AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I collapsed on the bench in front of a spare locker and laid my head back against it. Someone sat beside me, and I didn’t open my eyes, not ready to tell whoever it was to fuck off.
“You doing okay?” Of course it was Boss.
Besides Atlas, Boss was a leader on the team and a big brother to everyone. As much as I wanted to tell him off, I couldn’t because I liked him. It was hard not to get sucked in by his brash personality. “Fine.”
“How often have you said that word?” Boss asked.
I laughed despite my need to wallow. “So many times. It’s the only one in my vocabulary.”
“Atlas is worried.”
I snorted and finally opened my eyes to glance in Atlas’s direction. Even though he obviously tried not to stare at me, I didn’t miss the way he snuck looks. “Bullshit. He’s glad he’s captain. That’s what he wanted in the first place.”
“He never wanted you to get hurt,” Boss murmured quietly.
I inhaled deeply. “All right.”
“Is that your way of telling me to skip directly to hell?” He grinned when I raised my eyebrows at him.
“Would you fuck off if I said it was?”
“Rawr. Look at those fangs come out, Birdy. Didn’t know you had it in you.” His nose wrinkled and he stuck out his tongue.
As soon as the nickname left his lips, my entire body stiffened. Anger consumed me. “Don’t fucking call me that.”
“What?” He blinked at me in surprise. “Atlas calls you Birdy.”
“He can,youcan’t.” The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.
Boss frowned.
The team had noticed us. My outburst hadn’t helped.
Atlas grew so tense I could see the outline of his hardened muscles from here. He stood shirtless with only his padded pants around his hips, the belt that held them up already cinched around his waist. It was difficult to tear my gaze away from him, but I managed.
Coach chose the right moment to get everyone’s attention, and I ignored Boss as he continued to stare at me. Coach went through the game plan again, and the guys offered their opinions while I sat there in misery.
When it was time to leave, I let them all go first. Atlas didn’t exit as fast, though. Even Coach went out the door before him.
I shook my head. “Don’t say whatever you’re going to say,At Last.”
“You’re back to the insults. At least that’s something.” Atlas stopped in front of me, all dressed and ready to play like I should’ve been. I hated to admit it, but Atlas was hot in his hockey gear and it did something to me that it shouldn’t have. Despite my pain, my dick twitched in my suit pants. Fucking traitor.
I sighed. “I’m only here because your dad would’ve driven me crazy if I didn’t come.”
He grunted. “Fuck him. He’s an asshole.”
“A bit like his son,” I murmured before I could stop myself.
Atlas grimaced. “You really think I’m like him?”
Remorse slithered through me. “Fuck. Nah, you’re nothing like him. You are an asshole, but a different kind of asshole.”
He rolled his eyes. “Good to know.” He went to leave, but I grabbed his hand before he could get any farther.
I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment, then shoved to my feet. It wasn’t easy without the crutches, which leaned against the bench beside me, and he reached out to steady me, concern flooding his eyes. I gripped his arms through his jersey, also getting a good feel of the shoulder pads underneath.
“Good luck.” I gritted my jaw, then relaxed it again and leaned forward to kiss him. I expected rejection, but it didn’t come. Instead, he kissed me back, his mouth moving against mine with a need that had my toes curling in my shiny shoes. It’d been too long since I’d gotten him inside me, but I hadn’t exactly been in the mood to try and have sex while I was in so much pain. “Kick their asses for me.”
