She called me late last night to congratulate me on our win against Boston and to apologize profusely for her dad coming to see me yesterday. She was horrified by his overstep – her words – but I assured her it was fine and that I was glad to meet him. She grilled me on the details of the conversation, but I was vague with my answers, and I left out his veiled threat to snipe me.
I scan the area for Gray as I do some skating maneuvers to loosen my joints up a little.
Some people perform better with an audience. Being watched fires them up, but I’m usually indifferent to it. I go out and play because I love the game, not because I need people to see me. All that goes out the window when it’s the thought of Gray watching me, though. I’ve never wanted to play better than I do with her here.
She is here, right?
I stop and look around before I finally spot her in the bench box. Kelsier stands on the ice next to her as she leans in and says something close to his ear. Her hand rests on his arm as he listens and nods.
Instantly, my blood boils, and I clench my stick so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t break as I watch a smile quirk Kelsier’s lips. Best friend or no, he needs to step the fuck away from my woman.
And sheismy woman. I decided that even before her father’s visit. She’s the first person I think of when I get up in the morning, and the last person I think about at night before bed. Usually while I have my cock in my hand.
I skate toward Gray and Kelsier, and Gray’s eyes dart to me. She says one more thing to him and they step away from each other. Kelsier pushes off and starts his own laps around the ice as I stop in front of Gray.
“What was that about?” I ask her.
She frowns. “What was what about?”
“You and Kelsier. What were you saying to him?”
She cocks her head at me. “That’s between me and him.”
I start to say something but think better of it and clamp my trap shut again. “I’ll just get it out of Kelsier,” I say instead.
She gives me a half smile. “Good luck with that.”
“You underestimate how persuasive I can be,” I shoot back as I turn and skate out onto the ice before she can respond.
This fire in my gut is completely irrational. I know that, but I can’t help it. The thought that something might be going on between Gray and Kelsier makes my stomach churn. He’s my friend, and I should trust him, but a monster has suddenly taken control of my brain.
I head straight for Kelsier and stop in front of him, getting in his face. “What were you and Gray talking about?” I ask without preamble.
He looks at me in confusion. “What?”
“Just now, what did Gray say to you?”
He frowns. “Nothing. We were just talking.”
“About what?” I press.
“About nothing. We were shooting the shit. You know, ‘Hi, how have you been?’ ‘Fine. You?’”
I glare at him, and he glares right back. I don’t believe him for a second, but he’s not going to tell me anything, so I skate away. I’ll beat it out of him later.
Coach starts practice a couple minutes later, and I try to focus. We getthrough our drills, but I can’t get my head on straight, and Kelsier doesn’t help things. I mishit a shot that tips off the end of my stick and only goes a few feet. He chuckles as he comes up behind me.
“Did you hit that with your purse, Ethel?” he asks before skating away, laughing.
Kelsier tried to chirp at me in the preseason to help me build up an immunity, but I just found him funny. Not so anymore. My anger spikes at the comment, and everything I’ve been doing with Gray to control my emotions goes straight out the window.
On the next play, I slam into Kelsier so he’s thrown back against the boards, but he only laughs.
“You hit like a girl, Gunny,” he says before he skates off.
He gets his revenge a few minutes later when he checks me so hard I lose my footing and fall. I look up at him from on my ass as he leans over.
“You’ve been on your back more than a puck bunny today,” he says. “Too bad you’re not my type.”
