Page 89 of Puck Lust

“We love you, too,” they all call back.

The front door slams behind me and I run to my truck, toss the bag into the backseat, and jump into the driver’s seat.

I throw the truck into drive and slam my foot on the gas, tires squealing against the pavement as I tear out of the driveway and down the tree-lined street.

I dial Jack’s number and it goes straight to voicemail.

“Dammit,” I yell.

I dial Masterson’s number. “Hey, you hear anything from Jack?”

“You mean after those videos went viral? Nah, man, nobody has.”

“If you hear from him, call me, okay?”

“Sure.” Masterson pauses. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just need to talk to him. Sam wanted me to pass something along to him if I spoke to him before he did.”

Jesus, the lies just roll off my tongue now.

I can’t get back to the city fast enough. And I’ve gotten Jack’s voicemail no less than ten times by the time I pull into the parking garage under my building. I have Rex’s business card on my desk. Maybe I can track Jack down at Rex’s office. If not there, then I’ll swing by Play It Forward and then the rink.

My heart hammers hard as I run toward the elevator.

I have to find him. I have to tell him?—

“Carter,” a female voice calls out.

I stop with my finger on the Up button. Slowly, Iturn around.

Livvie stands behind me with her arms folded over her chest, lasering me with a harsh glare. She takes a few steps toward me.

“You know, when you got me that VIP pass to the arena, I bet you never guessed the kinds of things I’d get access to,” she says, a sneer on her face.

“What are you talking about? And what are you even doing here?”

“You lying sack of shit. Leading me on for so long and then humiliating me like this,” she screams, stomping her foot.

“What the fuck is this about, Livvie?”

She takes a few steps toward me and reaches into her back pocket to pull out her phone. “Remember this?” she says, waving the phone in front of my face. “You fucking piece of shit!”

My heart skids to a stop when I see me and Jack kissing in that dark, secluded corner. You can’t see my face, but the name Van Kleef on the back of my jersey is a dead giveaway.

Jesus Christ.

“You led me on for so fucking long, you asshole. You played me, making me think we had a future together,” she seethes. “I moved here for you! And the whole time you were pining for some other guy? Or a bunch of guys?”

“Jack was the only one,” I say, my throat tight.

“And that makes it okay? God, I am such an idiot for wasting my time on you, thinking it was going somewhere!”

Anger knots in my chest. “Screw you, Livvie. You talk about me humiliating you when you fucking took off with another guy right under my goddamn nose. Who the hell was leading who on?”

Dots of pink creep into her cheeks. “That was different! Lane was on my list!”

“Those fucking lists aren’t real,” I yell. “You made a play foranother man right in front of me. And then you went home with him and did God only knows what. So cry me a fucking river, okay?” I turn my back on her. “We’re fucking done here. Just leave me the hell alone.”

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