“If you don’t get your head out of your ass, you’ll be traded.”
“Nope, can’t happen.” I start walking back to my teammates. The bass from the club thumps against my chest, only igniting the fire burning in me tonight. Sometimes, I just want to push until I hit my limit. I can’t seem to find that line, though, and that scares me. Not that I’ll admit it. Lately, even fucking isn’t enough. I just…
I hear the fast click of her heels against the tile before her hand pushes between my shoulder blades, forcing me to spin and face her again. “Anything can happen if you set your mind to it. And you’re self-destructing right now.”
I whirl around and stare down at her.
“Heather makes or breaks careers,” she shouts over the music. “And if you keep this shit up, that includesyourcareer.”
“That a threat?” When she doesn’t answer, I press on. “Why are you even here?”
“It’s my job to know where you are.”
“Well, that’s not creepy.” I’d say impressive, but I’m sure Bosko caved. Our team captain is as wholesome as they get.
The hard edge to my words melts as soon as I catch two puck bunnies hanging by the team’s table. Tall blondes, in dresses that look amazing on.
Bet they’d look better off.
“Stop thinking with your dick, Murphy,” Laura continues. “You can be great if you want it.”
“Iamgreat. Look, I’m with the guys. We just wrapped training camp. You can bust my balls tomorrow. I need to get back…”
“No, tomorrow you have to be at that charity bachelor auction,” she shouts out after me. “Make good decisions!”
Fuck me.That’s right.
My family’s seafood shack, Merritt’s Catch Lobster Co., burned down a few weeks ago, at the end of the summer. I offered to help pay for the rebuild, but my parents refused. They decided to give the insurance money to my older brother Ethan to open a new restaurant of his own. Then my tiny menace of a younger sister talked me into a charity bachelor auction at the town’s Fall Fest: one date in return for a generous donation toward rebuilding the affected neighboring businesses. I agreed, of course. I’m not the heartless playboy Laura believes I am.
Either way, Merritt Point is the last place I want to be.
My friend Alex Navarro, the team’s goalie, stuffs a shot in my hand as soon as I return. “You’ve got to lay off fucking Ava.”
I toss my head back and down the shot, feeling its warmth coat my throat.
“We all know, dude.”
I grin.
I’m all for going out, but clubs aren’t usually where I go if I’m looking for a good time. Still Bosko’s wife, Natalya, thought it would be “team building.” Her words, not mine. She’s out on the dance floor with the rest of the WAGs, passing out vodka shots.
Surprised she didn’t make captain of the Boston Breakers. Bosko could use a tip or two. He’s a great leader but not exactly big on feelings.
“You think Coach is going to be okay with it?” Alex snorts dismissively. “It’s like you want to be traded.”
I shrug. I don’t know what I want, and that fucking terrifies me. It used to be hockey, but I’m growing bored with everything. I’m not sure I can play any better than I am right now. Like it or not, Heather can’t deny I’m the team’s best power forward and have been for five years now. New England loves me.
Most of the time.
“Where’s Molly tonight?”
He ignores my question about his wife. “They came looking for you.” Alex hikes his thumb over to the two leggy blondes.
I set down my shot glass on the high-top table.
“No,” he laughs. “Bad idea.”
“I love bad ideas.” I cut through the rest of my teammates to the two women waiting at the end of the bar.
