Page 18 of No Shot (The Toronto Tundra #2)

Bri

“ Shit,” I whisper under my breath as the buzzer blares for the second time tonight. Cami tilts her head, staring at me with a puzzled expression.

“ Uhm, that ’ s our goal.”

“ Oh, right.” I feign confusion to hide the fact that my hot-as-balls neighbor has scored two goals tonight already, and it ’ s only the second period.

Haven ’ t scored a goal all season my ass, the guy hasn ’ t taken his foot off the gas all night.

At this point, I ’ d be shocked if he didn ’ t get a third goal.

It ’ s like every chance the Tundra gets, they pass to Penn.

They ’ re in freaking cahoots, I ’ m telling you.

I ’ m on the edge of my seat for the remainder of the period.

It ’ s been a tough game, both teams fighting hard for possession of the puck.

Thankfully, most of the play takes place in the Tundra ’ s end, meaning very few additional scoring chances for Penn.

Let ’ s keep it that way. The sweet relief washes through my body the moment the siren blares at the end of the period.

The guys start shuffling off the ice to the locker room, but Penn catches my eye as he scans the crowd. Yanking off his helmet, he casually scratches his forehead before—oh you smug motherfucker.

He glances down at his hand, slowly lifting one finger, then another, like he ’ s counting something important.

Then, just as smoothly, he flicks his gaze up to me, a cocky smirk tugging at his lips.

No words. No hesitation. Just that look before he turns and skates off the ice like he already knows how this ends.

“ I ’ m going to grab a popcorn, want anything?” Cami ’ s voice snaps me out of the strange scene I ’ d just been stuck in.

“ I ’ m okay, I ’ ll just have a handful of yours.”

Cami smiles. “ Sounds good, be right back.” I watch as she heads down the aisle, pausing in front of two huge guys with their legs outstretched. Cami politely clears her throat. “ Excuse me, mind if I get by you?”

The one oaf looks at the other, smirking. I don ’ t like where this is headed. “ You can climbs right over, sugar,” the guy slurs.

Oh I think the fuck not. I ’ m out of my seat in a flash, standing behind Cami, leaning around her shoulder to stare at the losers.

“ Hey, dick, something wrong with your ears? She said move.”

“ Oh, I heardss her justtt fine, but I paid for these seats, and I ’ m mighty comfy right here.” He stretches his arms above his head for emphasis.

“ How jolly for you.” I maneuver in front of Cami until I ’ m standing over the two men. “ I ’ m going to ask one more time. Move the fuck out of our way before I do it for you.”

“ HA! Hear that?” He slaps his friend on the chest, an obnoxious laugh ringing in the air. “ What ’ s a little thing like you gonna do, huh?” Oh don ’ t underestimate me, fucker.

I let the cup in my hand tilt so a slosh of beer falls onto the guy ’ s boots.

“ Whoops, so sorry about that!” I feign an apologetic tone, holding my hand over my heart. The guy jumps to his feet, and damn, he ’ s a lot taller than I thought. I hear my sister gasp, gripping my arm to pull me back, but I wave her off.

“ You little bitch!” he shouts loud enough to get the attention of those around us. There ’ s a few guys who stand, telling him to calm down, and I flag the security attendant three rows down.

“ What seems to be the issue?” the security officer asks, getting the oaf to turn around.

“ We were trying to get past,” I supply innocently. “ This man says he refuses to move.”

“ Sir, please exit the row.”

“ Or what?” he laughs out.

“ Or you ’ ll be escorted out of the venue.” That shuts him up. He and his buddy reluctantly move, grumbling under their breath as they shove past. I can feel the heat of their stares as they step aside, but I don ’ t care. I give them one last glare before following Cami out.

I turn to their baffled faces. “ Enjoy the game, fuckers,” I whisper low enough for only them to hear.

Cami loops her arm in mine as we climb the stairs. “ You really shouldn ’ t do things like that, B. It ’ s not safe.”

“ I saw security, I just needed them to initiate making a scene.”

“ Still…” Her concern is clear.

“ Okay, I promise not to fight anymore men tonight, ” I say it with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood, though I can tell she ’ s not entirely convinced.

“ Good. And thanks.” Her voice softens, and for a moment, I can see the relief in her eyes. She got the non-confrontational gene, and I—well, I definitely made up for that genetic shortcoming.

“ Don ’ t mention it,” I reply with a smile.

By the time we ’ re back to our seats and the game restarts, I ’ m barely able to enjoy my snacks.

