Page 23

Gunner

I’m in a foul mood, and I’m not doing anything to hide it.

I was supposed to be cleared by now, so I could play in tonight’s game.

Instead, that idiot Trent told me I’ve got at least another week before I can even think about using my arm.

I’ve got anger and aggression coursing through my system and no way to burn it off.

I’ve done as many leg workouts as my body can take, but it’s still not enough.

I need to be on the ice; I need to be out there with my team.

“Coftman!” Coach barks out from behind me.

I turn back to face him, not bothering to hide my irritation.

I don’t say anything but rather wait for him to speak.

He takes his good old time getting to me, and I clench my jaw.

Coach can’t be rushed.

When he wants to say something, he will; until then, you just wait.

I’ve learned that the hard way.

“I want you out on the ice tonight.” He puts a hand up before I can say anything.

“Not to play, but I want you out there for warm-ups.” My hope rises and plummets in a matter of five seconds.

“The guys need your leadership out there.”

I nod, unsurprised at his words.

It makes sense.

I’m not going to fight a chance at getting out there on the ice tonight, even if it’s not to play.

“I’ll be ready.” He leaves without another word, and I head to the locker room with a little bit more energy than I did a few minutes ago.

At least, I can get back out on the ice with my team.

I’m one of the last ones to the locker room, since I didn’t think I was going out on the ice tonight.

I start the process of getting dressed for the game.

It’s a slower process than usual because of my shoulder, but each day is better.

I’m in the process of pulling up my pants when I hear her.

“I’m coming in! Cover up!”

With that, the door bangs open.

I quickly pull up my pants, so I can intercept Chloe.

She only does this when she’s angry, and I have no idea who did something to cause her anger this time.

I only know that I always try to intercept her and give my teammates a chance to cover up before she unleashes her fury on someone.

“Coftman!” She barks.

I hear several of my teammates speak at the same time.

“Chloe! What the—”

“What happened to you!”

I finish with my pants and spin around and lock her in my gaze.

The breath in my chest stalls, and I go from zero to sixty in less than a second.

The locker room goes utterly quiet as I stalk over to her.

“Who did this to you?” I demand as anger courses through my veins.

I reach out to touch her chin, but she jerks it away.

I drop my hand but not before taking in the details of her very black and very bruised eye and cheekbone.

My eyes meet hers.

“I’m not going to ask again. Give me a name.” My voice is very low, and I fight the rage roaring through my veins.

I feel like I am barely in control.

Chloe lifts her head and throws her shoulders back and shakes her head, wincing slightly at the movement.

She quickly covers it up, but I notice.

“I’m going to kill him.”

“Why are you on the roster for tonight’s game?” she asks with her hands on her hips.

“Who?” I demand.

She smiles at me, but it’s not her genuine smile that lights up her entire face, the one I rarely get to see.

“I met your girlfriend last night.”

I stare at her.

“What are you talking about? You’re my fiancé.” I am very aware of all of my teammates watching.

“Jenny Prenderson.” She says the name slowly, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

“What happened?” I manage to get out.

She waves a hand like it’s no big deal.

“That’s not why I came in here.” She puts her hands on her hips.

“Back to you. What are you doing? Trent told you no for tonight’s game.”

His name on her lips always makes me want to smash something, but I manage to maintain an outward calm.

I need to get to the bottom of what happened to her.

“Coach told me to go out on the ice for warm up.” I keep my voice low and even.

“That’s all.”

“So, you’re not playing?” I shake my head.

Her entire body seems to deflate.

“Good. She drops her arms to her sides.

I can’t stop staring at her face. “Have you taken anything?

”

She waves off my concern.

“I’ve been taking stuff all day.”

I don’t know how I missed this; she must have holed up in her office all day because I didn’t hear a word about this from anybody.

I missed having lunch with her because we had a team meeting during lunch and too many things after that.

I bend over slightly, so I’m eye to eye with her.

“I’m sorry.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Don't be. It accomplished exactly what I wanted it to.”

"I’m not following.”

She smirks, and my blood heats. “I took a picture of my face and posted it on social media with an exact account of what happened last night.”

“You wanted to get hit?” I can’t keep the shock and anger form my voice.

She shrugs. “I mean I didn’t think she would legitimately hit me; I was going more for a statement I could use against her. But this works too.” I wrap my hand around hers and give her a small tug as I pull her through the locker room and out the door. She narrows those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes at me. “Did you forget how to use your words, Coftman? Or do you usually haul women somewhere when you want to say something.”

I step closer, and she steps back until her back is pressed against the wall. “I didn’t haul you anywhere. I simply brought you out here so we could have a conversation without my entire team listening and watching.”

