Page 17 of Revenge Puck

And hot damn, she’s wearing my black and red jersey in the sea of blue and yellow Bobcat fans.

Christian’s eyes follow my finger when I point her out to him. His pale face instantly goes Warhawk red, either because of what the sign says about him or because the girl he was sleeping with is wearing my number. Maybe both.

“You son of a bitch!” he yells before he tosses his stick down. Next, he jerks each of his gloves off his hands and throws them on the ice to launch himself at me.

Since I’m several inches taller than the jerk, and therefore have longer arms, I’m easily able to hold him off me with a hand on his forehead while skating backwards. Hell, I’m too busy laughing at him losing his shit to even take a swing at him myself.

When I see a bunch of yellow jerseys heading toward us, I do give his head a push backwards hard enough that his skates slide out from under him, and he lands on his ass. There’s no reason for his entire team to jump in and start a fight before the puck drops.

“Can’t wait to make you kiss the boards all night long, asshole,” I tell him with a smile before I head to the locker room.

“What was that shit with Riley about?” Coach Ramsey asks as he follows me down the narrow hallway.

“Just giving him a taste of his own medicine.”

“We can’t afford to lose you to penalties, Lawrence. They’ll score on every power play they get.”

“I know that, and I’m good. I swear I won’t throw a punch at him or even retaliate if he tries that shit.”

“Oh, yeah? How can you be so sure? I know you’ve been ejected for brawling with him twice before.”

I come to a stop to turn around and face him, towering over the tall, lanky man in his dress shoes since I’m on skates. “How can I be sure I’ll get to Riley more than he’ll get to me? Because I’m fucking his girl.”

I know it’s just a rumor Elle and I managed to get circulating tonight. But if enough people believe a rumor, then it may as well be the truth.

“No kidding?” Coach says with a grin. “Good for you, Lawrence. Just don’t lose your edge during the finals from too much lovin’.”

“Too muchlovin’?” I can’t help but repeat the phrase back to him.

“You know what I’m talking about,” he huffs before stomping past me.

Unfortunately, I do know what he means. The buildup of testosterone makes me angrier, more aggressive, which is exactly what my team needs on the ice. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t date, not even in the off season. I can’t afford to have any distractions or waste time on drama with women, especially not with my contract on the line.

So, no matter how badly I may want to make the rumor about me and Elle a reality, I’m going to keep my big stick in my pants.

6

Elle

“This is all your fault!” some middle-aged man wearing Christian’s jersey and a Bobcats’ hat yells from the stairs next to our seats.

I glance around to see who he’s so furious at, but don’t see anyone causing a scene. That’s when I whisper to Audrey, “Is he talking to me?”

“Yes, I’m talking to you!” the man shouts.

I point at my chest again in confusion.

“You cheated on him with that prick!”

“Ah, I’m not sure who you’re talking about. I didn’t cheat on anyone,” I assure him.

“Even if she did, it’s none of your business, buddy!” Audrey yells back from her seat, which is closer to him.

“It’s my business, and every other fan’s if she ruined our best player!”

“Nobody ruined Christian Riley!” Audrey stands up to shout at him. “If you got a problem with how he’s playing, then take it up with him, jackass!”

“Your friend’s a traitorous slut!” he calls back before finally taking the steps up and away from us.