I wish I could have Jamie’s confidence.
Or believe that Ethan’s behavior wasn’t a strong preview of what is to come with Dad.
I open my box, and the rich scent of vanilla, chocolate, and powdered sugar wafts up toward me. I break off a piece of the peppermint brownie and groan as I eat it. It’s always my favorite combination, and this brownie is no exception. I’m about to break off another piece when the PA announcer goes through his dramatics and announces the Miami Manatees. They skate onto the ice, and I quickly spot Aiden. He’s so damn hot in his hockey gear that I feel flushed just staring at him.
Soon there’s a pump-up video playing on the video screen over center ice and around the arena, players’ pictures flashing up as they are announced. When they show Aiden, I can’t contain the smile I feel spreading across my face at that A showing on his jersey.
That’s my man. And I’m so damn proud of him.
We all rise for the anthem, and again, my eyes drift to Aiden on the ice. He looks even bigger in his hockey gear and skates. Once the anthem is over, the top lines take to center ice for the drop of the puck. Aiden and Ethan are there, with Aiden playing defense and Ethan on the wing.
They are definitely going to mix it up tonight.
I break off another piece of my brownie and nervously take a bite. The puck is dropped, and Las Vegas gains possession, moving the puck into the offensive zone. Ethan has it, dumps it deep, and Aiden tries moving the puck when Ethan speeds up and slams him violently into the boards, sending him crumpling to the ice.
I gasp in horror, my hands flying to my mouth and my heart practically stuck in my throat as I stare at Aiden. The arena erupts in fury as he drops to the ice, and Ethan stands over him as the Manatees move the puck in the other direction. Aiden stands up, and they begin pushing and jawing at each other.
I want to vomit. Ethan has dragged my personal life right onto the ice. He’s going to make Aiden pay for the sin of dating me.
Aiden is big, but Ethan is abeast.
Don’t drop your gloves,I plead inside my head.Please don’t drop your gloves!
My prayer goes unanswered. Ethan immediately drops his gloves.
And punches Aiden right in the face.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I drop my to-go box as I rise to my feet with the rest of the crowd, which is cheering and banging on the glass. Ethan lands another blow to Aiden’s face as Aiden tries to drop his gloves.
I put my fist to my mouth, biting back the words I want to shout at the top of my lungs.
Stop it, Ethan! Stop it!
Mom is saying something, but I can’t hear her over the noise of the crowd and my heart roaring in my ears. Aiden finally drops his gloves, grips Ethan’s right shoulder to steady himself, and lands a strong punch on Ethan’s jaw, causing his head to snap back. The crowd goes crazy in approval. Ethan grabs Aiden by the jersey, fisting it in his left hand as he hits him again with his right, knocking his helmet off.
Tears prick at the back of my eyes. I know fighting is a part of hockey, but this isn’t about the game.
This is about me.
Aiden punches him back, and I’m about to throw up all over the floor. Ethan wrestles him to the ice, landing a punch on Aiden’s torso, and then the refs break it up. Aiden picks up his helmet and makes his way off the ice. His hair is disheveled, hanging down across his brow. I can see he’s got a cut on his face and his nose is bleeding, and he’s going to have to be treatedin the dressing room. Dad will pick another player to serve his penalty time.
As I watch Ethan makes his way to the Las Vegas penalty box, the fury I have toward my brother bursts wide open.
“Why is Ethan such an asshole?” I snap angrily as the Manatees players on the bench all tap their sticks against the boards in acknowledgement of Aiden’s fight.
“What do you mean? This is hockey,” Mom says as we retake our seats.
“That wasnothockey,” I spit.
Mom’s dark brows furrow together. “Of course it was. What do you mean by that, Scarlett?”
Damn it. She’s got a suspicious look on her face, and I need to throw her off before she starts analyzing too much. I think quickly, which isn’t easy when I’m worried about Aiden and furious at Ethan.
“What could Aiden have possibly done during the first shift to warrantthat?” I manage.
Actually, that was a reasonable response, and I’m amazed I was able to come up with it.
