Page 16 of Daring the Hockey Player

My fists don't feel like they're doing justice for the insults that he's flinging at Amber.

The referee throws both Knox and me out of the game for fighting. This time, it isn't even a short trip to the penalty box.

At least we're so far ahead it won't fuck up the game. But shit, Coach is going to be pissed at me.

I ice my knuckles and sit on the bench, watching the game from the locker room. Thankfully, there are televisions with the game on, but it's not the same as being with the team on the bench.

There are only two minutes left in the period, and we're winning by a landslide. I'm not worried about us losing the game. But I do feel like I let down the team.

There's another fight on the ice, and two more players are ejected from the game. Noah Reece with the Ice Dragons and Mack Conrad of the Island Bruisers.

Noah blows into the locker room, his helmet in his hands.

"You didn't have to keep me company," I say.

"They were talking shit about our women. I sure the fuck did," Noah quips.

I wasn't aware that Noah was dating anyone, but I don't pry.

"Are you dating that chick you gave your jersey to?" Noah asks.

"Amber? Not exactly." I smile and glance away.

"Are you going to invite her out for drinks tonight with the guys at Blue Line?" Noah asks.

Before I have time to answer, the game is over, and the team is headed into the locker room. Should I invite Amber?

I strip out of my clothes, shower, and then get dressed. My knuckles are a bit rough, and I've got a couple of bruises to the chest, but it could have been worse with all the punches thrown.

"Are you coming out with us tonight?" I ask Kyler, already knowing the answer. He rarely comes out for celebratory drinks. He's usually at home with his daughter, Bristol, and his fiancée, Emerson.

"Not tonight," Kyler says, patting me on the shoulder. "Maybe when we get into the playoffs."

We finish up in the locker room, and a group of us heads to Blue Line for drinks. Noah, Owen, and I walk together.

Asher and his wife, Kate, are just behind us, and Parker mentioned that he'd catch up with us with Ava tonight after he grabs her from the wives' room.

I've never been invited to the elusive wives' room. None of the guys are allowed to attend. And it's by invitation only from one of the members.

Only serious girlfriends and wives can be invited. I heard it took a while for Emerson to get an invitation, but when she attends games, she joins the hockey wives upstairs. And she can't just invite a friend to join her—or her sister.

Not that I should be thinking about Amber. I shouldn't.

She should be the furthest thought from my mind. I glance at my phone. I'm not sure why, but I'm hoping that maybe she sent me another text.

We arrive out front of Blue Line, and Owen suggests a group shot outside the tap house. I'm in agreement because we should always celebrate a win.

Ava offers to take the pictures with my phone, and the guys all pack into the photo. She snaps a few pics and hands me back the phone. "I want copies."

"I'll text them to you," I promise. I find the best photo of us and post it on my Instagram page. My agent says it's good for my image. It makes me a household name to post candid shots. Makes the fans love me even more.

I think it's a bunch of horseshit, but I do it because I'm on a rookie contract, and I'd like a bigger payday when my contract comes due.

Kyler never has to worry about anything. He made some winning investments in cryptocurrency with our parents’ life insurance policy. He bitches that it's cursed, but the man lives lavishly, so I don't see why he's griping. And he tells me that one day he will buy the Ice Dragons when he retires.

I'll believe it when I see it. It's a nice dream that he has, but there's a lot of work that goes into running a successful hockey team. If anyone could do it, Kyler Greyson has it in him, but he also has a big heart, and I'm not sure he'd have it in him to cut some of the guys and be ice cold when he needs to be.

We head inside Blue Line and right for the back VIP booth, which is reserved exclusively for us. We're regulars on game night, especially when we win. A few of us also show up when we lose, but it's mostly to drown out our sorrows with decent beer.