Page 14 of Puck Lust

Never fucking again.

I’d rather be alone, and even though alone sucks, it’s better than having my heart smashed and shattered.

Again.

Heat creeps up the sides of my neck. “I don’t need to be saved, Sam,” I say, my pulse hammering against the side of my throat. “Save your pep talk for the kids. I don’t need it.”

He pulls his hand away from my arm like it just caught fire. “Jesus, Jack. Stop shutting everyone out. It’s okay to need people.” He shakes his head, his dark hair hanging over his eyes. “It doesn’t mean you’re weak. You don’t always have to be the Ice King.”

I force myself to grin. “No pun intended, right?”

“Never.” A small smile appears on his face. “Listen, I didn’t mean to overstep. But we’re friends. I’m here for you.”

I nod. “You’ve always been a good friend to me. And I appreciate it. But I’m fine. Really.”

Until I get to the hotel in Ohio.

“You know, Sin City is playing a private concert on Thursday night. Why don’t you invite some guys on the team? I’ll talk to Brixton about it when he gets back from Vegas tomorrow.”

I bristle at the mention of the Sin City front man and my nemesis, according to the tabloids. He won, fair and square.And if I’m being honest, even though there’s no love lost between us, he’s a good match for Sam. Brixton was a hot fucking mess for a while there, plenty for Sam to work with. And now he’s actually a halfway decent guy.

Maybe more than halfway.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Do more than think. You need some fans, Jacko. No harm in bribing the team with this concert. It’ll be small and the venue isn’t being shared yet, so you won’t have to worry about the press. I’ll text you the info.”

Some of the kids walk into the room and I back toward the doorway.

“It’ll be good for you,” Sam says to me. “And I’m gonna bug your ass every day until Thursday to make sure you show up.”

I give one of the kids a fist bump as he passes. “Thanks. I’ll shut off my phone right now.”

“I’ll still find you.” Sam give a little wave, his face lighting up when the kids rush toward him. “I’m pretty persistent when I want something.”

“Yeah, I remember.” I chuckle and move into the lobby.

Parents and kids scatter around the place. I watch the moms and dads hug and kiss their kids before sending them off to their coaches.

A deep sigh shudders my chest.

These people don’t have much, but they still manage to be here, to support their kids, to show them affection and encourage them to grow in this community.

I never really learned how to connect. It’s why I really didn’t have any friends growing up other than Carter, why I don’t really have many…any…now. I kept to myself because I didn’t want people to know where I came from. I didn’t want to give them a chance to wonder why my mother left me, why my father hated me. I didn’t want their pity or their judgment.

The spotlight blinded people enough to distract them from what I didn’t have.

Yeah, I can put on a good show when I need to, be Mr. Congeniality, and charm the panties off a nun, but behind the fake smiles, it’s all barbed wire and electric fences. Especially in the area of my heart.

And somehow, I’m the only one who’s trapped.

SIX

carter

Usingthe back of my sleeve, I mop the sweat from my forehead as I skate toward the group waiting in the middle of the ice for instructions on our next drill. The shrill sound of Coach Enver’s whistle echoes in the expansive space as we line up. Blades cut into the ice, sticks clattering as we take off in the direction of the net.

“Keep those lines straight,” Enver yells. “Your job is to move the puck together as a unit.”

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