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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

JACK

J ensen Jones is a machine.

Not one damn goal past him, as opposed to the three netted by Callaghan.

Ready for the line switch, I stand and wait for Matt to leave the ice before I’m skating over to position, ready to support Tyler in the slot. This is the most ice time I’ve had so far this season, and with ten minutes left in the third, the fatigue is really setting in.

When Tyler emerges with the puck, I see Zach Evans make a beeline, ready to board him and spill it for a turnover.

“I’m open!” I shout, banging my stick on the ice.

At first, I think he’s too preoccupied with finding a route to the goal to register my position, but then he lifts his head in my direction and makes full eye contact with me.

I crash my stick on the ice and head toward him, making the potential pass even more straightforward.

But he refuses to acknowledge my support, let alone make use of it .

His split-second defiance is met with an Evans-style Kronwall, and Tyler crashes into the side and hits the ice hard.

Fuck.

The turnover is on, and Callaghan must be thinking it’s his lucky day as he nets in the top right with a deke and wrist shot as near perfect as mine a couple of weeks back.

I know Jon said we can fight, but my aching legs feel even heavier as we make our way back to center ice.

“Nice assist.” I can’t help my sarcasm as Tyler skates past without a word.

Seeing red, he spins around and heads straight for me.

Sawyer joins shortly afterward. “All right, guys, let’s cool it,” he says, trying to calm the building tension.

“Punch me,” I goad, all professionalism right out the window as the final threads of my composure snap. “Punch me and get yourself traded. No one fucking likes you.”

My eyes flick over Tyler’s shoulder and up high into the arena, where the family boxes are located. I know this is being beamed on the Jumbotron, and I know Kendra will have eyes on us. That’s the only thing holding me back from going further.

Tyler knocks his helmet against mine, our eyes locked on each other. “You think you’re so damn clever, don’t you? This is all about getting one up on me, isn’t it?”

The ref makes his way over right as Zach Evans arrives, an unusual move for an opposing player, let alone their captain. Major penalties are normally power-play gifts.

“You touch him, and I’ll make sure my next hit breaks bones.” Zach focuses his attention solely on Tyler as he says it. “I have zero boundaries when it comes to touching the opposition, and when that player is Morgan, I will bury you. No one messes with family.”

“Yeah, and you’ll have a problem with me too.” Jessie Callaghan joins his captain, eyes boring into Tyler. “I’m not ordinarily a guy to Kronwall someone, but for you, Bennett, I can make an exception. ”

I look between Zach and Jessie. I’ve spent a lot of time with these guys, especially before Jon retired. Part of me wants to say thanks, but I know they’re not doing it solely for my benefit. Jon is a best friend to them both, and there are some relationships that rivalries will never outrank.

When Tyler slides back just in time for the ref to join us, Zach and Jessie spin around, heading back toward their team.

“Have we got a problem?” the ref asks, looking between us all.

“Just a little tactical talk,” Sawyer responds.

Checking his watch, he thumbs toward center ice. “Talking’s over. Time to play.”

When the game restarts and the clock ticks down, the Scorpions fans, who have traveled to New York, drown out the home crowd. And as I switch out for the final time and take a seat on the bench, I notice as Jon visibly deflates.

Zero to four is not what he was hoping for. None of us were.

Emmett Richards, a defenseman, drops his head and whispers under his breath, “Bennett’s in the can if he keeps this up.”

I haven’t spoken to him as much as some of the other guys, but I know Sawyer trusts him. They’ve played together for multiple seasons.

“He needs to clean up his act,” I reply, adding nothing more.

When my eyes travel back to Jon, I follow his line of vision to where it’s fixed on the other side of the rink.

The fuck?

Sitting in an ice-level suite generally reserved for VIPs, my dad accepts another drink from the server as he leans across and talks with a dark-haired guy I don’t recognize.

All fucking time stands still as I watch on and ignore the game in front of me, the final few seconds playing out.

Dad sits back in his seat, laughing as he runs a casual hand through his dark hair.

Is he even here for me? For the Blades? Because if he is, this is a fucking funny way of showing it .

The buzzer barely registers with me, and Richards knocks my shoulder. “Wake up, Morgan.”

I step back onto the ice, shaking a few hands.

Jensen heads over to me, removing his helmet as he approaches. “You played well out there, Jack.” He juts his chin down the tunnel toward Tyler, but my focus is on Dad as he walks through a side door. “What’s Bennett’s problem with you?” Jensen pulls my attention back to him. He clearly witnessed tension on the ice and just like his captain, he regards the Morgans as family.

“Long story,” I puff out and then look up to see the family boxes are all empty.

He snarls in the direction Tyler disappeared. “Just watch your back out there, Jack. And if things get too heated and depressing in this rancid place, I’m sure the Scorpions would be only too happy to take you on. You’re as good as Jon always said you’d be.”

I offer him a smile just before he skates toward the tunnel and knocks fists with Jon, who’s already on his way toward me.

“Did you see him?” I ask.

His jaw tics as he focuses on Dad’s empty seat. I know he’s pissed at the result of the game, but there’s one person who fires him up in this way.

“He’s here for you,” he bites out.

I turn to look at him. “What do you mean?”

