Page 137 of My Brother's Enemy
Dane’s cool eyes flicked to mine before bending forward. “Never, Dante.”
The referee scoffed. “Right.”
Whoever they had announcing to play hockey, sounded off and the puck was dropped.
Dane went for it, but I flicked my stick to block him and shot the puck behind me. Ray was there and he quickly sent it sailing to the other side of the ice where our defenseman was, who then sent it to Sunny.
I met him and we went across the blue line together, Sunny pushing the puck forward. We were met by their two defensemen. Sunny passed the puck ahead and around, hoping to sling shot it around the rink to me but I got there at the same time as Dane. We were battling for the puck against the boards now, shoving at each other.
“God. Fuck off,” Dane rasped out, straining against me.
“You fuck off.”
A normal game at this time, we’d be trading worse insults except as I waited to see what else he’d say, I was surprised that was it.
“Is that all? You can’t think of anything more intelligent against me?” I taunted, trying to wedge my skate in between him and the puck. His stick was there, stopping me.
He cursed. “You’re such a pain in the ass. I don’t know what my sister sees in you.”
I laughed, abruptly. “Pretty sure your wife could answer that question.”
“Hey!” He stopped trying for the puck and instead rounded on me. “You don’t talk about my wife.”
I got in his face. “And you can bring up your sister? I’m honestly sick and tired of you and your brother having your round at her.”
“I—” He looked dumbfounded for a moment, but then Ray nabbed the puck from between us and he was off, rounding the goal.
A referee skated up. “We have a problem here?”
“No. Fuck.” Dane shoved past me, checking my shoulder as he went and normally that would be something we could drop our gloves over, but when our defenseman glanced my way, I shook my head. Dane did look flustered when he left.
Ray was battling against the boards on the other side for the puck. I skated up behind them, snaked my stick in the middle, and then grunted as I hip-checked one of Boston’s guys into the boards. The crowd was pounding against the partition, wanting for us to fight, but I had the puck.
I flicked it between my skates to Bruge who had come onto the ice. He was just past their blue line, in the middle of the ice and as he caught the pass, I slipped behind the goalie to the other side. He read my intention, pretended that he was going to pass to Ray and when everyone was looking that way, sent it tome without turning my way once. Their goalie caught on too late. I only had to raise my stick and the puck bounced off it, going just over their goalie’s shoulders.
The red lights lit up. Goal!
That was one. We were going to keep going all night long.
Bruge hit me for the celly, along with the rest of our guys before my line skated off.
Sunny and Ray both met my glove with theirs on the bench.
Sunny was grinning widely. “I’m thinking of personal goals tonight since Doc Rain is all about that. We should all try to get hat tricks. Whoever gets theirs first, buys the others’ drinks at our celebration.”
Ray ducked his head, laughing. “If we all get hat tricks tonight, that would beinsane.”
I shook my head as we stood up and moved down the bench. “Not for drinks. Let’s think of something else to celebrate. Rain and I have a family thing tonight.”
“Oooh. Meeting the family…” Sunny trailed off as the implications hit him. “Oh. Do I console you?”
Ray barked out a laugh. “Nah, man. Just buy him a round at the bar when we get home. Let’s keep thinking of a way to celebrate later.”
A minute later and it was our turn again.
Dane scored.
I scored.
