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“Piper ran into her,” Lucas said, his cocky grin aching to be punched.
“What are you getting at?”
“You guys are getting pretty serious. Are you preparing her for what pro-hockey life is going to be like?”
I rubbed my chest as a sharp pain pierced through it. “She’ll be long gone when we leave for training camp.” Even as the words came out, I could hear the ache laced through them.
He eyed me thoughtfully for a few beats before nodding and moving to walk away but stopped, turning to look at me. “Be careful that you know what you’re doing.” With that bit of nonsense, he left the locker room.
It wasn’t long before the building was echoing with our school chants, sending shock waves of energy through me. My blood pounded in my veins as my heart beat in my chest. I tipped my head back and breathed, a smile breaking through. A Cheshire grin crossed Lucas’s mouth as we shared a knowing look. There was nothing quite like the high I got from playing with the home crowd.
I spotted Sidney sitting beside Mia in the players’ seats. Her sultry eyes met mine, trapping me to her. She bit down on her lower lip, and my tongue rolled over mine, wetting her phantom bite. Rocky could go fuck himself with his PR bullshit. This girl was mine, and it was time she knew it.
Alex tapped my back with his stick. “Focus, man, before the coach catches you.”
I dragged my attention back to the game and set up for the face-off. The guy from the opposing team crowded into my space and overlapped our sticks. It was legal but an asshole move.
“Fuck off.” I flipped his stick off with my own and took a quick look at him before the puck dropped.
He nodded toward Sidney. “Your puck slut’s hot. Wonder if she’d take me for a ride?”
My gaze flashed white, then black, as rage pulsed through my veins. It was only Alex’s bumping my shoulder that stopped me from taking him down right here. I chuckled, but it was dark and laced with malice. “You’re fucking dead.”
Alex cut in. “You’re fucked now, buddy.”
The second the whistle blew, the guy took off from beside me, running fucking scared. But this was hockey, and there was nothing stopping me from taking him out. My blood pulsed in my ears, blocking out all sound as I skated across the rink directly toward him. I crashed into his side with all my momentum, driving his body into the boards directly in front of Sid. I winked at her, and her cheeks flushed. “That’s for you, Trouble.”
The ref called me on a five-minute major, but I was more than happy to take the penalty.
TWENTY-ONE
SIDNEY
WatchingJax was like seeing the devil incarnate. The way he moved was both like he could kick someone’s ass or take someone on the table. He was sucking down water in between shifts, and I couldn’t help but watch the way he moved on the ice. He was made for this.
Jax gave me the attention that every other girl begged for. Even when he wasn’t looking at me, his body drifted toward mine. We were being tugged toward each other, and I couldn’t slow it down. Truth was, I didn’t want to.
When Mia and I got to Offside, the DJ was already set up.
“You look pretty starstruck.” Mia’s smile took up her entire face.
“Don’t even start.”
“I’m just saying there’s something between you two. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you, and he was playing a freaking hockey game.”
“I’m not talking about this,” I deadpanned.
Mia linked her arm with mine, effectively letting me off the hook. “Drinks?”
“Drinks!” I was going to need something to take the edge off after watching Jax play.
A round of shots later, Mia led me out to the dance floor.
My eyes closed, and I let the house music move through my body. I loved dancing, the way it took over every thought and allowed me to let go.
Thick arms wrapped around me from behind, and I leaned back, expecting to smell Jax’s now familiar scent. Instead, I was met with the reek of stale beer.
“Let go of me, asshole.” I pushed against his arms, anger building in my chest.
