“Nothing.”
“Don’t tell me it’s nothing.” I block the way to the locker room.
“He’s going after you next game.”
SIXTEEN
WOLFE
Igauge his reaction. But his expression doesn’t change.
“Did you hear me?”
He rolls his eyes, but he’s not quite annoyed. “What’s he going to do, come out of the goal? They already play aggressive on purpose.”
“Well, you can not care or whatever, but I’m pissed.” I shouldn’t be annoyed by his nonchalance, but it gets under my skin.
“What can you do about it from the goal? Get the other guys involved?”
“Fuck the other guys! I fight my own damn battles.”
“We gonna do the first goalie fighting goalie?” Archangel cracks a hint of a smile. At least he’s warming up.
“I told him if he or anyone else lays a finger on you, I’ll be meeting them at Chili’s.” I’m salivating for it.
Archangel laughs, and we feel normal for a moment. “Come on. We can’t keep standing here.”
I follow him into the locker room. “What the fuck does he even think we’re doing?”
“I wish I knew. I’m going to try and get it out of Steph at Christmas.” He stops next to his cubby, gauging my reaction.
“You actually going home?” It surprises me, and I don’t know what else to say.
“I got guilted. Mom says Grandfather isn’t doing well and it might be his last Christmas.” He pulls off his jersey and tosses it in the cubby. “Are we going out to celebrate or what?”
“Is that what you want?” I ask after stripping down and grabbing a towel.
“Yes. I’m desperate for things to be normal.” His eyes bleed truth, but it sucks not to believe him.
“Okay.”
Even in Boston,where most of the city hates us, fighting off puck bunnies is harder than the best players in college hockey taking shots at me. “I need a fucking salt circle,” I mutter after turning down two more, trying to get more drinks.
“I’ve never seen you turn down so many women in your life.” Ridgeway cuts in next to me and leans against the bar. He’s got a face like he’d knife me in my sleep. He’s as mean as he is good at hockey, and I’m glad he’s on my team. We don’t really hang out in the same circle, but we are like brothers and I give him a lot of shit. I’m just glad not to meet him in a dark alley.
I lift a shoulder, playing it off. “What if they are sleeper cells trying to kill me?”
He rolls his eyes but laughs. “Think that highly of yourself.”
“Tell me they wouldn’t do it.” I jab a finger into the bar.
“Fucking Boston. They would probably do something like that, but do you really think they are sending in college girls?”
“It’s a double win for the girls.”
He blinks at me like I’ve lost it, but he’s walked right into my joke.
I barely keep my composure, leaning in. “Well, they get to sleep with me first, and I’m fantastic in bed.”
