Page 145 of Of Pucking Course

He nods once. “Cool.”

He skates past me and pats my shoulder. I instantly relax. Those few words and that shoulder smack are the best reassurance I could ever ask for from my best friend.

He’s cool with it—cool withus.

I start to smile and look over at Dakota again, but she’s not there. She must have left to get a snack or a drink orsomething. I skate around our side of the ice and run through a mobility exercise.

When I look up, I see Dakota standing on the stairs next to some guy. He looks pissed as he gazes down at her. She starts to say something, but he cuts her off and leans down closer to her, wagging his finger in her face.

She tries to step around him, but he steps over and blocks her.

Anger fires through me. It feels like hot lava is shooting through my bloodstream. What the fuck does this guy think he’s doing?

I skate over to the closest side door leading to that section of the arena. I motion for the attendant to open the door.

A half-second later, I drop my stick and shoot up the stairs toward Dakota.

“You think you can ban me from my son’s school? I’ll sue your ass,” the guy yells at her.

This must be Henry’s dad. The asshole who yelled at her outside of her school and made her cry.

My anger turns to full-on rage at the sight of this motherfucker accosting Dakota.

A half-second later, I’m by her side. I shove the guy back so hard, he falls on the stairs.

“Get the fuck away from her,” I bark at him before turning to Dakota.

I cup her face in my gloved hand. “Are you okay?”

Her eyes are wide as she looks up at me, stunned. She nods. I hug my arms around her and turn her away from Henry’s dad.

“What the hell?” he sputters.

I let go of her and turn back to him, stepping into hisspace. “Don’t you ever come at my girlfriend like that again.”

The guy stumbles back at the bite in my tone and almost falls again.

“She got me kicked out of my son’s school?—”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I growl, cutting him off. The guy’s eyes go wide as he looks up at me. He’s a tall guy, but I’m taller in my skates and gear.

I lean down, getting into his face. “The only person to blame for you getting kicked out of your son’s school is you.”

He starts to speak, but I cut him off. “Do you always act like an angry psycho in public? What the hell is your problem?”

My blood pumps hot. It’s roaring in my ears so loud that I can’t even hear the crowd or the music anymore.

“You think you’re a big tough guy yelling at a woman who’s smaller than you? Why don’t you try yelling at me, asshole.”

His shoulders sag. His frown fades. He looks down at the ground, clearly embarrassed.

I shove his shoulder. “Look at me.” When he glances up, I glare at him. “If you ever threaten her again, I’ll kick the shit out of you. If you ever even raise your voice at her again, I’ll kick the shit out of you. Understand?”

He nods.

“Apologize to her,” I say.

The guy looks past me. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles.

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