Page 40 of Ruthless Game

“Last,” Max corrected.

“Huh?”

We all turned to look at him, my heart pounding in my chest, because even though we loved each other, even though we talked about the future all the time, part of me wasn’t sure he meant it, that this wasn’t some high school sweetheart thing that would fall apart when we graduated next year.

“I’m her last boyfriend,” he clarified. “There won’t be anyone else.”

This time, my mom raised her eyebrows, but just said, “Hmm.”

My dad clapped his hands. “Dinner. Pizza okay? I’m starving.”

They headed inside, leaving Jeffrey alone with us. My brother hadn’t said a word, and my stomach roiled, knowing he was overprotective and that he and Max didn’t always get along.

“Jeffrey,” I said quietly.

“This is a mistake, Em,” he told me, completely ignoring Max, who stiffened beside me.

“Jeff,” he warned, knowing my brother hated being called Jeff.

“He’s wrong for you,” my brother continued. “You’ll see, one day, just how wrong for you he is. And I’ll be the one there to pick up the pieces.”

“Want to say that to my face?” Max’s voice was low, a warning in it.

But Jeffrey ignored him, trudging back to the garage. Moments later, the car started, and he was peeling out of the driveway and down the street, probably to go to his girlfriend’s house and complain.

My stomach sank. I didn’t want my brother fighting with my boyfriend, couldn’t handle the tension there, but I didn’t know what to do. Maybe over time, Jeffrey would see how good Max and I were together.

“You okay?” Max asked me quietly.

“Yeah, you?” I lied.

“No,” he admitted. “I’m glad your parents are okay with this, but I’m sick of your brother and his bullshit. The day we graduate and can get away from him, is the day I’ll fully relax. Something’s not right with him, Emma. I don’t know what, but I don’t trust it.”

“That’s my brother,” I defended. “He’s just protective of me.”

After a tense moment of silence between us, Max sighed.

“Sure,” he said, but he didn’t sound like he meant it.

14

Lawson

“Great save,” Levi said to me.

“Shut the fuck up, Levi.” Judah glared at his brother, then dismissed him, skating over to me. “You were completely locked in, Lawson. I haven’t seen you play like this … well, ever.”

“You can’t ignore me forever,” Levi said to his brother.

“Watch me.” Judah slapped me on the shoulder. “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

I slapped his shoulder back. It was my first practice back after going to get Emma, and I was playing the best I ever had. I’d saved every puck, blocked every shot. Coach had gone from glaring at me like he wasn’t sure I should even be on the ice, to looking impressed, even proud. I didn’t get a lot of pride in my life, and I was feeling damn good.

I knew why, too.

Emma.

Coach had been right. Asher had been right. I’d needed to sort shit out with her to sort my head out. And by sort shit out, I meant get my mouth on her goddamn delicious pussy and come all over her ripe tits. Hell, if giving her a ride on my mustache made me play this well, when I finally fucked her, I’d probably get scouted for the Olympic team.