Page 47 of Pucking Grey

“Yeah, that would be nice actually. Do I have to stay here while you’re gone?”

I shrug because I don’t care. She jumps up excitedly.

“Wait, I’m allowed to go home?” she jokes, and I roll my eyes. “Well, what am I going to do while my boyfriend is away?”

“Use a dildo.”

“Okay.” She gives me an annoyed tone. “That’s not what I meant. Do you always have sex at the forefront of your mind? Jesus, Grey. It’s first thing in the morning.”

I shake my head. “Nope. I’m taking a month’s hiatus. No thoughts of sex at all so far.”

She lifts one sassy eyebrow at me. “You’re going out of town, and you expect me to trust that you’re not thinking about sex?” I grab a few things from the dresser as she whispers, “Especially if your…thingcries.”

“You have my word,” I say, pretending like she didn’t just say that. “You’re only as good as your word. Isn’t that why you’re staying here with me? Keeping your word.”

“No, I’m staying here to piss off my ex. Did you hear anything about last night? Did they tell him about how loud we were being?”

I shrug. “I’ll find out later. I’m not someone they run to tell gossip to unless someone needs a punch to their face.”

“Gosh, okay.” She looks around the room. “I get to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

“Just tonight. I’m back tomorrow. You should meet me in the parking lot where the bus drops us off.”

“That’s not too much?” She scrunches her nose, questioning me again. What the hell did I tell her yesterday? Everything I say is calculated and intentional.

“No, it’s not too much. It’s going to solidify the rumors – if there are any.”

“Okay. Meet you at the parking lot, got it. Should I bring a poster board?”

I raise a brow at her. She flipped one-eighty on me there.

Her eyes light up. “Oh, you would be so embarrassed if I did that. I would be your cringy girlfriend.”

“If it pisses off Matt, you can do whatever you want. This is also your game to play.”

I don’t know what kind of look that is, but she’s thinking about something, and I decide not to ask.

Ace is giving me eyes across the locker room before the game. Out of all the guys, Ace and I are the closest because we’re the most alike. Crew catches onto our silent language and keeps his gaze on me. It’s a neutral look, but one that I don’t get very often from him. His mind is probably running through reasons why Madison likes me.Yeah, I think to myself.It’s this pretty fucking face, Crew. Knox, who instigates everything, is now looking between all of us. He breaks the tension by saying, “Who the fuck cares about what’s going on outside the rink, boys.”

“Amen,” I say, tugging on my helmet.

The game is easy enough through the first quarter. I made a goal, Matt made a goal, and fuck me for being grateful we’re brothers on the ice first. He’s not scowling at me for fucking his girl last night, so I assume he either doesn’t know or doesn’t care. Or he’s really good at pretending.

I hear a loud scream from the stands, and it distracts me while we take our places. On my way, I dare to glance in the stands. There’s Madison, looking like a puck bunny, with a huge poster that reads: I’M PUCKING GREY.

Jesus Christ, Madison.

I take my place, trying hard to focus on the game. But I risk one more look at her. Her hair is down, and glitter makes her face beam under the light. She notices my head turn, so she screams again. And I’m fucking distracted. Is she wearing my jersey? Her enthusiastic jumping up and down because she got my attention is making me…nervous. I had no idea she was coming up here for the game. And how long has she been screaming for my attention? I glance at Matt and regain focus. I can’t play like shit because of a girl. That’s not me.

When I make the winning goal, I can hear her in the stands. Wow, she is playing this girlfriend thing a little too well.

She comes down to talk to me and shows me the poster through the glass.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” I say through the crack of the glass.

“Crazy for you.” She winks as I stare at her.

Damn, she’s good.

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