She huffs at me. “Well, next time just ask.”

“Because you would have listened?” I retort.

She doesn’t skip a beat. “Probably not.”

“Exactly.” I stare at her face, unable to look away from the damage to her beautiful face. “Chloe,” my voice stalls. I reach up a thumb and being careful not to touch her anywhere that she’s injured, run it gently over her cheekbone. Her eyes flare slightly; if I wasn’t standing so close, I wouldn’t have noticed. I would give anything to know what she’s thinking.

“Coftman, let’s go,” Coach calls out from right behind me. I don’t want to step away from her. I want to finish this moment with her. I also want to hit something, but I bury the useless anger. I refuse to take it out on Chloe, and I can’t hit the person who did this to her right now. “You need to stay with me until all this dies down.”

“What? No.”

“Chloe, she knows where you live. Things could get worse.”

She shakes her head. “Absolutely not.”

“Chloe,” I start.

“Coftman!” Coach barks out from behind me. Chloe gives me a quick glance and then steps around me. I turn around, crossing my arms over my chest. Coach stares at Chloe’s face with narrowed eyes but doesn’t say a word.

“I’m going to go check on the media room,” Chloe says and makes an escape.

Coach waits until she’s out of earshot before turning to me. “You gonna take care of that?” I nod. Whether fake or not, Chloe is mine to take care of. She got hurt because of me; she’s in this mess because of me. “Let’s go,” Coach says and heads into the locker room. I follow him in and don’t do anything to keep the scowl off my face. I listen to Coach, but my mind is a million miles away. When he finishes, we grab our gear and prepare to head out.

“What happened?” Sebastain asks.

I turn around to see Seb, Rico, and Aiden all waiting for me. “Jenny Prenderson.”

Rico frowns. “That chick that says you impregnated her?”

“Dude, this getting out of hand,” Seb says.

“What are you going to do about it?” That’s from Aiden.

“I’m going to pay her a visit.”

They all three watch me. “Not sure that’s a good idea,” Rico’s the first to say.

I cross my arms over my chest, pinning him with a look. “Pretty sure I didn’t ask you.”

“I’ll go with you.”

I look at Aiden. “You don’t need to.”

“Yeah, I do. Somebody needs to be there, so you’re not there with her alone. Otherwise, it’s her word against yours if she accuses you of something,” Aiden argues.

“I’ll be there too,” Rico adds.

“I’m not missing out,” Seb says.

I crack my neck. “You guys don’t need to come.”

“Yeah, we do. Aiden’s right,” Seb starts. “You shouldn’t be with her alone. Besides, what could get the point across that she shouldn't mess with our girl better than the four of us showing up.”

“Our girl?” I pin him with a dark look.

A slow smile crosses his face, and he throws a hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, Cap.”

I move my shoulder, so his hand falls off. “What are you talking about?”

Seb grins. “Welcome to the dark side. You’ve officially fallen.”

I don’t bother giving him a response. “Aren’t you idiots supposed to be out on the ice?”

Seb’s grin grows as he faces the other two. “I always love the inspirational words from our captain.”

Rico laughs, and Aiden cracks a smile. “Come on, let’s get out there,” Aiden says.

It feels good to step out onto the ice. I pick up speed and let my concerns fade away for just a few minutes. I mentally put myself back into the role of captain. Even though I’m not playing tonight, I need to help my teammates snag a win tonight. We need this one.

Far too soon, it’s time to head back for just a few minutes. I’m the last to leave the ice. When I get close to the hall where my teammates are disappearing, I see her taking video. I step off the ice and onto the carpet. My eyes scan her face, and the anger that’s been simmering in my belly rises to the surface. She lowers the phone. “You ready for the game, Coftman?”

I stop in front of her. “Not playing.”

“I know, but you still have to lead your team to victory.” My scowl deepens; I hate not being out there with my team.

“Hey, you okay, Big C?”

I take in her hand on my arm and her softer voice. This is a side of Chloe I don’t see often, if ever. Then she does something that shocks me. She wraps her arms around me. I freeze, so shocked by it. By the time I start to move, she’s already pulling back. “What was that for?” My words are almost a growl.

“You look like you needed a hug.”

“Coftman,” one of the assistant coaches yells.

She steps back, creating distance between us, and I hate it. I want to say something to her—tell her that I’m going to fix all this somehow, that I hate that she got hurt because of me—but I stay quiet. None of those words will come. “I’ll see you after the game.”

She nods, back to business. “You’re up first in the media room after the game”

“Coftman!”

I turn away from her and make my way to the locker room. I need to get my focus back where it needs to be for the next few hours—on this game. And then I’ll deal with everything else.