Page 15 of Daring the Hockey Player

"So, you just give your jersey to any girl you see in the stands supporting the opposing team?" Noah asks.

"He's just helping me out," Kyler says. His jersey is off, and he's wiping himself down with a clean towel. Some of the guys shower between intermission to cool off. "She's Em's little sister."

Noah doesn't say anything, but that look tells me that he knows me better than my own brother.

"Kyler is right," I say, jumping on his suggestion. "I don't want my older brother to look bad for the media. I mean, what if they find out Em's little sister is at the game wearing a Bruisers jersey? It would be horrible for the team and for his love life."

Kyler throws his sweat-soaked towel at me, but I catch it before it manages to hit me in the face.

"Jackass," I mutter.

"Talk about my love life again. I dare you," Kyler says, raising his eyebrows.

"That's enough!" Coach says, interrupting our brotherly feud. "Save it for the ice and the Bruisers, boys."

We only have a few minutes left, and I know that I shouldn't be checking my phone during intermission, but when I see a text from Amber pop up, I can't help but read it.

You expect me to wear your stinky jersey?

I laugh under my breath.

Wear it, or else I'll tell your sister you’re an Island Bruisers fan.

Go ahead. I dare you.

"What's so funny?" Kyler asks when he glances over my shoulder at the text messages between Amber and me. "She's right. Your jersey probably smells disgusting."

"It was clean when I put it on."

"And you got the shit kicked out of you by Knox during the first period. There's blood and sweat on that thing. I wouldn't expect Em to wear it."

"You're full of shit." I elbow Kyler. "And don't girls like sweaty jerseys? Isn't that a turn-on?"

"Are you trying to turn on my fiancée's little sister?"

"That's enough talk, gather 'round," Malone says, and it's the first time that I'm grateful for the coach interrupting us.

We get suited up and back on the ice for the second period. I try to ignore the fact that Amber is in the stands, but when I skate near the goal and land eyes on her, she's wearingmyjersey.

And I damn near feel proud that she's got my number on her and is supportingtheteam. The right team if you ask me.

I score four goals during the second period, and by the third, it's near impossible for them to catch us.

"I should give that hot piece of ass in the stands my jersey," Knox says as we fight over the puck. "If that's all it takes to get lucky."

"Stay away from her," I growl.

"Never knew you to chase tail," Knox says. "But then again, I guess you have to chase it since you're a virgin."

For the record, I'm not a virgin. But I also don't fuck just anyone with a pussy. I slam into him as we fight for the puck and shove him up against the glass.

This time, Amber isn't behind us, and I'm grateful because I slam my fist into Knox's jaw and pound the shit out of his chest.

"Leave Amber out of this," I say, slamming my fists into his chest. The hockey sticks fall onto the ice as we pound the shit out of one another.

"Oh, pretty girl has a name. Wonderful. She'll be my next score," Knox says.

"The fuck she will!" I'd fucking bite the bastard if I didn't have a mouthguard in and all the padding wasn't protecting him.