Page 18 of Home for the Hockey-Days (Cedar Rapids Raccoons)
CHAPTER 18
August
I t’s the first game back after the holidays. We’re rested, feeling strong, and we’re up by two at the start of the third. I’ve done everything in my power to stay the fuck off the ice every time Johnny is on it. I don’t want drama, not here, not in my happy place, but I can’t avoid it anymore.
Coach calls the line change just as Johnny jumps off the bench, tossing me a promise-filled stare as he passes. Great. I should have known better than to think we’d behave like grown-ass adults about the fact I’m officially with his ex-girlfriend.
For the entire shift, he chirps at me. He hooks me twice, but when the refs miss the slash across my shin, I see red. “Fuck off, dick.”
He shoulders me as someone ices the puck and play stops. “Single syllables.” He taps me with his twig. “You know she doesn’t go for dudes with shit for brains, right? She’s just using you for your tiny cock. She’ll move on to someone more on her own level soon enough.”
I ignore him, despite the spark his words ignite in my chest. I’m well hung, confident with the size of my cock, but the other things he said about my intelligence tug at my insecurities.
“She does enjoy charity work, though. Maybe she’s taking pity on your poor ass. A community outreach project or something.”
As though he smells blood in the water like a shark, he sneers as we lean forward, preparing for the face off. The spark has turned to a flame that’s breathing fire into my veins despite the fact we’re standing on a giant hunk of ice.
I try to find some Zen, whatever the fuck that might look like, but his smug presence lingers like a bad smell.
The fact he had his cock in her makes me insurmountably angry, and I try not to think about it often. But right now? I probably need to be incensed that he’s seen her naked body because he’s gearing up for a fight, and this time he means business.
Johnny keeps muttering under his breath to my right. I’m going to break this shithead’s face, and more than that, I’m going to enjoy it when I do.
Now that she and I are together, I’m not letting her go. She’s my woman, and I don’t give a fuck who doesn’t like it. She’s chosen to be with me, and I hope to God I make her even a fraction of how happy she makes me.
It should be embarrassing just how much a single text from her can light up my whole day. The past few weeks have been some of the best of my whole life. I failed one of my winter exams, but I’m not going to quit. I’ve studied more over the winter break than I can remember, and all because my girl believes in me.
“Dirty little whore, right?” Johnny digs me with his elbow, breaking me out of my happy thoughts.
“Spoiled little rich girl on the streets, freak in the?—”
I don’t even let him finish his sentence before I’ve dropped my gloves, yanked off his helmet, and sent my fist sailing into his grinning face. I guess I draw the line at kissing and telling, and I definitely take issue with slut shaming, especially in front of both of our teams on the ice. They’re the worst gossips in the world.
This asshole deserves all he gets.
I get a few solid digs in before the refs break up the fight. Johnny grins at me, teeth bloodied from a stream of blood trickling from his nose. “This is gonna be fun.” He drives his shoulder into me again before heading to the penalty box.