Jason appeared and pursed his lips. “I can’t say I’m all that surprised. It was only a matter of time before one of the single lads swept her up.”

“She’s a doll, that one,” Letang said with a smile.

“Why are you guys talking like that?” Schultz asked.

They shrugged, and Mitch wandered over. “Did you say something about Viv?”

“Oh yeah, Parker’s having problems with her,” Murray said before I could open my mouth. “She probably just wants you to come out of your shell more.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. I never actually said there was a problem, but now I felt self-conscious. What if that was a real issue for her? I was pretty introverted, while she was the type to never meet a stranger.

“I didn’t know you two––” Mitch began. His tone sounded off.

“It’s time, Fury!” Coach Rust walked in, ending our conversation.

I wanted to ask Mitch why he was so interested, but it would have to wait until after the game.

We marched down the hall and, one by one, stepped onto the ice as cheers erupted from the crowd. The energy soaked into every inch of me, getting me ready to play like no speech, song, or ritual could. This was what I lived for. This was why I trained so hard and pushed my body to the limits day after day. The fans’ reactions to just seeing us was fuel to the fire in my soul. I wouldn’t give this up until I literally couldn’t keep going. It was the least they deserved for loving and supporting us even on our darkest days.

“Heads up.” Hartman bumped into me, then pointed to a section of the audience. It was where the Pride sat. Mitch pointed it out to me on the last game, but I didn’t think much of it. I had no reason to then, but now I searched the rows until I found Viv’s face. She was waving and grinning like the women around her. I waved, and she jumped up and down a bit.

If I wasn’t careful, I’d let her presence distract me tonight, and that wasn’t why I was here. She was just one in the thousands. I couldn’t think about her, our complicated friendship, or the guys’ assumption that there was something going on between us. That could all be dealt with later.

The whistle blew, and I went back to the bench for the opening ceremony. Jason tapped on my shoulder to tell me to scoot down as the game started, and we sat down.

“Get a point tonight,” he said just loud enough for me to hear.

“That’s the goal every game,” I countered.

“I’ll give you a hundred if you can pull off an assist tonight.” He wagged his brows.

As a left wing, that was my primary function. Get the puck from the center, shoot, score. It wasn’t like I was out there for kicks and giggles, but if he wanted to give me a hundred bucks, I wasn’t going to turn him down.

“Sure.” I agreed, and he knocked my helmet.

After four minutes of play, we stood for our line change.

“Oh and I meant get an assist before me,” he called as he hopped on the ice and skated into position.

I almost laughed. Since he was the right wing on my line, we’d have pretty equal footing. He wanted to turn up the competition? That was fine. I slapped my stick down, and Brandon Cullen, our center, gave me a nod. He knew I was ready and hungry for this.

When we got back on the bench after three minutes of play, after bumping gloves with the team, Jason laughed and hit the back of my helmet. “Double or nothing?”

I shrugged. “Sure.”