Page 31 of Just my Puck (Love & Laughter #1)

LUCY

I n my apartment, alone, I try not to think about the time.

I’m waiting to leave for the hockey game, and I’m hoping that after the game, Steele and Jason might invite me back to their house again.

The thought of it is exciting but also a little intimidating.

Wandering around my apartment, I busy myself in a vain attempt to pass the time.

Gazing at my bookshelves, I take in all the familiar titles: books my mother bought me when I was younger, books my sister sent me from the other side of the world, and books I had to buy to finish my English degree.

All of them fill me with a comforting warmth.

Pausing, I run my fingers over the spines, feeling the essence of all the stories contained within.

Taking a deep breath, I move away and tidy the room, picking up the clothes I left lying around and putting them away, trying not to think too much about the game. I put away the dishes from the night before, closing the drapes because it will be dark when I return home later.

The clock ticks on, the seconds stretching into eternity as I watch the second hand slowly move.

I can’t take it any longer, and I know I have to leave soon if I want to make it to the game.

I go to my wardrobe and grab my favorite sweater, wrapping its rich softness around me like a cocoon of comfort.

A colossal downpour has swept off the ocean, bringing with it a cool wind chilling me more as I continue to rehash the situation with Mae yesterday.

Her calling me a slut has profoundly affected me, and I’m having second thoughts about dating Jason and Steele.

Even knowing I want to get to know both of them more, the fear that they might think the same thing holds me back.

Shaking my head, I take a deep breath, trying to push Mae’s words from my mind. Texting Patty that I’m setting off for the arena, I’m grateful for my new friend. Without her, I wouldn’t have the courage to go tonight and sit on my own, especially if Mae, Holly, and June are there as well.

Grabbing my keys, I make my way out of the apartment, bracing myself against the wind and rain.

As I walk towards the rink, my thoughts are consumed by Jason and Steele, their strong bodies moving with ease across the ice, their muscles flexing under their tight jerseys.

The image of them both in bed with me flashes through my mind, igniting a fire deep within me.

Despite the rain, my skin is on fire as I walk, imaging Jason and Steele’s hands all over my body.

Making it to the arena, I see Patty waiting for me. She waves, and I hurry over to her.

“Hey.”

“This weather!” she exclaims. “What is going on?”

Shrugging as we rush into the arena, I shake my hair and pull my glasses out of my pocket where I’d stashed them to keep them dry.

Picking up our way through the seats on the exact same row we were in last time, I see the skanky ho who showed her tits to my man.

Giving her a sneer, Patty laughs. “You know, I’m going to owe Steve big time for these seats,” she says. “Maybe I’ll take a leaf out of her book and shove my tits in his face in public!”

Staring at her, I take in her words. “Oh, my God. I thought they were yours. You said you had seats.”

“And I do. But they’re Steve’s. He’s happy to share for now, but if you’re dating the big guy, maybe get some perks, yeah?”

“Yes, of course, I’ll ask him next time. Thank you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think.”

“It’s fine,” she brushes it off. “Seriously.”

Taking her at her word because I hope we are at a place where she’d say if I were being a leechy pain in the ass, we watch the players take to the ice, their blades cutting through the frozen surface.

As they start to warm up, I start to drool. “Erm,” I murmur as they drop to the ice to do some extremely sexy stretches.

“Groin warm-ups,” Patty says knowledgeably. “Sexy as fuuuuuuck.”

“No kidding.” Tilting my head, I watch Steele humping the ice, which is the only way I can describe it, and I wish I were under him, ice or not.

I need to read up on this sport. All I know is that it’s pretty violent and exciting, and the players are hot.

It’s not exactly going to keep Steele or Jason riveted to my conversation if I can’t even talk about the thing they do for a living.

Determined to make a concerted effort, I see Carter looking over at me with a soft smile before he shoves his helmet on and makes his way into the goal area.

A few minutes later, the game starts, and I settle back to watch and learn what I can without a running commentary from Patty.

The game is intense, with both teams showing off their skills. I cheer every time Jason or Steele make a move, watching their bodies move with grace and strength.

When Jason scores, I clasp my hand over my mouth as I watch him go down on his knees on the ice.

He throws his fists in the air and turns towards the crowd to give us a wave.

A weird sense of pride washes over me as the crowd erupts, everyone yelling and clapping and settling back down when the ref blows his whistle furiously.

At the end of the first period, the score is in favor of the Titans.

Patty leans over to me, shouting so she can be heard above the crowd. “They got a good start.”

Nodding back my response, I’m still lost. I only know that the Titans are winning, so that’s good.

The second period begins, and the game starts again, the players’ bodies moving elegantly as they check each other. Pushing off, they slap the puck forcefully down the ice.

The crowd cheers when the Titans score a goal.

Storm has scored two goals now, and the crowd is going wild. Excitement bells are ringing in my belly as the game progresses, and Patty has started to explain to me what’s going on.

Moments later, Storm scores another goal from a well-placed slapshot.

“That’s three!” Patty shrieks, jumping up and down.

I’m glued to my seat.

Lucky Lucy.

Thinking I’m imagining it at first, I’m not when Patty turns to me with wide eyes and a grin.

“Lucky Lucy!” she yells in my face. “That’s you!”

“What?”

“Cute girl!”

Turning around at the bellow from behind me, I recognize one of the guys from the other night.

“You Lucy?”

“She is!” Patty yells.

“Lucky Lucy!” he roars, waving his hands in the air and dancing around.

Still confused, I glance at the ice. Storm skates by and mouths, “Lucky Lucy,” which makes me think he started the chant somehow. How else would they know about me, and the words Carter said to me in their kitchen?

Getting into the moment and almost as if I’m working in slow motion, I leap up and shout, “Lucky Lucy!”

Steele and Jason stop on the ice, facing me, and I jiggle before replacing my top and sitting down, my cheeks on fire, but the feeling of being free hits me hard and makes me lightheaded.

When Jason turns around, showing me his back, he points over his shoulder at his number and then turns back to me before skating off.

“Well, that wasn’t obvious,” Patty snorts. “Jason wants to sixty-nine you. You got something to share, Lucky ?”

“Nope,” I say, pressing my lips together so I don’t laugh. “Okay, maybe. But not here.”

Eyes wide, she accepts that primly and turns back to the game to finish it out, where the Titans end up winning six-zero.