Page 98 of Puck Love

“That’s okay. I’ve always loved the idea of big Christmases,” she says brightly, though the way she watches Veronica as the other woman touches her stuff says it’s anything but okay. Stella looks like she wants to snatch the Grammy out of Ronnie’shand.

I glance at my teammates. Torres has his feet up on the coffee table, and Rookie makes himself at home on the sectional, patting his lap when Veronica turns to look at him. She scurries over and takes a seat.On top of him. Jesus, fuck. I’m going to killEli.

“Lunch will be ready soon, folks, but can I get anyone adrink?”

“Beer,” Torressays.

“Same,” Rookie says. I shoot them both a look that says I’m going to rip their fucking balls off for talking to my woman like she’s a goddamn beerwench.

“Please?” Torres corrects, and Rookiegrimaces.

“Yeah,” Rookie says quickly. “A beer would be delightful.Please.”

“Delightful?” Torres laughs. “Jesus, who are you? Mary fuckin’Poppins?”

“Dude, I panicked. Ross is over there looking at me like he’s gonna tear me a newone.”

“Oh, he’s gonna tear you something,” I say, shooting the kid a menacinglook.

“Van, it’sfine.”

“It’s not fine,” I say to Stella. “Torres, get your fuckin’ feet off the coffeetable.”

“Sorry, boss.” He places his feet on the floor, and nods to Stella. “Ma’am.”

“Why don’t we all move into the dining room?” Stella says, and I indicate that she should go on ahead. When both her and the ballbuster, who’s been awfully quiet this whole time, leave the room, I grab Eli by the shirt and slam him up against the wall. “You’re gonna fuck this whole thing up for me, aren’tyou?”

He holds his hands up in surrender. “Hey, I’m not responsible forthem.”

“No, but you’re the asshole who brought them here, to my girlfriend’s house onChristmas.”

He chuckles. “You said girlfriend.Again.”

“I’m gonna fucking killyou.”

“Alright, Ross, calm your tits,” Torres says. “We’ll all be on our best behavior, right,Rookie?”

“Right.”

“It’s not you three I’m worried about.” I glare atVeronica.

“What? Ronnie? Nah, she’s harmless.” Torres wraps his arm around her shoulder and squeezes. “Aren’t youbabe?”

“Van, I didn’t know it was serious between the two of you,otherwise—”

“Just keep your mouth shut, and the rest of you behave.” I sigh and shake my head. “I love this girl, and I just got her back. I don’t want anything to fuck this up.” I look primarily at Veronica here, and her cheeksflame.

“You know, we’re not all home-wrecking monsters. Some of us understand the concept of love, Van. Some of us even want to be treated the way you treat Stella,” shesays.

“Then maybe some of us shouldn’t fuck the entire team and talk to the press about it,” I snap. Her face falls, and she walks away, toward the doors that lead to the deck. I feel like anasshole.

“Ronnie, come on,” I say, but Eli claps me on theshoulder.

“I got it,” Eli says, and Rookie, Torres and I head into the diningroom.

From the look on Stella’s face, I’m betting she heard every word of that anyway. “Country, can I talk toyou?”

“Sure,” she says tightly. “Lana, you’re okay here,right?”

---