“Thanks for the assist.”
“Told you I was going to work on it.” I grin when she shakes her head. “You all are going to have to finish it from here. I’m done being a nice guy, and I’m ready for some carnage.”
“Are you sure about this?” Emmy asks.
“Never been more sure of anything in my life, Red. I’ll be watching the rest of the game from the locker room.” I look at Hudson. “Think you could start a fight for me?”
“You wantmeto start it?”
“I know you’re not an instigator, but I’m going to be the one to finish it.”
Understanding dawns, and he gives me a firm nod. “You’ve got it, Mav.”
The crowd is antsy. Their team is losing, and as someone who’s lost a lot of games in his career, I want to give them something to be excited about.
The play progresses past center ice, and Ethan has the puck. Hudson hangs back, and as Cole starts to advance forward, he sticks out his skate and trips him.
Cole hits the ice face first, and the fans scream. He springs back up, ready to duel, and Hudson drops his gloves faster than the blink of an eye.
I give them a second to go at each other, and I have to give Hud credit. As a dude who never, ever dukes it out with anyone, he’s holding his own.
I skate up next to them and shake off my gloves, grabbing Cole by the back of his jersey.
“What the fuck?” he yells, and he stares at me with wild eyes. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“You want a list?” I punch him square in the jaw, and his face whips to the side. “Let’s start with Emmy.”
Cole tries to smack my shoulder, but I’m bigger than him. More athletic with more experience, and he doesn’t get close. “That whore? Who’s she fucking to get the starting role this time? Is it you, Miller? Your buddy Hayes? Or maybe both of you.”
A referee tries to grab me, but I use my size to my advantage and shrug him off. The fans in the front row of seats beat on the glass, a faint noise I barely hear because my next punch lands right in the middle of his face. Blood spurts from his nose, and I grin. Adrenaline pulses through me, and I haven’t felt this alive in years.
“Let me tell you something about Emmy, you small-dicked piece of shit. In fifteen years when she’s being inducted into the Hall of Fame and you’re a nobody who’s never accomplished anything in this sport, your kids are going to be talking about her.” I yank on his collar and pull him closer, making sure he catches every word. “You’re going to have to buy them her jersey, and you’ll tell them about the time you let her get away because you couldn’t stand the thought of being with a woman who was a better athlete than you. But guess what? She’s mine now, motherfucker, and I’m not going to let you disrespect her anymore.” My fist connects with his teeth, and I laugh when he whimpers in pain. “You want more? I can keep going.”
Cole breaks free from my hold and manages to throw a punch that hits my right eye. I stumble backward and grab his arm, tugging him down to the ice with me. I kick my legs free and flip us over, straddling him and cracking my knuckles.
I aim for his nose again. “That’s for saying she only has a job because she sleeps around.” I go for his jaw next, and something pops in his cheek. “That’s for saying you’d let your teammates touch her.” I move to his forehead and deck him there. “That’s for making fun of the books she likes to read.” My final blow is tohis eye, and I hope I break his eye socket. “And that’s for getting to her before me.”
Chaos unfolds around us. Two refs try to pull me off, but it’s another Wildebeests player who yanks me away from Cole and slams me down. I get punched in the nose, and the copper taste of blood stings my tongue. A whistle blows, and Hudson is in front of me, helping me to my feet.
Cole lies motionless, his eyes closed and blood trailing down his face.
Good.
I kick his leg as I skate toward the locker room, already knowing my punishment.
I look toward the bench and see Emmy, her mouth half-open and her eyes wide. I grin at her, and before I head into the tunnel, I make a heart with my hands and hold it up to her. She tucks her chin and hides her smile.
Being on top of Cole helped me realize something.
I don’t want her as a teammate or someone I fuck multiple times a week.
I want her as so much more—a partner. A girlfriend. My best friend.
I don’t know if we lose the game or not.
I really don’t fucking care, because I’ve already won.
I have her, and she’s the greatest prize of all.
