Page 133 of Pucking Wild

“Yeah, she’s Rachel’s family,” adds Sanny. “Which makes herourfamily.”

“You’re in sister-fucking territory right now, asshole,” says Jake. “Which is against, like, every code in the hockey bro handbook. No moms, no sisters. You’re lucky we don’t have you in a headlock on the floor.”

“Damage that knee, and you’ll all be sleeping out on the deck chairs tonight,” Doc calls from her office doorway.

“Will you call them off?” I shout over my shoulder.

“No.”

“Answer the question, tough guy,” says Jake, giving my shoulder a shove. “What is this between you two? Is she nothing but a puck bunny to you?”

“No,” I reply.

“A convenient fuck?” jabs Sanford. “A distraction? A fun trip to cougar town?”

“No—”

“Are you gonna break her heart?” Jake snaps, shoving my shoulder again.

“Guys, I don’t even—”

“Love ‘em and leave ‘em? Eh, Langers?” Sanford says. “Is that your M.O.?”

“No,” I growl.

“Then what is she—”

“She’s everything!”

All four of them have their eyes locked on me, and my heart is suddenly racing a mile a minute. We’re doing this. Right here. Right now.

I glare around at each of them. “She’s fucking everything, alright? I’m fucking—I’m obsessed with her.” I groan, dragging both my hands through my hair.

“Oh, shit.” Jake’s eyes are wide as he takes me in.

“I’m not sleeping,” I admit. “I’m not eating. I’m distracted on and off the ice. Since the moment I saw her standing in those waves on beach day, it’s like…” I try to think of the right words to explain it. “It’s like pieces of me are getting chipped away and replaced with her.”

“Shit,” Sanford says, glancing between his partners. “Guys, this is bad.”

“Yeah, abort mission,” says Jake, taking a step back, his hand on Sanny’s tattooed arm.

“You assholes wanna know how this fucking happened?” I say, gesturing to my knee. “I lost concentration on the ice for a split second. I let my eyes drift up to that crowd, and I thought I saw her standing there. One second too long of wishing it was her watching me, and then that winger took me out at the knees.”

Jake winces, glancing over his shoulder. “Babe, I think he’s serious.”

“Of course, I’m fucking serious.” I give him a shove. “You asked me what happens now, huh?” I turn around to face Doc. “Listen, Hades. You need to call off your three-headed guard dog,” I say, pointing a finger at her.

“Point at my wife again, and lose the finger,” Jake warns.

I drop my hand, not breaking eye contact with Doc. “I know you’re just trying to be her friend right now and protect her. I know you’re scared for her. I’m fucking scared too. What she’s going through is scary. But I’m not going anywhere, okay? Fuck being friends. I am crazy about that woman, so just back the fuck off. All of you,” I add, glaring at her men.

“Look at the balls on this kid,” Sanny says, arms still crossed as he measures me up.

“Hades,” Jake snorts. “Sorry, babe, but that’s totally gonna stick.”

“I’m making us Team Cerberus shirts,” says Sanford.

“Ohmygod, can you imagine? I want them in black with like a big three-headed dog on the front. It would be cool, right, Mars?” Jake says, looking to the quiet Finn.

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