He shakes his head and then drops it between his shoulders, a knowing smile on his face. “Your mom and I always saw this coming.” He looks at me again, deadly serious. “The second you started to make waves in the NHL and draw in the big paychecks, we always knew Elliott would resurface. It was only a matter of time. Felicity tells me he’s here for the week, visiting with his new girlfriend.”

I never did reply to his birthday text, and since I pay fuck all attention to the finance empire he runs, I guess I wouldn’t know about his unfortunate new woman.

Jon steps toward me. “We’re not about to stop you from seeing him, buddy. We’re your family and will be here for you no matter what call you make over Elliott. But if you want my advice, be really fucking careful with what you tell him.”

My gaze roams around the empty arena. “I already have my family.”

KENDRA

“Okay, so we might’ve lost, but I will say that was the best hockey game I’ve watched all season.”

“Darcy, it’s the only game you’ve watched all season.” Felicity winks at us as she gathers some cocktails at the players’ bar and walks them across to a few of her friends sitting around a booth.

I recognize them as the wives of Zach Evans, Jensen Jones, and Jessie Callaghan, but there isn’t a chance of me heading over there to say hi. Half of them are lawyers, and the other half are just as scary.

“I heard she ties Jensen up with chains and whips him.” Jenna tips her head at sophisticated blonde as she giggles with Felicity.

“His wife?!” I whisper-shout.

Darcy rolls her eyes at Jenna, breaking into a smirk. “Yeah, knowing Kate, that’s probably accurate.”

I say nothing as I take a seat at the bar and cross my legs over.

If only they knew what Jack likes.

When Darcy turns to the bartender to order another drink, Jenna turns to me. “So, are you going to concede now or later?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Concede what?”

Her hand reaches behind my back and plucks at the jersey. “You can’t tell me this is fake too.”

“Shhh!” I scold, and she folds her arms over her chest, tapping her foot as she waits for me to answer. “We kind of admitted we wanted to see where things go officially.”

Her eyes light up, genuine elation on her face. “For real?!”

I break into a giddy smile. “For real. We couldn’t stop sleeping together. Like, every time we were alone, we were all over each other. Plus …” I trail off and look down at my boots. “He makes me really happy. I get that feeling, you know? The butterfly one. He told me he’s harbored a crush since college, and I … I really like him, Jenna. I can’t deny it, and I’m kind of tired of doing that as well.”

Jenna’s eyes soften as she takes the stool next to me. “I can see that you do.”

“Yep!”

We both look at Darcy as she spins around with two cocktails, one in each hand.

She takes a sip from the French martini and screws up her nose, then moves across to the cosmo. “Much better.” She beams.

“What was the ‘yep’ for?” I ask, loving this girl, along with her happy-go-lucky attitude.

She takes another sip of the cosmo and raises the glass in front of her. “Yep. My brother is head over heels in love, and I’m already picking out my outfit for your wedding.”

Butterflies dance in my stomach. I haven’t set eyes on him yet, but I know he’s close.

“Hey, Kitten.”

My chair spins to face the room as a familiar hand wraps around the nape of my neck. Jack steps between my legs and leans down, brushing his lips across my mouth and peeking his tongue out to caress mine.

I’m all smiles and teenage flutters. “I’m sorry about the score.”

“Eeeek!” Jenna squeals at the sight of us, slapping her thigh in celebration. “You two are so damn cute together!”

Darcy sets her glass back on the bar and pins her brother with a glare. “And I’ve gone off my cosmo. Seeing my brother make out is gross.”

He doesn’t look at either of them though as he rubs his callous thumb behind my ear, wanting all my attention.

“I’m obsessed with you,” he whispers into my mouth. “Is that okay?”

I drag my bottom lip between my teeth, fighting back a jaw-aching smile. “I don’t have a problem with it.”

He kisses me again, and I hear Jenna sigh from beside me.

“Okay, that’s good news because I don’t think it’s optional for me.”

How in the hell did I not see this boy before?

With another kiss, Jack pulls back, and I stiffen when Tyler comes to stand on the other side of Darcy.

I don’t know if Jack has seen him or can just sense his presence, but as always, Jack’s attention never wavers from me.

“Ignore him. He doesn’t exist.”

I palm Jack’s toned ass and pull him closer, not caring if we’re giving others something to watch. “I know. I just wish it were you and me and no complications.”

His fingertips trace over my thighs. His touch makes me want to haul him out of this bar and say to hell with socializing.

“He can say, do, and think whatever he wants, Kitten. All that really matters is what we know.”

A throat clears from behind us as I drop my hand, and Jack moves to the side.

“You coming to Lloyd’s? I know we lost, but figured the team could use a few laughs. Drinks are on me.” Sawyer looks between us all.

“Did someone say …” Rubbing his hands together, Archer bounces up to us, not looking like a goalie who just let four goals past him.

Although from what I know of this guy, he doesn’t let anything bother him .

Apart from the honey-haired bombshell—otherwise known as Jack’s sister.

It’s clear Darcy hasn’t noticed a thing or the way Archer didn’t finish his last sentence as she raises a finger in the air. “Count me in.”

I look back at Archer as Jack continues talking with Sawyer about the game.

He’s just staring, ogling her, right next to her brother.

Finally, Darcy’s attention snags on Archer, who immediately shoves his hands into his pockets and whistles, gazing around the bar.

Smooth.

On another sigh, Jenna pockets her phone. “So, are we heading out or what?”