Page 136 of Sweet Venom

The league’s raging bull Callahan.

A fireball. A violent monster.

A goddamn lunatic.

It doesn’t matter what they call me, and it’s not like I love the box. If anything, it irritates me to just sit still instead of being in the midst of the fast-paced action.

I usually get sent to the box multiple times during one game, and sometimes, the coach has to pull me off the rink so I don’t risk misconduct.

This time around, though, I was only in the box once.

And it was due to a very specific reason.

While I was hydrating and looking at the screens showing some of the crowd, I caught a glimpse of someone I never thought I’d see at a hockey game, let alone a Vipers game.

Violet.

The camera was more focused on Dahlia since everyone and their uncle knows she’s Kane’s girl. She’s wearing his jersey and has his number, 19, written on her cheek.

But it wasn’t her that made me pause with the bottle halfway to my mouth. It was Violet standing beside her,looking a bit spooked by the chaos. She’s wearing a Graystone Ridge sweatshirt that’s not too tight but also not that loose either.

What is…Violet doing here?

I know she must’ve been dragged to the game by Dahlia, but I heard Dahlia ask her the other time, and she vehemently refused. She also refused when I asked her to come over a week ago.

What changed?

Violet shifted slightly, pushing her glasses up her nose, touching her wrist a bit as she watched the game.

No.

Violet wasn’t really following the action like everyone else.

Was she looking at the penalty box?

The camera went back to the game before I could make sure, but I’m certain she wasn’t focused on the team like the rest of the crowd.

I could be reading too much into it, but ever since I was released from the penalty box, I have never gone back in.

Because how the fuck could she watch me if I was stuck in a useless cage?

Not that I’m sure she came here to watch me per se.

I’m fully aware she despises the idea of sports or anything of the sort. But as I skate back to defense, cleanly checking the Knights’ center, I can’t help but think maybe Violet truly is here for me.

Even though it hasn’t been long since the first time I fucked her, it feels like forever ago.

Like I’ve been fucking Violet my whole goddamn life. Like she fucking exists for me.

I’ve had my fair share of sex, but none of it compares tothe way my whole being resurrects the moment I touch Violet. It’s damning and electrifying, and I didn’t stop that first time.

Couldn’t stop.

Maybe it’s because I’d wanted to fuck her for a long time, maybe it’s because I couldn’t get enough of the throaty erotic noises she released or how she tentatively touched me.

Whatever the reason, I shouldn’t have blurted everything out about my mother the next morning.

I still don’t know why I did that.