Page 9 of Pucking Unhinged
“Have you considered getting a hobby?” Lilac deadpans.
Hayden frowns, like the suggestion itself is absurd. “Madison is my hobby.”
Madi giggles, shaking her head, walking over to help the other two girls push him farther back.
Winter crosses her arms, eyes sparkling as she looks at me as if to say ‘watch this’. She backs away from everyone and makes her way over to stand next to me. I can’t help it, I haven’t touched her in what seems like forever, so I wrap my arm around her. I cup my hand at her hip and pull her against my side where she belongs. I feel fucking better already.
“If you were actually athletic, what sport would you play?” Winter asks Hayden, and her voice is so mockingly sweet that Callum’s eyes flash to mine as if to say, ‘what the fuck?’
The question makes me snort before I can stop myself. Winter is so kind, so gentle with me, but she loves needling Hayden. And he falls for it every single time.
“What do you mean? I play hockey,” Hayden furrows his brow, and Lilac has abandoned trying to push him out of the room. He’s got a plate in his hand, and she knows things go flying when he’s worked up. Madison has her hand on his chest, but she’s ducking her head trying to hide her laughter. This has been a trend for a while from what Winter tells me, but Hayden follows one account on social media: Madison’s Pink Bow Club account, which is her only account.
“Yeah, but if you were an actual athlete,” Winter presses, pretending to think it over like she’s more confused than shecould ever be, “or like… if you were like…tall enough to play a sport… what would it be?”
Hayden’s eyes go wide, outrage plain, but holding it together probably because he knows I’ll knock him the fuck out. He looks at me in confusion and then back at Winter. “I am the literal captain of the actual hockey team here at Castlebrook.”
Madi cuts in, laughing, “That’s enough. He’s going to flip a table, and I worked really hard on this order. Look…see the little bow details inside the numbers?” She nudges Hayden and then widens her eyes in a silent plea to Winter who’s biting her lip to keep from laughing outright.
“And Iamtall,” Hayden grumbles, glaring. “You’re the one who’s barely five feet tall…”
“Watch your fucking tone,” I cut in, “or I’ll beat your skull in and then tell Madi about the strings you’re pulling for graduation.”
Hayden’s eyes snap to me, wide. He doesn’t give a fuck about the violent threat, but he doesn’t want Madi to know about his little surprise.
Madi’s gaze flicks up, suspicious. “What are you planning, Mister? Graduation is two semesters away.”
“Keep your mouth shut,” Hayden growls, pointing at me.
I shrug, unbothered. “Indoor voices only with Winter, if you must speak to her at all.”
Before Hayden can snap something else back at me, Callum pipes up with that shit-eating grin. “Remember when they had the goldfish at the Castlebrook Falls carnival? We need a house pet, and I was thinking…”
“Absolutely the fuck not,” I cut in, sharper than I mean to, but I don’t take it back. “You should not be allowed to take care of another living thing.”
Hayden barks out a laugh, already nodding. “He’s right. Callum, you’d kill a goldfish in under twenty-four hours. It’d be a mercy killing at that point.”
Callum throws his hands up like we’ve ruined his fun. “I’d be agreatfish dad. I used to take care of the horses at Caiden’s house sometimes…did you know horses can actually have flat beer to soothe stomach ulcers?”
I blink at him, unimpressed. Why the fuck would I know that? “Thanks so much. I’ll make sure I tuck that little tidbit away for the next time I buy a fucking horse.”
Lilac rolls her eyes but smirks. “Never say never. Your kids might want a pony someday. And despite the way you act, I suspect you’d make sure they get whatever their little heart desires.”
Hayden seizes the moment, leaning toward Madi with that cocky grin. “Do you think I’ll be a good dad, princess?”
Madi doesn’t even hesitate. “The best.”
Callum ruins it, as usual. “Until he realizes he’s gonna have to share your attention with the kids.”
Hayden frowns like he didn’t think that far into it. “Wait…”
I can’t help myself. “I don’t think either of you should procreate. For any reason. They have sperm donors for situations just like this.”
The girls laugh, but Hayden glares at me, and I know why. The idea of anyone’s sperm near Madison that isn’t his, is enough to make him black out.
Winter turns in my arms and looks up at me, her hand sliding up my chest and resting over my heartbeat. She’s checking to see if I’m okay, and part of me wants to tell her that I’m not. Part of me wants to drag her up to my bedroom and board the door shut so that we can just be alone. My whole body reacts to her touch, shoulders dropping, jaw loosening, chest finally letting out along breath. Just the feel of her body against mine is enough to undo the static in my veins.
My hand twitches on instinct, the urge clawing at me. To touch her. To fuse myself to her skin, even for a second. Her hand. Her leg. Anything.
