Page 23 of Dumping the Puck (Men of Havoc #4)

The Havoc stadium is electric. After last night’s loss all the fans are here and ready to cheer on the guys for a win. Plus I get baby snuggles from sweet Aksel.

“Girl. Are you seriously wearing Sanders’ jersey?” Calliope eyes Charley.

Charley is notorious for having a fun time and not double dipping . But something about this rookie has her undone.

“Shut up. Can we not make it a thing?” She sighs and rolls her eyes before taking a sip of her beer.

“Oh it’s a thing.” I chuckle.

“Like you’re one to talk Ms. Number Nineteen, Bicknelle.” This time I swear her eyes roll so far back she must be looking at her brain.

“Hey, I’m not trying to hide shit. I will tell anyone who wants to hear that I love Kayce Bicknelle. Should I…” I stand, placing a foot on the seat.

Charley grabs my arm, pulling me down. “Absolutely not! We are not drawing any more attention to us. Fuck we already look like Goddamn puck bunnies in their jerseys.”

“Technically the jersey is also my last name. So I’m not a puck bunny. You however, kind of seem like one.” Calliope laughs, making that last comment to get under Charley’s skin. “Are you going to wait for him after the game too?”

“Oh yes! Are we all going to The Penalty Shot?” I clap my hands together. I’ve always wanted to hang out with the guys there, but Cameron’s friends always met us after the game and I was forced to sit with them and be the demure fiancée for him.

“Oh, my God. Are you two trying to fucking kill me? Is it not enough that I’m here to watch him with you people?” She sulks into her seat, curling into herself to block the shirt she’s wearing.

“She’s so dramatic isn’t she, Aksel?” I rub my nose against his and his little giggles fill the air around us. “Ugh, why is that the best noise in the whole world?”

“It really is. It’s addicting. I just want to make him laugh all day.” Calliope smiles brightly. Motherhood truly is her calling. “But I also might like a trip to The Penalty Shot after. I already texted my mom to meet me and grab Aksel.”

“Yes! It’s so happening, Charley.” I nudge her shoulder with mine.

“Great,” she whispers in a mocking tone.

The lights dim, and the entrance music plays for the players. It’s time for the game to start.

“Starting center for the Houston Havoc, Kaaayce Bicknelllllllle” The announcer calls him to the ice.

Once all the players are out, and the national anthem has been sung, it’s finally time for some hockey. The referee's whistle blows, the puck drops, and Kayce grabs it first, tearing down the ice with it. The stadium is filled with the sounds of slapping sticks, and players hitting the boards. Our heads move side to side as we all follow the plays moving from end to end of the rink.

Fuck . Kayce wasn’t wrong. This team sucks. They’re so mean and I don’t even understand everything I’m watching. Despite all the time I spent with him in the rink during high school. I spent more time with my camera taking photos of the team than I did learning the game. And definitely more time analyzing every photo of Kayce’s face that ended up in my editing software, I could make a photo book of just Kayce’s hockey career and probably make millions. But those shots are precious to me. A moment that only I was allowed to know, I want to be selfish and keep that just for me.

Kayce and Viktor find a breakaway and they’re both racing down the ice. Calliope grips at my arm resting on the armrest next to her, and Charley is leaning with her arms on her knees, fully entranced in the game. At the last second, Viktor passes the puck to Kayce and since the goalie was expecting the puck to come from the right, his left was open, and the puck went gliding right in.

The three of us jump up, arms pumping in the air as we scream with the crowd. Even little baby Aksel is clapping with us. With the score one to zero, the Ice Men come back to the center ready to fight harder than they have been before.

The rest of the game passed with a lot of nail biting, but Kayce came back to the game ready to play and win. He was able to score two more goals, with Viktor scoring one. This brought the final score four to three with mere seconds left in the period.

Now we truly have a reason to celebrate at The Penalty Shot.

The girls and I wait for the crowd to clear before we walk Calliope to the entrance to meet her mom, and after too many kisses goodbye, she finally lets Aksel go home.

“Come on girl, the real show is about to start. Charley is going to get her man in the family room.” I wink at Calliope, and don’t miss the groan from Charley.

