Page 5 of The Break Out (Denver Dragons #3)

5

I ’m even more pissed off that I’m here than I was the day I got traded to this fucking team.

When my contract was up last season and I was a free agent I was hoping to get picked up somewhere else. Ideally back in L.A., though I knew the chances of that happening were close to zero.

The only thing I didn’t want was for Denver to offer me a contract. I told my agent, but when it came through I couldn’t say no.

Literally I couldn’t, unless I wanted to be out of a job because they were the only ones to offer me one. I’m a good fucking player, I know this, and so do the big wigs in the league. Unfortunately, they also know my attitude on and off the ice. I think it’s fucking dramatic, but it makes teams not want to deal with me.

But Denver did. And now I’m stuck. At least for the next four years of my contract. Though, I made it clear I’m open to any trade. But for now I’m going to be a miserable fuck constantly which includes at all our practices so far and at our game tonight. It’s the first of the season and I’m arriving with my headphones in, ignoring everyone around me.

The social media people taking pictures, the reporters asking all the guys if they would be okay with a pre game interview. I ignore them all with a blank look on my face. I don’t even take off my headphones in the locker room as I begin changing.

I hear some of the guys—I refuse to call teammates because I don’t feel like a team with them—talking about some shit. Doesn’t matter that we’ve had daily practice for weeks, they are all talking like little bitches catching up after not seeing each other all summer. Even though we’ve had practices.

Makes me even more pissed off.

I’m turning up the volume on my headphones as I tug on my gear but before I get my jersey on, one of my headphones is ripped out of my ear. I turn to whoever decided they want to be fucked up and come face to face with the captain.

“The fuck?” I snap, stepping closer to him because I don’t give two shits who he is.

“Coach is talking. Which means everyone needs to listen,” Collee states, straight faced. Which only pisses me off more.

“You don’t tell me what the fuck to do.”

“You’re a part of this team, whether you like it or not and we are not going to suck this season because of you.” He keeps his cool through his little speech and I want to punch him in the face just for a reaction.

I scoff, still not backing away from him. “ I’m not going to be the reason your fucking team sucks, but I don’t give a shit about any of you. Never have before and I’m not going to start. Leave me the fuck alone and let me do my fucking job.”

I grab my headphone from his hand and shove it into my ear, tuning out the entire locker room once again.

After warmups, we’re all back in the locker room and I’m forced to listen as starting lines are announced, which isn’t me even though it should be. Then, we’re heading out into the arena for the game to start.

I feed off the energy of the crowd and that’s where my focus remains. The only thing that matters is when I go out for my shift and being the best fucking player out there. Tolerating the other Denver guys enough while we are out there to try and get a goal.

It’s almost the end of the first period, I gain control of the puck and skate toward the other zone. I can feel their player on my ass, but I speed up to get away from him. I get over the blue line to avoid being offside, just barely, then slap the puck toward their goal. The goalie stops it and I let out a loud curse, skating back to the bench.

Before I climb over the boards, I’m checked by Matt McQuaid. “I was open and had a clear shot you asshole.”

“So did I,” I grit out, itching for a fight .

“We hate you just as much as you hate us, you know? But out here we have to work together.”

“Fuck off, McQuaid, you’re not one to talk. You wouldn’t have passed either.”

“Guys, bitch at each other later, we are in the middle of a game,” Charlie Mann snaps as both McQuaid and I sit.

The first period ends with Vince Dumont blocking a shot before it gets to the goalie, Colver.

In the locker room I get bitched at by Coach, but it goes in one ear and out the other. Everyone on this fucking team can eat shit, none of them would have gotten that goal either. It was a solid shot on my part, their goalie just stopped it.

I have too much shit pent up by the time we go back out for the next period I’m practically vibrating with rage. The combination of everything this last year from the original trade, to being stuck, moving bullshit, and dealing with everyone on this dumb ass fucking team. When I go out for my first shift of the period I cross check the guy who has possession of the puck into the boards hard enough I know I should get a penalty.

