Page 156 of Home Game

“I have one.”

“You need a new maid.”

The short laugh punctured out of me. “I’m scared she’s going to quit.”

“Come on. Go shower. I’m taking you out.”

No fucking way. “No, man. I’m good.”

He stood up, picking up empty take-out containers. “I wasn’t asking. Go shower.”

The only timeI felt alive was when I was on the ice. It was the one place that I felt like myself. The game was a rough one, and we lost. Off the ice, I felt my mood sour again. Everything heavy and dark returned the second my skates came off.

Jensen was pulling off his jersey. “I heard Zoey moved out.”

I ignored him and began to undress.

He continued. “I heard she got sick of you.”

Mica stepped forward. “Zip it.”

“Just stating the obvious. Maybe I should try to tap that now that you're out of the way.”

“Enough,” Mica roared.

I was already across the room. Jensen smiled at me. He wanted to fight as bad as I did.

“You touch her and I will end you.”

“Heard you have no say in that anymore,” he jeered.

I shoved him hard, almost pushing him off his feet.

He came back with fists.

By the time the other players pulled us apart, we were both a lot worse for wear.

Mica shoved me towards the showers. “Cool it.”

“If he touches her, I’ll kill him.”

“He wants to get you kicked off the team.”

“What?”

“He’s goading you.”

I knew that, but at this point, I didn’t care. “Does it matter?”

“If you want her back, it should.”

“What do you mean?”

“You will not have a shot at getting her back if you live in Chicago.”

My frustration was at an all-time high. I wanted to destroy something.

“Get showered,” he instructed. “We’re going out.”

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