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Justin didn’t budge. We were of similar height and build, but that was where the similarities ended. I pushed his shoulders, shoving him out of my face. “She deserves to be treated better than that.”
“Make up your fucking mind.” Justin shoved me hard enough to send my back crashing into the lockers. “Either you want me to leave her alone, or you’re okay with me asking her out. Which is it?”
“I’m saying you should have treated her with more respect from the beginning. You treated her like all your other dates. Fuck ‘em and leave ‘em. That’s what you do, right? Well, Lucy deserves better.” My chest heaved and I fought for control. I didn’t usually fight outside the rink, but this had gone too far.
Justin swung a fist at my jaw. “You don’t own my life. You might tell me what to do on the ice, but my life out there is none of your business.”
I ducked under his fist and landed a punch to his kidneys. “You need to break things off with Lucy, but do it right.” The burst of movement caused sweat to gather in the small of my back. I grabbed Justin’s hand when he went in for another punch and pulled it around behind his back.
He wrenched out of my grasp and whirled around, quicker than I expected, and wrapped both arms around my waist. He lifted me off the ground and slammed my back into the lockers. Once. Twice. On the third hit, I raised both my fists over my head and slammed them into his spine.
He howled in outrage and threw me aside. “You asshole.” He prowled back and forth in front of me, watching for my next move. “You can’t tell me you don’t want her. I saw the way you and Zachary watched her. You’re as hard up as I am.” He kickedout at my calves and I skipped out of range. “Admit it. You’re jealous that I asked her out.”
Zachary stepped between us and grabbed each of us by the collar. “Your voices are so fucking loud I heard you out in the hallway. Care to tell me why you’re shouting about Lucy where everyone and their brother can hear you? Where herdadcan hear you?”
“Fuck. He’s not here, is he?” I curled my hands around Zachary’s wrist and tried to pry his fingers open. I’d have an easier time trying to unhinge a shark’s mouth.
“What do you care?” Justin snarled. He walked backward until he was out of Zachary’s reach. His shirt would tear before Zack turned him loose.
“You’re putting the entire team at risk.” I smacked at Zachary’s elbow, trying to break his hold. Nothing worked. The guy was built like a tank and once he found a purpose, nothing could shake him loose. “If you hurt Lucy and her dad finds out it was you, it’s over.”
“For me.” Justin threw his hands out in a wild gesture. “It has nothing to do with you. If I want to ruin my career, so be it. Lucy is worth the risk.”
What the fuck? I’d never heard him be this passionate about anything, much less a woman. I didn’t know that I believed him.
“I’m not fooling around with her. I like her.” There was almost a plea in his eyes the way he looked at me. “Like, really like her.”
“I don’t believe that.” I shook my head and gave up trying to get away from Zachary. He’d let us go when he was ready. Muscled fucker couldn’t help but step between us. He thrived on calm and would fight to the death for any of his teammates. On or off the ice.
Zachary released us, his knuckles popping after holding so tight for so long. He took one step back, both hands close enoughto grab us again if we went after each other. “I think he’s telling the truth, Lennox.”
“What?” I spluttered and shook my head. “No way. He’s never serious about any of them.”
“Doesn’t mean he can’t change.” Zachary lifted one shoulder. He stared hard at Justin. “He was different with her at the bar. More careful. He’s willing to fight you, which is a pretty big deal for both of you. Seems to me you both like her.”
“You too, motherfucker.” Justin’s grin widened now that he knew he had Zachary on his side. He clapped Zachary’s shoulder and squeezed, trying to rock Zachary back and forth. “Seems like we all have the hots for the same girl.”
“Not that it matters,” I admitted with growl. “We can’t all date Lucy. One of us with her is enough to ruin the team dynamics. It’s ruining the three of us already.”
“Not me.” Zachary held up both hands and took a step back. “I’m fine with it.”
Justin smirked and clapped his hands together. “This is great.”
The door opened and the rest of the team filed in. They barely looked at us as they came in, and I felt a rush of relief that Zachary stepped in when he did, or Justin and I might still be screaming and punching each other.
Poor Lucy. She had no idea the shit she was stirring up. We all dressed for practice. I couldn’t get Lucy out of my head. Justin was right, I liked her. Zachary hadn’t denied it either. His wholefine-with-itattitude caused a momentary distraction. What did that mean? What did Justin mean when he said I should ask Lucy out too? I couldn’t ask him, but he’d said he wasn’t backing down. Did he intend for us to let her choose who she’d rather be with?
Our teammates roughhoused and talked, their voices drowning out my thoughts as the excitement of heading out topractice built up in the locker room. After winning our game, we were all ready to get out there and prep for the next one. Coach wouldn’t take it easy on us because we’d won. If anything, he’d crack down harder.
Would Lucy be there to watch? Damn it, I had to stop thinking about her.
Grabbing my helmet and my stick, I followed Zachary and Justin into the hallway. We hung back from the rest of the team. I clacked my stick against Justin’s. “Sorry.”
He shot a sideways grin at me. “Sorry we didn’t get to finish our fight?”
“Insufferable bastard.” I elbowed him hard enough that he crashed into Zachary, who hit the wall and bounced back with a shove.
We drew closer to Lucy’s office and the three of us straightened. The door opened and she stepped out. I’d be damned if my heart didn’t stop in those few seconds that I took her in. Black pants covered her long legs, and she wore a teal blouse open at the throat with a gray scarf around her neck. Her cheeks pinked when she looked at Justin.