He reacts exactly how I hoped he would by shoving me back and then we are both throwing our gloves off as I grab his jersey and start raining punches down on him. He gets a couple good hits in and I love the pain it causes from my split lip. I taste the copper on my tongue and feel the blood from my busted knuckles, but I keep going until we end up on the ice and pulled apart by the refs.

I’m guided to the penalty box and can’t help but smile for the first time in weeks. Sometimes all you need is a little fight to make you feel better.

And a good fuck.

Which I’m going to make happen after the game. This isn’t L.A., but there isn’t a shortage of puck bunnies. Especially after I get in a fight, for some reason that gets me even more attention than normal. Which is fine by me.

We lose by one and of course everyone is pissed off as we change. The locker room is tense, but at least no one tries to talk to me again. I rush through my shower and throw my suit on so I can get out quickly.

As I enter the hallway I see a couple different groups of WAGs waiting for their guy. I grimace, I’d rather shoot my dick off than think about settling for just one woman. I’m a twenty-eight year old, good looking professional athlete. I can have whoever I want and I plan on that being my life for as long as I can.

One particular group catches my eye as I approach, I recognize Chandler who’s dating three of the guys on the Dragons. Fucking weird. She’s standing with three other women, one is Spencer Sparks, another is wearing glasses with short black hair. It’s the blonde with legs for days that are covered in a pair of tight jeans that draws my eyes to her ass that I know belong to Brynn Collee. My captain’s sister.

Suddenly I’m not in as much of a rush to leave. I may have just found the perfect fuck right here. That was easy .

Approaching the women, I paste a smile on my face and drape my arm across Brynn’s shoulders.

“Good evening, ladies,” I turn to the woman I have my arm around, “Baby Collee.”

She makes a noise in the back of her throat before pushing at my side to get my body away from hers.

“Don’t call me that,” she snaps. I can’t help how her bitchy little voice makes my dick jump. I don’t mind a little bit of a fight, she’s feisty, always is with me and I like it.

“How many times does she have to tell you she’s not interested, Wheeler?” Spencer folds her arms across her chest. I know she’s some famous singer, but she used to date my old teammate, Richardson. Now, she’s dating the goalie on the Dragons somehow.

“Spencer, good to see you again. Do you know what team you think you’re going to try to date next? Or actually,” I turn toward Chandler, “Maybe I should be asking you that. Seems like that’s more your speed.”

“Charming as always, Colton.” Spencer just rolls her eyes.

It’s the one with glasses that starts storming toward me, which makes me chuckle softly. She’s the only one I haven’t even talked to.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? You better walk away before I cut off your dick. Assuming you haven’t lost it to some sort of venereal disease already.” She is fuming .

“My dick is just fine, I’m so glad it concerns you….” I don’t know her name.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Mann approaches, and wraps his arm around the feisty one with glasses, so I guess she’s with him. “You okay, Audrey?”

“Your girlfriend was just showing some concern for my dick, Mann, not a big deal.”

“You asshole!” She starts to come toward me again, but Mann holds her back.

“My bad. Baby Collee and I will just head out and get out of your hair.” I drape my arm around her again, but she shoves me off instantly.

“Get fucked, Wheeler,” she seethes.

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” I smirk.

“What is happening?” a deep voice booms behind me. I groan, turning to face the captain himself.

“Just talking,” I smile.

“Brynn, is he bugging you?” Collee asks, his narrowed eyes on me and I think this is the closest I’ve seen him to pissed off aside from during a game.

“The same way a fly does. Shoo, Wheeler, go fly around some shit, I know that’s your favorite past time.”

I lean forward to speak into her ear so no one around us can hear, “Keep talking dirty to me, Princess, it only makes me want you more.”

I don’t wait for her to reply and just keep walking because more of the guys have started to join and I don’t want to deal with them anymore. Brynn wouldn’t leave with me in front of her brother. Eventually I’ll get her in my bed. It’s only a matter of time.