Page 74 of Shots Fired

“Since you started seeing Abbie, you’ve been fucking weird.”

The sound of Jack’s voice breaks my daydream.

“Weird, as in more focused on hockey?” I cock a brow at him.

He shakes his head, one hand on the locker room door. “Nah. Weird, as in aloof and not interested in going out.” He props a hand against his hip, still not pushing through the door. “You’re coming out tonight though, yeah? This is a win we need to celebrate; Colorado is a favorite to make the playoffs, and we just rolled them over like they were a beer league team.”

“Of course I’m coming out,” I reply. “Two back-to-back wins and zero goals against us. What’s not to like?”

Plus, Darcy’s going to be at Lloyd’s, and like hell am I leaving my pregnant girl to be ogled by some fucking loser.

“Darcy’s going to be out.”

“Oh, is she?” I respond, attempting to sound surprised, but not entirely sure the execution is there.

He seems to buy it though, eventually pushing into a locker room full of pumped hockey players. He pauses and turns on his heel, wearing an expression I can’t decipher.

Please, for fuck’s sake, don’t tell me she’s sick again.

I’ve barely seen her this week since she’s been working all fucking hours atGlide.

“Thinking about it, my sister has been acting weird lately as well.”

A cold shiver chases down my spine as I will myself to look at him.

Does he know?

He shakes his head, looking pissed, but not at me, and I breathe an internal sigh of relief. Fuck knows why—my fate is sealed regardless. All I’m doing at this point is kicking the can down the road.

“So, a couple of nights ago, Kendra told me Liam messaged Darcy, asking for her back.”

He blows out a disbelieving breath, and I’m ready to put my fist through the nearest fucking wall.

I smile. “Really? Maybe he finally realized what a dick he’s been to her.”

He grinds his molars, almost like he’s chewing the guy up. “He’s got some fucking nerve. Apparently, he’s ended it with the girl he cheated on Darcy with, and he wants a second chance. He wants to travel to New York to see her.”

He can’t. I’ll murder him and be a first-time Dad while in custody.

I run a light palm across my mouth, ignoring all the guys around us as they head for the shower stalls. What if she decides to take him back? But also, why hasn’t she told me when I’ve called her every morning, afternoon, and evening?

“What did she tell him?” I ask.

“Obviously, no. My sister knows a fucking idiot when she sees one.”

But does she?

I smile again, and this time, it’s genuine as relief washes away any niggling doubts that Dickface Liam could come back on the scene and I’d be rendered an inmate before turning twenty-eight.

“Does he still plan to come to New York?”

He just shrugs and heads for his bench on the opposite side of the room to mine. I follow him, not caring how fucking desperate it looks. I need to know her ex’s intentions.

“Not sure. All I know is, he told her that leaving her alone ‘is not going to happen.’” He mocks Liam, repeating his words.

“Well, he should’ve thought about that before putting his dick in another girl and fucking up the best thing that had ever happened to him,” I snap, and Jack looks up at me from his seat on the bench.

He starts unlacing his skates.