Page 39 of Daring the Hockey Player

I stalk up to the stand. "What's the cheapest jersey that you have?" I ask.

"We have a rookie, Charlie Hayes, in his first year with the Island Bruisers. We have his jersey for sale."

"How much?" I ask. I pay with my credit card and quickly rush into the bathroom to change near the sinks since the stalls are all occupied, and the lines haven't diminished.

"Jasper is going to kill me," I mutter, sporting the blue Bruisers jersey as I head with Charlotte back to our seats.

"Maybe."

I glance at Charlotte. "Trade clothes with me. Give me your Ice Dragons jersey." Why the hell didn't I think of it when I was upstairs in the bathroom? The players start coming out of the locker room as the next period begins.

"No way in hell. This is going to be quite the show." Charlotte grins wickedly.

"I swear if you paid that loser to spill beer on me—"

"I didn't!" Charlotte chuckles. "But that would have been a great plan."

Jasper enters the player's bench and takes a seat. He glances back at us and frowns. "Seriously, Amber?"

I point at the guy six seats down the row at us. "He spilled beer on me!"

Kyler takes a seat next to his brother and glances back to see what the commotion is all about. "Damn, Amber. Never took you for a traitor."

My jaw drops. "I'm not. I'm supporting the Ice Dragons!"

"Really looks like it," Kyler says and shrugs it off.

"Your fiancée's sister is trouble," Jasper says a little too loudly. I wonder if he wants me to hear him.

"Not my problem. She can support whomever she wants. I know I'm on the winning team." Kyler smacks his brother on the back before he returns to the ice as the game starts.

Jasper, however, seems to be benched, at least for now. He stares ahead at the guys on the ice, his hands clasped together, and I realize there's a bag of ice on his knuckles. When he got into it with Storm, he probably bruised his hands.

When Kyler comes back, Parker Montgomery takes his place as center.

The more that I watch and focus on the game, the more I'm beginning to understand it.

Jasper tosses the bag of ice in the trash. I should be watching the game, but I'm spending more time watching Jasper than anything else, and the coach instructs Asher to come off the ice while Jasper takes his place as the right wing.

At least he'll get some more time to play. That has to be good.

The second period is a battle without a clear winner. When the Ice Dragons score, it's quickly followed up by a goal from the Island Bruisers. I make it clear to only cheer for the Ice Dragons, but with Kyler and Jasper on the ice, neither seem to notice me. And why should they? Their focus ought to be on the game.

When the second period finally ends, and the Ice Dragons are ahead only by one, I can feel the tension brewing amongst the team. The game is close. They head into the locker room, and I stand, making sure the same jerk who spilled beer on me doesn't get a second opportunity when he skirts by us for the aisle.

"Your boyfriend hasn't glanced at you once since you put on the rival's jersey," Charlotte says.

I wish I hadn't noticed, but it's been like Jasper has had a hockey stick shoved up his butt for the entire last period.

"He's not my boyfriend," I correct her.

"Well, it's clear that he wants you. At least it was when you were in the Ice Dragons jersey."

"Switch jerseys with me," I say, pointing at her jersey.

"And risk the wrath of the Ice Dragons? We are seated directly behind the team. No way in hell. Especially if there's a chance one of them is single," she says with a smirk. "Reece, what's his first name? He's kind of hot."

"Noah," I say and bite down on my bottom lip. He's nice-looking, but he's no Jasper Greyson. "He could have a girlfriend."