“He’s not worth it, Hunt,” Coach whispers. “I promise, he isn’t.”
My eyes connect with Huff’s, and I know that he’s right. But when the motherfucker speaks again, there isn’t enough willpower in my entire body to stop me from what happens next.
“For real, Hunt? You realize I was going to ask you to come play for me here, right?” He laughs bitterly. “Well, fuck that. Not if you’re going to treat me this way. And all because I didn’t want to play house with your girlfriend and her mother.” He pauses. “It’s not my fault that Addison was a slut and didn’t know how to take a fucking pill. The kid wasn’t even supposed to be born.”
That’s it. That’s all it takes, and I’m gone. I’m not seeing red; I’m seeing black. And within a second, my fist connects with his nose, and he’s blown backward, stumbling until his back smashes into a wall.
Grabbing his nose, he stares down at the blood on his hand. “You motherfucker,” he hisses. “You wait; you won’t play hockey ever again. I’ll make sure of?—”
He doesn’t finish his sentence because, now, Coach has his hand gripped tightly around his throat, shoving him against the wall.
“I think you’re done talking, Pelletier,” Coach Huff growls, pushing harder against him.
Nick tries to get away from him, but there’s no point. Coach is too fucking angry, and I don’t think an elephant could budge the dude.
“Cam and Addy have been real nice to let you live your fucking life without consequences. But I promise, if youeverfuck with the kid behind me again or ever let Isla’s or Addison’s name leave your fucking lips, I will make sure you never coach again, Nick. I have a lot more connections in the fucking hockey nation than you ever will.” He shoves Nick harder against the wall. “Understand?”
Angry eyes stare at Coach, but it’s obvious that Nick can hardly breathe. So, eventually, he gives a weak nod, and Huff drops his hand down, letting his body fall to the floor. The only people around are Coach Talmage and a few players.
But when Coach looks around at all of them, narrowing his gaze and saying, “Don’t say a fucking word about this,” everyone seems to understand.
Once Nick slithers away like the snake that he is and everyone else has gone, it’s just me and Huff standing here, and instantly, I open my mouth to apologize.
“I’m sorry—” I say those two words before he stops me by putting a hand up.
“It’s okay, Hunt. She’s like a niece to me, and to be honest, if you hadn’t punched the motherfucker, I probably would have been madder.” He pats my shoulder. “In my opinion, scum like Nick? They’ve got no place in the hockey world.” He sighs. “Go take a shower. You fucking smell, and we’ve got a long-ass bus ride home.”
I almost laugh, but it doesn’t quite make it out of my throat before I walk into the locker room. For once in my life, I didn’t get in trouble for violence. Because everyone knows Nick Pelletier had that punch coming.
THIRTY-FOUR
HENDRIX
Coach wasn’t jokingwhen he said the bus ride would be long. I’m fucking exhausted, but I haven’t been able to fall asleep despite how late it is. When the NEU sign comes into view, I’ve never been so happy to see three letters in my life. I may be tired, but not too tired to go see my girlfriend and climb into bed with her.
The bus pulls up to its usual spot along the curb, and the lights come on. Most of my teammates are either asleep or attempting to wake up as everyone slowly begins to stir and gather their shit.
Once I have my stuff, I work my way off the bus in a line of what has to be the slowest-moving motherfuckers I’ve ever seen before, finally, I step down onto the pavement, only to remember I rode here with Jameson.
Standing about ten feet away, my eyes meet Cam Hardy’s, and I frown, wondering what in the hell he’s doing here. He may not live all that far away from campus, but I have no idea why he’d be waiting for our bus to return this late at night.
I take a few steps closer. “Hey,” I say, nodding at him. “What are you doing out and about so late?” Panic suddenly hits me. “Is Isla okay?”
“She’s fine,” he says quickly. “You callin’ me old, Hunt? You think I can’t be out late?” he tosses back, narrowing his eyes slightly before he chuckles. “I’m kidding. I’m actually here to see you.”
“Me?” blurts out of my mouth before I can stop it, and the surprise in my tone is more than obvious.
I’m dating his daughter, and we’re getting along good now and all, but it isn’t like we hang out or anything. To be honest, I’m still kind of terrified of the dude. And clearly, I’m intimidated by him—he’s a legend.
“Did you drive here?” he asks, and I shake my head. “All right, come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”
When he turns, making his way toward his black truck, I reluctantly follow. I’d like to say I’m not suddenly nervous, but I think anyone who could see me right now would know that I was lying through my teeth. Maybe he heard that I punched Nick and he’s upset because, once again, I chose violence.
Once we’re both inside the truck and he starts it, turning the heat on, he relaxes back in his seat slightly.
“I heard what you did to Pelletier, Hunt.” His voice is low, but it’s not irritated or angry. Honestly, it’s hard to read what kind of emotion it’s laced with right now.
“Sorry,” I say, stuttering over the one simple word. “I swear, I’ve been better—I have. I’m not a violent psycho?—”
