Fuck, he owed the guy a beer. Maybe a lobotomy, so he could function with Mike as a captain because the guy was a hot mess. He didn’t know how or why Mike bothered with hockey instead of focusing on a career or preparing himself to take over his dad’s company like he would undoubtedly do.
Captains were supposed to pick you up and make you fight until the last buzzer goes off, but all Mike wanted to do was bark orders at Townsend, even when he was on the opposing team.
Jett had tried to say something several times to get him to back off, but Mike acted like he never heard him and kept running his mouth.
Yeah, their friendship was officially over after this game.
At least Townsend wouldn’t be stuck under Mike’s rule for long. Not after seeing a guy in an expensive suit approach him when their game finished yesterday. It could be nothing, but fuck, Jett hoped for his sake that it was somethinggood.
“At least Townsend has finally been put in his place,” said Mike, grinning at Jett while heading toward the rink where the others were warming up. “That annoying bitch has been barking ever since he got here. He acts smug and important, but we all know he’s getting bent over the coach’s desk after every game.”
“Mike,seriously?” Jett tugged hard on his arm, forcing him to stop so fast he nearly tripped. He knew he wasn’t supposed to do anything that would sour his image with the media, but he didn’t think he would be able to stop himself from punching Mike this time.
“The fuck, dude?” Mike glared, his eyes flickering to Jett’s mouth and back up, making him squirm uncomfortably.
Mike had gone rigid under his touch, and Jett didn’t know why he had the sudden urge to back away, but he didn’t like this feeling. It was like he had just spooked a caged animal, and it was about to turn and rip his throat out.
Mike’s eyes darkened when he stepped forward, forcing Jett close to the wall.
“Why do you keep running your mouth lately?” Mike asked in a tone that instantly made Jett feel like he was back in high school, letting Mike push him around like he always did. “You were never like this. You were always good at keeping quiet.”
How could Jett have run his mouth when they were in school? How was he supposed to talk around the mouthful of worms that Mike had made him eat on a dare? Or underwater when Mike challenged him to a breath-holding competition in the pool, and held his head down until he almost drowned.
All the adults laughed because it was supposed to be funny. Boys were expected to rough each other up and drive their mothers crazy when they came home with bruises and broken bones. Mike had done things to Jett and their friends that he brushed off and excused as a prank or a joke, but looking back, it was obviously not okay.
Jett had no idea why he was here. He used to put up with Mike’s bullshit because he was rich and acted cool, but after leaving Nova Scotia and learning how to adult for a while, he was finally seeing Mike for who he was.
And even though he wasn’t the same kid who Mike used to push around, being alone with him in a narrow hall—nearly pinned to a wall—had that same anxious feeling bubbling inside his gut again.
“You think you’re better than me now, do you?” Mike asked, taking that final step that forced Jett into making solid contact with the wall. “You think now that you’re some big shot, you can tell me what to do, and I’ll just listen?”
“Chill out, dude.” Jett pushed his hands against Mike’s chest, trying to signal that he wanted space, but like every other boundary he tried to put up, Mike ignored it.
“I might have to find something else for that mouth to do to shut it up,” Mike growled in a whisper, making Jett’s skin break into goosebumps.
“Mike, seriously—”
“Hey!”
Neither had heard Gates approach, but Jett had never been so grateful to see another person.
“Are you two done whispering about your super, secret friendship?” said Gates, pulling up beside Mike so he could clap a hand on his shoulder. “Because you guys aren’t going to believe who just fucking showed up.”
Mike shrugged the hand off and stepped away from Jett, giving him room to breathe.
“Are you going to tell us, or are you trying to kill us with suspense?” Mike asked, his eyes staying locked onto Jett.
Jett knew that look without needing to be a mind-reader. He had seen it a thousand times.
“Keep your mouth shut and don’t talk about what happened.”
“I think it’s better to see for yourselves,” said Gates, giving them an easy smile. “I’m sure you’ll be thrilled, Cap.”
Mike let out a dismissive snort of laughter and began walking toward the rink without saying anything else.
Jett watched him go, not realizing he was holding his breath until Gates gave him a friendly shake. “Are you okay, Fraser?”
Jett tried his best not to let anything show on his face, but he knew it hadn’t worked when Gates frowned, and his expression turned pinched and angry.