I ’ m far too confused about the nervous excitement pulsing through my body.

Obviously, I don ’ t want him to score another goal.

The first two were definitely flukes, but still…

it ’ s kind of thrilling. The unknown, the adrenaline, the sexual tension.

Maybe a little meaningless release will be good for us.

Maybe that ’ s all we need for me to be able to go back to living a bothersome-less existence as platonic neighbors.

There ’ s a flurry of motion on the ice as Penn comes charging from the bench.

It looks like the opposing team—the Duckies?

Or the Ducks? I don ’ t know, a duck was definitely mentioned, I heard it—was switching out its players.

Somehow, the Tundra have the puck again, moving toward the opposite net while the other team scrambles.

Theo, in a second, passes it to Penn, who goes sprinting down the ice.

He maneuvers past one of the Ducks players frantically skating backward.

Suddenly, it ’ s just Penn and their goalie.

There ’ s a collective gasp from the crowd as the people around me stand to their feet to get a better look.

I can ’ t deny how magnetizing it is watching him approach.

What do you even think in a moment like that?

Thousands of people watching your every move, depending on you to score? I could never do it.

Penn ’ s movements look like they slow, a smooth precision in the way he draws back his stick. I breathe deeply, the cold air of the rink filling my lungs. I didn ’ t even realize I was also standing, leaning forward to get a better look at the scene ahead of me, watching in fascination.

The light above the net goes off, followed by the blaring through the speakers, and the crowd erupts into an absolute frenzy. I only get as far as seeing Penn circle behind the net, pumping his fist in the air, before hats obstruct my view. No joke, hundreds of hats go flying past my head.

What headwear has to do with hockey, I have no idea. Genuinely baffling...

The crowd roars, a sea of hats raining down onto the ice as employees rush to scoop them up.

Through the chaos, Penn skates past our seats, barely slowing, just long enough to throw me a wink before gliding off again.

That stupid little flutter in my stomach?

Nope. Not acknowledging it. Doesn ’ t exist .

The game ends with another Tundra win, the crowd cheering as the final whistle blows.

Cami and I exchange a quick hug, a little sisterly camaraderie brought about by our new mutual hockey team.

Once we let the chaos settle for a few minutes, we push through the sea of celebrating fans, making our way down to the locker room to wait for Scott to get changed.

I hitched a ride with them tonight, and I ’ d rather not have to pay to Uber all the way back to my apartment.

If that means waiting at the door for a sweaty man with my sister, so be it.

Part of me definitely wanted to just stay home and study tonight, given that I have a huge econ exam coming up.

Whoever decided it ’ d be a good idea to create a test worth fifteen percent of your marks this early in the semester deserves jail time.

Unfortunately for me, though, I didn ’ t pursue criminal law, so instead of prosecuting Professor DuPond, I can only throw some game theory equilibria or cost-benefit analyses at him.

This MBA better pay off, because so far, it ’ s useless for vengeance.

The other half of me was incredibly intrigued to see what happens, and I ’ m nothing if not a curious bitch. Hence, why I ’ m out past my bedtime, but I should really call it soon. There ’ s an Earl Grey tea and my fluffy duvet calling my name at home.

I watch my sister log into her baby monitor app and check on Kaia for the tenth time tonight.

Understandably, she ’ s been a bit of a nervous wreck.

It ’ s the first time she ’ s been out without a little toddler attached to her hip in I don ’ t know how long.

I ’ m proud of her for doing something for herself. “ How ’ s she doing?”

“ Still sound asleep. I can ’ t believe it! We find a new sitter and suddenly, she ’ s a perfect sleeping angel. It ’ s like she ’ s doing better without me there.” There ’ s a mix of disbelief and a twinge of sadness in her voice.

“ It ’ s a good thing, Cami. She ’ s safe, she ’ s well taken care of, and you and Scott can have some more alone time.” She nods, absentmindedly, before locking her phone screen.

“ You ’ re right. Maybe we should keep the night going.

We could get drinks or something?” I don ’ t have time to object before Scott comes fumbling through the door.

I ’ m relieved by the interruption, still struggling to think how to let her down easy.

It ’ s a good thing that she ’ s not rushing home.

She deserves a night out, but honestly, I ’ m wiped.

“ Hi, babe!” Scott pulls Cami into a crushing hug before wrapping an arm around me. “ Thanks for coming, Bri. Did you have fun?”

“ It was a blast,” I reply with a warm smile. He looks relieved before turning back to his wife.

“ Did the babysitter call? Is Kaia doing okay?”