Page 15 of Pucked-Up Roommate Deal

“My father told me a little about him.”

“Oh. Which brings us back to another problem.”

“The only problem is my dad shouldn’t use the phone without supervision. Makes me seriously question how he’s successful in business. He wasn’t calling to warn you off. He was calling to tell you that our family has your back.”

I wasn’t sure how to process that. Warmth filled my chest and something burned my eyes. Blinking it away, I took a bracingbreath. No one had had my back in…well, ever that I could think of. Maybe, my mom had before she disappeared. I couldn’t remember. I’d been so little then. And I’d been taking care of myself since the morning I’d last seen her.

“But your career—” I asked weakly.

“Has nothing to do with it. The sins of your father don’t reflect on you, and if it’s going to be an issue with anyone, I’ll choose you first. Even over hockey.”

“Porter…” I gasped.

His eyes looked glossy and I could see how much that choice would rip him up. “Even hockey,’ he repeated, more determination in his voice. “Look, I… I know it’s too soon to have big feelings, forever feelings, but you have to admit—”

“I have big feelings for you, too,” I interrupted. He’d just told me he’d pick me over the sport he’d played since he was four. I would throw him any God damn rope he needed. I’d give him whatever he wanted.

His lips rolled together, and he nodded, capturing my hand and lacing our fingers together. Our locked gazes spoke what we couldn’t put into words. Porter might have needed me for a one-night deal, but it was turning out to be the deal of a lifetime. We couldn’t say it out loud yet, but this was…this could be…forever.

“Let’s take your brother out then get him settled. You can tell me all about your feelings tonight.”

“I’m a guy. We don’t talk about feelings.”

“Fine,” he smirked. “I guess you’ll just have to show me. What do you say?”

I shook my head, smiling, overwhelmed by how much my life had changed in just a week. I had my family here. I had my boyfriend, the hottest jock on campus in my opinion. And I had a future I never dared imagine.

I brushed my lips over his, then hugged him to me, swaying as I held him, bringing us both comfort.

“I say… Deal, Porter. You have a deal.”

Epilogue

Nash

There was something about watching my man on the ice that had me wanting to take him home and give him a good body slam—on the mattress. That was usually the way things went. I went to all his games and afterward I helped him will all the aggression he didn’t release during the game. Although tonight…shit. Porter was full of aggression.

Though I was up in one of the boxes, with drinks and snacks flowing behind me, my attention was glued to the action.

Brisson on the other team had been talking shit the entire game. He and Porter had history from college, and apparently, it was continuing. Porter had already landed in the penalty box twice after getting into it with the guy. Which was something, considering Porter was on the third line, so he didn’t necessarily get as much ice time as other guys in the first and second lines. He didn’t mind not being first or second line, though. He was just thrilled to be pro and that he wasn’t in the minors, which was where he figured he’d start.

Still, everyone knew when his line went in things were gonna get physical.

The crowd roared as he and the winger opposite him shouldered through the other team’s defense, battling toward the net.Everything moved so fast, I’d lost track of the puck, but I knew approximately where it was. I sat forward, tension vibrating through me, as sticks clashed near the goalie and a body from the other team went flying sideways, during the body to body action.

The horn went off, and the Lynx fans surged to their feet, screaming as our team got their third goal of the night. Porter circled his fist in the air, but I yelled, seeing Brisson beelining for him, slamming him into the boards.

“Porter,” I yelled, seeing his helmet go flying, his face smashed to the glass.

“Oh God,” the coach’s wife, Iris, murmured beside me. “This will be bad.

Down below, I saw coaches yelling as gloves were thrown and at least five other players joined the fray while refs tried to break up the brawl.

I couldn’t breathe as they finally peeled Brisson off Porter. Blood covered my man’s face when they got him off the ice and guided toward the locker room.

“Come on,” Iris said, tugging my arm. “Let’s go down. He’s gonna want you.”

Minutes later, security let me through and I rushed to where the team’s doctor was checking Porter. His jersey was off

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