Novotny elbows Knight, who chuckles.
Connor glares at the three of them. “What?”
Novotny grins widely, like he just lit the fuse and can’t wait to watch it blow. “Oh, you’ll see.”
The team follows Novotny out to the rink. My heart pounds harder with every step. The moment we exit the player tunnel, the crowd goes crazy. The Coliseum is packed. Dumb name for the Ice Complex, but it fits when we play the Serpents.
More than one person will bleed. Onandoff the ice.
Novotny steps onto the ice first, banging his stick. The sound echoes through the arena. The crowd eats it up, pounding the glass, chanting his name.
I do a lap, warming up my legs. The crowd’s a blur. Students with painted faces. Everyone in Titans jerseys. They pound the plexiglass, waving signs, chanting like they want blood more than a game.
Can't imagine what it would be like in the NHL. Thousands of people cheering. I used to dream about that once. Not anymore
My jaw drops as I turn, skating along the red line. Jackson Reed is on the Serpents bench.
He flips Connor off, grinning like an asshole.
Connor skates over and punches him playfully in the shoulder, smiling, then one of the Serpents skates up next to them, red hair sticking out along the sides of his helmet.
Raiyne Rua.
My grip tightens on my stick, teeth clenching. Sure, Connor and I discussed what happened, and I thought I was over whatever damn feeling this is. But seeing Rua standing so close to him . . . I growl under my breath and pick a spot on the ice close enough to eavesdrop while I stretch, then drop into a low lunge, head angled sideways.
Connor smirks at his friend. “Fucking traitor. Can’t believe you’re coaching them now.”
Reed shrugs, cocky as ever. “Assistantcoach. And it's part of the graduate assistant program.”
Connor rolls his eyes. “This has your boyfriend written all over it. Could’ve done the same shit at Crestwood.”
Rua laughs, leaning in. “He’s gonna give us all your secrets. Help us kick some Titan ass.”
That fucker should be warming up, not talking to my husband.
Connor rolls his eyes. “You sure he isn’t giving you bullshit information, ensuring you assholes keep losing to us?”
Reed huffs. “Now you sound like Killian. Beat his ass this morning for saying the same shit.”
Rua chuckles, bumping his shoulder against Connor’s. “Imagine if the Rangers knew he held up so well during training camp because he and his boyfriend think fighting is a form of foreplay?”
A low growl rumbles in my chest. That fucker really needs to walk away.
Reed’s eyes meet mine and I quickly turn away, face heating.
“So, heard you got married,” Reed says, a bit too loudly.
“Not the time.” Connor's voice is deep, with that edge that makes everyone listen.
“Don’t give me that shit, you asshat. I found out from Viktor, in a group text.”
“Walsh! Get your fucking ass in gear.” Nieminen’s voice booms across the ice. “Talk to your goddamn friends on your own time.”
Took Coach long enough to say something. Good. Because I was about thirty seconds away from doing something really stupid.
Like kissing my husband while staring directly at the redhead Serpent.
Some of the tension drains from my body as Rua skates away, and I drop into a groin stretch. Knees spread wide, sinking low, I push a little deeper, partly to work out the tightness in my hips, and partly—
