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Coach calls off the first line after the first period. Levi scolds me for being distracted on the rink and Coach pats me on the back for making it up with the first score of the season. Braylon chest bumps everyone in the third line and defense.
“I’m sorry,” I say to Levi, “I just got distracted.”
“Could your stepsister be the reason for such a distraction?” he says loudly. The team snickers and whoops.
“Shut the fuck up,” I yell. “That’s not it.” I hate the way Levi acts on the rink; he’d rather sink my career if it meant saving the Royals’. That’s what landed him the first line beside me, his disgusting loyalty. A great friend, a soul-sucking competitive teammate.
Taylor will pay for this.
…
The team disperses after a close win of 3-2. We meet at Bellagio's for pizza and beer, but I sneak out early to go home. I have some research to do about Taylor. She doesn’t know who she’s fucking with.
10
TAYLOR CROMWELL
The game was surprisingly fun. Watching Elijah pound the glass was the best part, of course. But others would disagree, saying his rage-induced score was the talking point of the game. Stephanie says there’s a party at one of the players’ houses in my neighborhood and we have to go.
We pile into her car, and I yank off my jersey, not wanting to turn any more heads. It also feels disrespectful in another player’s house. I do have some self-preservation.
“Did you see how angry Elijah was?” Olive says from the back seat.
“So hot,” Stephanie says.
I give her a look, and she laughs.
“Don’t act like he’s not hot, Taylor. Brother or not, I’d totally hit that if I didn’t already have dibs on Levi.” I cringe at the thought of her trying to fuck Elijah.
“I’m loyal to Levi. Sorry, Taylor,” Olive says.
I turn around and look at her. “Sorry? Why are you sorry? God, he’s my stepbrother now, okay? That’s it.”
“Sounds like the opening scene to a porno,” Stephanie says in a sultry voice. “Forbidden sex. Yum.”
“Bow chick-a wow wow,” Olive sings.
“You two are unbelievable, you know that?”
Stephanie parks on the street only a block from my house. “The player’s girlfriend set the whole thing up, I don’t even think the players are at the party yet,” Stephanie says, looking at the mansion with strobing lights.
“Whose house is this?” I ask.
“Not sure. I think one of the back defenders.”
“Come on, what’re we waiting for?” Olive says, kicking open the door and running up to the entrance. Her hair flounces around her as she dashes up the steps and swings the door open.
Stephanie and I join her, walking into the grand entrance of the home. Wow. I thought Jessica and Dad’s place was insane. This house makes it look like a hut in comparison. Right away, I recognize the pictures of the family on the walls. I pull Stephanie aside.
“You didn’t tell me this is the house of an NHL player,” I hiss, feeling thankful I took off my Warrior’s jersey. Stephanie looks at the walls of the famous NHL player adorning his jersey.
She shrugs. “This row of houses has a lot of NHL and NFL players; I thought you knew that. How else would they afford it?”
“I—I don’t know,” I bite my lip. She grabs my hand as we head towards the kitchen at the back of the open-concept first floor. Music blares from the speakers and beautiful girls dance around the house, cheering and spilling their drinks as they go.
Olive sneaks up behind us with a drink already in her hand. “What a clam bake, amiright? When are the players coming?”
Stephanie gives her a hilarious look. “Please, Olive, refrain from ever saying that again.”
