Page 24 of Puck My Stepbrother

Before I could answer, Jeff drained the last of his coffee in a single gulp and stood up. Then he gathered his books and tucked them under his arm.

“Well, it’s been nice meeting you.” Jeff dodged Levi’s hand when he offered it for the second time. “I’ve really got to get going. I’ll text you, Quinn, okay?”

He blew me a kiss before leaving. I returned it without monitoring Levi’s reaction.

“Looks like I’ve got you all to myself now,” Levi said.

“Great.”

I slumped over the table, not giving a shit what my stepbrother-to-be thought of my reaction.

Why did this guy have to ruin literally everything?

10

LEVI

“What’s with you lately, bro?” Ryan Detenbeck asked as we sat on the bench overlooking the practice rink.

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I kept my focus on Quinn Standish, where it’d stayed ever since the shower. Shit, my focus had zeroed in on him long before that, but now I could think of nothing else. Showering with my stepbrother-to-be, caressing his shoulders and stroking his cock, had felt so fucking exhilarating. I still tasted his lips on mine, and I wanted more. Not finishing the job drove me crazy and left me feeling even hungrier than before.

“Levi?” Detenbeck asked again. “Yoo-hoo. You still with me?”

“Huh? Yeah, of course I am, bro.”

“You really spaced out on me for a minute there.”

“Sorry about that, bro. What was the question again?”

“I asked what’s been up with you lately.”

“Nothing, dude.”

The goalie lifted an eyebrow like he didn’t buy my story.

“Are you sure about that?” he asked. “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“What do you mean?”

“I dunno. It’s like you’ve been completely zonked out during practice these last few days. Actually, you’ve been at least a little off for a few weeks now.”

If he ever met Quinn, he’d understand why.

Detenbeck’s comments alarmed me, forcing me to search for a story to feed him, but then I checked myself. I’d never overcome my problems if I let fear control me.

“You were so hungry coming into the season,” he continued. “You were on the second string all last year, you’ve wanted to prove yourself for the longest time, and now you’ve got the opportunity to do it. With Kayden Preston and Erik De Ruiter gone to the pros, you could show the Larkin Lions that you’re the guy to lead the team to back-to-back championships.”

“Yeah, it’s great to be a starter now, but…”

I didn’t know how to finish that sentence. Thoughts of Kayden Preston and Erik De Ruiter swirled through my mind, whisking me back into the fog Detenbeck had yanked me from only a minute ago. I found my opening to escape my immediate problem and answer my own questions, and I decided to go for it.

“Hey, Detenbeck, did you know about Preston and De Ruiter?” I asked.

“Know about what?”

He had to know what I meant. How could he not?

“Come on,” I said, “you know what I’m talking about. The fact that they were…”