Page 98 of The Flirty Forward

I face her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. The Legends are nasty. You probably noticed from the first period—they’re just plain mean.”

I had noticed, but I thought it was just because I wasn’t used to the violence. It seemed our guys were responding to it. Aiden seemed more aggressive than usual. I even saw Sebastian slam somebody against the boards, which I’ve never seen him do. Of course, I haven’t watched all that many games, either.

I settle back in my seat and wait for the second period to start, more nervous now than I was before. I check my phone and see a text from Brielle.

Brielle-are you watching the game tonight?

Stephanie-I'm at the game

Brielle-really? Me too! I hate the Legends!

Stephanie-yeah, Sebastian’s sister was just telling me that they’re a rough team

Brielle-this is that team that has the guy that I had a run-in with last season

Brielle-remember when that guy came to my shop and took a picture with me and it sparked all sorts of comments and problems because people thought I was cheating on Aiden...even though we weren’t even dating for real...anyway, this guy is on that team

Brielle-Blake Grossan

I’m still reading it when she texts again.

Brielle-Blake came at me at an event and Aiden beat the living daylights out of him

Stephanie- he's theguy that knocked your glucose monitor out of your arm???

Brielle-yep

Stephanie-oh man! That explains why Aiden’s out for blood tonight

Brielle-yeah

Brielle-I tried to tell him not to let him get to him tonight, but I don’t think it’s working

The second period starts, I’m even more anxious. Aiden almost scores, but they keep it out of the net. It’s back and forth, without either team scoring. The violence ratchets up another notch, though. I didn’t get a chance to ask Brielle what number this Blake guy is, but I don’t need to. Number twenty-seven has been all over Aiden all night, and he’s been excessively aggressive with his hits. Every hit that he gets on one of our guys, Aiden goes after him and returns it. So far, it hasn’t come to blows. But I feel like it’s going to be soon.

Number twenty-seven finally gets a penalty, and it’s a power play for us. I’m on my feet with the rest of the arena as Gunner, Aiden, and Sebastian all converge on their net. It’s a fight, but Gunner gets it in.Score!They gather in a circle and celebrate the win, but I can’t help but watch number twenty-seven. They keep showing him on the big screen; he does not look happy. The game starts up again, and number twenty-seven gets out of the penalty box. I glance up at the clock. There’s only two minutes left in this period.

The two minutes seem to go on forever, but number twenty-seven scores with only a few seconds left in the period. I groan with the rest of the Green Thunder fans. The clock runs out, and we move into intermission. I let out a deep breath. “This one’s a doozy,” Sebastian’s mom says as she stands and stretches. I can only shake my head in agreement. She glances over at me and pats my hand. “I know that look all too well.”

“I’m trying not to worry,” I tell her.

She laughs. “Oh honey, I’ve been trying that since Sebastian started playing hockey almost twenty years ago.”

“I take it, it doesn’t work.”

She laughs. “No, not at all.”

Chapter38

Stephanie

We head into the third period, and I can’t keep my eyes off Sebastian. I know he’ll be okay, but after seeing how much the concussion messed him up before, I feel like somehow watching him will protect him. I know it makes no sense, but that’s how my mind works. After number twenty-seven goes after Aiden really hard, Gunner and Sebastian both get him the next time he has the puck. The Legends get the puck and then half their team is around the net. Somehow, Rico keeps it out and clears it. And then the puck’s at our end. It bounces off the wall, and Gunner gets it and sends it to Sebastian. Sebastian sends it back to Aiden who shoots. But it’s blocked and sent back the other way. It’s a pile up at the other end again, but somehow Sebastian gets it. He skates hard and fast towards the other end; Aiden’s right on his tail. I squeeze Tina and Kelly’s hands. He sends it to Aiden behind him, and Aiden sends it sailing to Gunner. Gunner sends it to Sebastian. Sebastian comes around from behind the net and hits it in.Score!

I’m on my feet with the rest of the thousands of Green Thunder fans screaming. On his way to join his teammates to celebrate, he does that thing—that thing where he points to his ring finger, his tribute to me. Nobody has a clue what he’s doing because he’s wearing gloves, but I know. And when he looks up in our direction, my heart tugs. I know he can’t possibly see me because there’s just too many fans. He just knows the general area where we’re all sitting. It’s almost more than my heart cantake. I don’t deserve this amazing man. Tina tugs on my hand. “That was for you!” she shouts in my ear. All I can do is nod.

The game gets going again, and I can’t sit. Apparently, neither can the rest of the Green Thunder fans. The game is so intense; there’s not a moment to look away. And then it happens. Number twenty-seven comes for Sebastian. I can see it coming. I scream Sebastian’s name, but there’s nothing I can do. Sebastian’s back is to him; he’s going after the puck. He slams Sebastian into the boards, and Sebastian goes down hard. And with that, apparently Aiden’s had enough. He races at number twenty-seven and slams him into the boards next. Number twenty-seven turns around and rips off his gloves. I stare, sick to my stomach. Sebastian’s back on his feet, but now Aiden and number twenty-seven are circling.

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