“Seriously? Why the fuck is she here?” Charley asks as we enter the family waiting area.

“Who?” I look around for someone familiar, but don’t see anyone.

“Becky.” Calliope nods her head in the direction of a petite blonde wearing a barely there jean skirt, cowboy boots, and a Sanders jersey.

“Oh shit. She’s trying to get your man, Char.” I laugh.

“Let her fucking try.” A fire shines in her eyes that I haven’t seen all night. It seems another girl trying to move in on her territory has her forgetting that she didn’t even want to wear his jersey in the first place.

Charley pulls Calliope and I up in front of Becky, positioning herself directly in front of her, and piles her long waves on top of her head in a messy bun so that Sanders’ name is displayed proudly.

A scoff sounds from behind us, but I ignore it because the guys are finally coming out of the locker room. Viktor comes straight to Calliope, and Sanders catches his eye on Charley. You can tell the moment he finds her, because his eyes light up and a goofy grin spreads across his face. He beelines it for her, completely missing Becky behind us. He pulls Charley into his arms, kissing her deeply in front of everyone. Catcalls sound from the rest of the team as everyone parts and naturally circles around the two of them.

He finally lets her go and she looks right at me. “Did that bitch leave?”

Calliope and I look around the room and I spot Becky walking out at a fast clip, her fake cowboy boots clicking on the floor as she goes.

“Yup. Sure did.”

“Good.” Then she turns to Sanders and swats at his chest. “Who the fuck said you could kiss me in public?”

“You’re wearing my name, sweet thing.” He winks at her and I swear I see her knees buckle.

She’s got it bad. And I can’t wait to see the fall.

“Where’s Kayce?” I ask Viktor.

“He’s doing press with Craig. He’ll be out in a minute.”

I nod. “You guys can go to The Penalty Shot, we’ll meet you there.”

“Tell Craig to come. I doubt he’ll leave Claire at home, but it’s worth a shot.”

Claire couldn’t come tonight. Their baby girl has just started walking and bringing a mobile toddler to a hockey rink where she puts everything in her mouth is not a great idea.

They all leave me standing alone in the room except for a few smaller press members hoping for a quick informal interview with the straggling players. And if Charley thinks that I miss her sliding her hand into Sanders’ pocket to hold his hand, she has another thing coming. They are so fucking cute and I can’t wait to bust her balls.

I pull out my phone real quick and snap a photo of them.

Me : Don’t think for one second you’re fooling me. photo of hand holding

I smile to myself at the thought of Charley finding a happily ever after with a rookie when she’s sworn off hockey players.

I open my emails to respond to a few brides while I wait. My inquiries have had a little uptick since the tabloids posted Kayce and I’s photo in Italy. I won’t complain about the extra work. Especially not since I have to pay Kayce back for the three suits.

Ugh. Why did I listen to Charley?

“Hey, June.” Kayce saunters over to me. Dropping a kiss to the top of my head.

“Hey! What a good game!” Craig follows behind him. “Oh! I’m supposed to invite you out to The Penalty Shot!”

“I go where you go, June.” Kayce answers me.

“I’ve got a massage therapist coming to the house after the baby goes to bed. Booked a couples massage for me and Claire. She deserves it after we were gone for so long and she was on her own with the teething baby. I kind of owe her.”

“Ugh. Okay, that’s so sweet. You definitely get a pass this time.”

“Let’s hope the wife thinks so.” He waves us off before heading out of the stadium.

“So, The Penalty Shot, huh?” Kayce guides me with his hand on the small of my back. “You know who usually shows up there after a game.”

“Who?”

He stops dead in his tracks and stares at me. “Cameron?” He says it like he’s questioning why I don’t know this.

If I’m honest, I don’t know why I don’t know this either. “He goes to The Penalty Shot?”

“Wren…” He looks down at me, pulling me closer. “You didn’t know?”

I shake my head. Why was I so fucking blind and stupid with him? I think that my only answer is, I couldn’t have Kayce so I didn’t care to know what was going on. Especially because deep down I knew if I looked hard, I’d find an answer I didn’t like.

