Page 62 of Learn Your Lesson

Easy Fix

Will

“GODDAMN IT!”

I slammed my stick hard on the ice a week later — too hard, in fact, because it broke in half.

The rink went quiet, save for the skates gliding and the heavy breaths of my teammates. I glared at the puck in the back of the net, the fourth one I’d let past me in today’s practice, before picking it up in my gloved hand and heaving it across the rink.

Coach told everyone to grab some water and take five, and as soon as he did, Vince and Jaxson skated over to me.

“Don’t,” I growled.

“Fuck you,” Vince shot back. “If this were us, you’d pin our ass against the boards and demand to know what’s going on. So guess what, grumpy guy? It’s your turn.”

Jaxson plopped down onto the ice criss-cross style like a child, leaning his chin on his hands and smiling up at me. “This ought to be good.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m fine. Just a rough day.”

“Bullshit,” came a voice with the slightest hint of a German accent, and Aleks slid to a stop next to Vince. “You’re too tight,Jeansbügler.”

The other guys and I blinked at each other, trying to decipher what that word meant. I could easily ascertain that it wasn’t meant as a compliment.

“What he said,” Jax chimed in, pointing up at Aleks. “Are you injured and not telling us?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Did something happen to Ava?” Vince guessed.

“No. Ava’s also fine.”

“Uncle okay? Dad?” They kept on, and on, and on, with me answering more and more angrily each time I had to say no again.

But when Jaxson joked, “Need a trip to Boomer’s?”, the other guys laughed, and for some reason, my amusement died in my throat.

I sniffed, tearing off my gloves and leaning against the goal.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” Vince said, and his eyes lit up, jaw dropping like he was surprised and thrilled at my unfortunate circumstances. “Holy shit.”

“I’m fine,” I ground out.

“Bro, this is an easy fix. I know at least five women I could call who would jump at the chance to jump on you.” Jaxson acted like he was about to skate off and grab his phone to make good on that promise, but I reached my half-broken stick out to trip him before he could.

“If you flies don’t buzz the fuck off,” I warned, spitting on the ice. “I’m just having a day. Let’s go again.”

“It’s the nanny.”

Jaxson and Vince whipped their heads toward Aleks, who was smirking at me with a devilish gleam in his eye.

My jaw clicked with how much pressure I put on it as I stared back at him with what I hoped he picked up as a warning glare.

“I see the way you look at her when you think no one is watching you,” he said. “Like at the game last night.”

My throat squeezed, skin prickling like I’d been caught in a murder instead of checking out my nanny. Ava had been begging to come for a game, and since they didn’t have school today — some sort of planning day or something — I’d agreed to let Chloe bring her.

Ava had worn her custom-made jersey, and Chloe had sewn a cobalt blue glittery dress to match. That dress had a deep V neck that accentuated her breasts, and it hugged her waist before flaring at her hips — as if I needed the reminder of how lush they were, how much they begged to be held.

I’d never felt so distracted in a game, not in my entire career.