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“No regrets.” Reid grins and looks between me and Nadia. “You girls want in? I can go get a round.”

“No thanks,” I say, “I’ll happily leave that tradition to the real teammates.”

A knee brushes mine and I shift, trying not to cramp anyone’s space, but then I feel the firm spread of fingertips clamp down. I glance up and Reese is staring up at the TV watching the game, but I don’t miss the curve of his lips.

I’ve never been with a guy this touchy, like he can’t get enough of me and I’m all he wants. It’s weird and new and amazing. Our eyes meet over the table and a flicker of heat licks up my spine.

I look away and try to focus on the rest of the table, but I’m distracted by his presence. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I discreetly check.

OneFive: Meet me in the back?

I don’t need to think twice. He’s right. I came here for a reason.

InternTwy: Five minutes.

Luck is on my side and there’s a dramatic play on the screen. Everyone jumps up, shouting. “What the fuck, Ref!” Reid curses, flipping off the screen. “Did you see that?”

I slip out of the booth, mouthing to Nadia that I’ll be back.

With all of the attention on the game, it’s easier for me to slip down the back hallway. The bathroom is empty; thank goodness Ginna isn’t in here again. And after smoothing out my hair and washing my hands I step back outside, peering down the hall to see if Reese is there.

He’s not, but someone is. Someone worse than a puck bunny. It’s Ethan.

“Hey,” he says, “I thought I saw you walk back here.”

“And you followed me?” I ask, wondering what he’s doing. No, wondering what he’s doinghere. “What are you doing in a hockey bar? This isn’t your scene.”

“I didn’t think it was yours either.” He shrugs. “Joan’s brother is visiting and he’s a big fan.” So he’s making concessions for Joan and her brother. Interesting. “Saw your hockey player back there. Why is he sitting with Nadia and not you?”

There’s something in his tone. Ethan does this whole thing where he slowly sets a trap and waits for the other person to step into it. “We didn’t come together. It’s a team thing. Nadia and I just popped in for a bit.”

“Right.” He laughs to himself. “Sure. I understand.”

Against my better judgment, I ask, “What do you understand?”

“It finally happened.”

“What happened?” My head starts to spin.

“You turned into her—Nadia. A jersey chaser. And what better place to do it than from inside the locker room.” His eyebrow arches. “Tell me, do you fuck all of them or just one at a time?”

“Oh my God,” I glance around, making sure no one else heard. “Why would you say that?”

“Because, Twyler,” he steps close and I catch the scent of his body spray, “you’re a sheep—always looking for a leader to follow. When you lie with dogs and all that...”

“Shut up, Ethan.”

But he’s just getting started, even with the whole disaffected attitude, I see the glimmer in his eye. All he wants is to get under my skin and fuck, mission accomplished. Bending down, close enough that I can feel his breath on my ear, he asks, “Do you cry when he fucks you too? Because a big alpha male like that must like it rough.” His fingers graze my throat. “Or have you finally learned to like it that way.”

I jerk away, choking back nausea. I push past him and take the first route of escape I can find; the back door. Cold air slaps my face and I try to breathe but I can’t. Anxiety and panic claws at my chest.

I do the thing I know best, I run.

20

Reese

“Cain!” Axel cries. “Settle a bet for us.”