“Well. If he chooses to be there after everything, then we’ll deal with it.” I stand tall, even if I don’t want to ever face Cameron again.

“We can leave whenever you want if he’s there, you don’t owe him anything or any time.”

I nod and walk out the doors with him at my back. He’s always got me, no matter what.

Entering The Penalty Shot I’m hit with the strong odor of stale beer and Cameron, sitting front and center when you walk in the door. I know immediately that he’s here for a reason. He came here in hopes to see Kayce.

As soon as he sees us, that evil smirk takes over his face and he walks toward us, cutting us off before we can get to the safety of the tables that the other players have taken up residence at.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my big bro slummin’ it with my sloppy seconds.” He licks his lips, a sure sign that he thinks he’s caught us. Like the rabbit in his traps, he thinks he’s got us caught.

“Come on, June.” Kayce whispers in my ear and tries to move me over to the tables around Cameron.

Cameron slaps his hand on Kayce’s shoulder, he’s clearly drunk. “Hey man, I said somethin’ to ya, you better answer me.”

Kayce’s hands leave my hips and I look back to see his fists balled at his side. Viktor and Sanders are at his side in a second and I feel like I’m going to fall over from how fast they blow past me to have his back.

“Stay the fuck away from me,” Kayce roars.

“That’s fucking rich considering you let that bitch steal from me and I haven’t even tried to come get my things.” Cameron laughs. He is being such a jackass.

Kayce lunges forward, but Viktor pulls him back. Stopping him from beating the shit out of his brother and getting another suspension.

“Leave us alone, Cameron. She wants nothing to do with you and honestly neither do I. I’m done with all of you.”

Sanders is pulling Cameron away, back to his friends that are completely useless.

“I hope she’s fucking worth it, brother. You’re going to lose everything and be left with just her when I’m done suing your ass.” That laugh is grating on my nerves and I’m about to punch him, because I have nothing to lose.

“She’s always fucking worth it, jackass. I’d give everything I have for her, and you’re just pissed you fumbled her.”

Sanders yells at his friends, “Get him the fuck out of here and don’t let him come back.”

He warned me, but I didn’t know what to expect until the moment I saw that damn smirk on his face.

I sulk back to the tables where Charley and Calliope are waiting for me while the guys go grab some beers at the bar.

“Oh, my God. Girl. What the fuck was he thinking? Confronting y’all here? He’s got balls.” Charley rolls her eyes. “I mean not as big as mine, but they’re there.”

“He was shitfaced. He never would have had those balls sober.”

“Okay, but can we talk about Kayce confessing how worth it you are?” Calliope gushes. “It’s so fucking sexy when they claim you publicly.”

“I’m such an idiot for wasting so much time. I don’t want to waste more with him. All Cameron is doing is taking time away from us.”

“When will that whole thing be done?” Charley asks. “I haven’t seen an appointment come across our boy’s calendar.”

“I don’t know. They were waiting for a mediation date before actually going through to the court. I think Martin is working on something, but I don’t know what it is. I overheard him talking to Kayce about last time. ”

“Oooh. Right.” Charley suddenly finds the bowl of popcorn very interesting.

“Charley. Spill it.”

She shoves a handful of popcorn in her mouth and shrugs. “Not my place. Sorry.”

The guys return with a bucket of beers for the table.

“Not your place for what?” Kayce asks Charley.

“Nothing.” I quickly answer for her. I don’t want him to think I was eavesdropping.

He eyes me suspiciously but doesn’t push us to answer.

Calliope comes in with a topic change to save me. “Have y’all ever noticed how many girls point and giggle at just the thought of being in the same room with y'all. Even though we all exist. Right here with you.”

The guys look around and notice a handful of girls staring.

“Oooh, how about a drinking game, girls? Every time a girl looks and giggles we take a sip, and every time a girl comes up to them to slip their number, we take a shot.” Of course Charley makes it a drinking game.

“We’re going to be falling over in ten minutes.” I laugh.

“Okay, go to that table. We have drinks to drink and girl-talk to be had.” Charley shoos the boys away to another table.

They all grumble, but Viktor kisses Calliope on the forehead and they follow directions to leave us be.