Page 291 of Playing the Pucking Game
I drop to my stall and rest back with my face tipped up to the ceiling. Suddenly, my eye and nose ache more than they did when I first walked in here.
“Yeah,” I groan. “I’ve seen Rett.”
“I didn’t think they were flying in until this morning,” Killer says.
“Rett came alone to surprise us.”
“How’d that work out for you?” Handsy asks with a smirk.
“Wonderful,” I mutter.
“Is he going to be a problem for us tonight?” Fletch asks.
Kodie snorts. “When isn’t Donnelly a problem for us?”
“Fair,” Fletch muses. “But if he’s pissed at Linc, tonight could be a bloodbath.”
“Looks like it’s already started,” Monroe adds, clearly listening to our conversation.
“I can handle Rett,” I state.
“So, does he look as bad as you right now?” Kodie asks, a knowing glint in his eyes.
“Uh…”
He shakes his head. “Oh yeah, you’re going to handle it.”
“I think I already caused enough damage,” I mutter. “He was well within his rights to hit me. But he’s done that now, so we can just focus on the game.”
“Wow, I know you can be a lot of things, Storm, but I never had you down as delusional,” Handsy muses.
“It’s going to be fine. We all know how to handle Rett Donnelly. And if he’s distracted by what this asshole has been doing to his sister, then all for the better. The Bandits are having their worst season for years. With their best D man on his own personal mission, we could secure an incredible W tonight.”
“They’ve still got Westly and Petrov,” Monroe points out.
“Maybe so. But do you know what they don’t have?”
Monroe shakes his head. “All of us.”
“Fuck yeah,” Killer shouts. “And we’re motherfucking winners.”
Those who weren’t involved in our conversation finally look over, and as his enthusiasm ripples through the room, they all join in chanting.
By the time we’re all dressed and heading out of the locker room to warm up for morning practice, adrenaline pumps through my veins.
I might be in the wrong when it comes to Rett, but all my teammates see is an opportunity to increase our points and our position at the top of the division.
The second I step onto the ice, my eyes scan the space, looking for my girl. But she’s not there.
Despite me telling her a million times that everything would be okay, I knew she didn’t believe me.
A laugh tumbles from my lips as I think about what Esme will have said to her.
“You good, man?” Fletch asks, skating up next to me.
“Yeah,” I say, a wide smile spreading across my lips. “I’m really fucking good.”
His smile grows to match mine. “It’s all worth it, isn’t it, when you find the right one?” Just as he says the words, there’s movement over his shoulder, and when I look up, there she is.
