Chapter 43
We just took the ice for warm-ups, and to say that my adrenaline is pumping would be the understatement of the century.
I’d already been counting down the days until we played Avery’s ex-husband, but after last night and hearing Avery explain the horrible things he said to her, well, let’s just say I’m ready to spend some time in the penalty box tonight.
Our team is lined up on our end of the ice and we’re running a three-on-two warm-up drill to get our feet moving and work with our linemates. Jefferson fires the puck at Mack, ending the drill for our line, when something catches my eye.
A flash of emerald walks carefully on the ice and takes a spot in between both benches where commentators sometimes go during games.
I know it’s her, but for some reason my brain can’t comprehend what she’s doing down here at ice level.
She should be up in her booth preparing for the game.
I holler to my defense partner that I’ll be right back and they should run the drill without me.
I weave between my teammates that are congregated in the neutral zone and skate right to Avery.
Now that I can see her close up, I realize how fucking gorgeous she looks tonight.
She’s dressed in a sleek emerald suit that dips down just a touch in the front so I can see just a tiny bit of her cleavage.
Her black hair is pushed back out of her face by her headset, giving me the perfect view of those mesmerizing green eyes. As soon as she sees me, she smiles.
“What are you doing between the benches tonight?” I stop at the boards, leaning my hip against them, with my back turned to our opponents.
“I talked to Jerry earlier and he was just as livid about the article as everyone else.” I grind my teeth remembering the words that were printed about her and she must notice because she chuckles.
“Relax. Both Jerry and the PR team thought it would be a good idea for me to be down here for the game tonight to show the world that I won’t back down and I’m here to stay. ”
I mean, I can see where they’re coming from, but considering who we’re playing tonight, I’m not sure it’s the best idea.
“Are you sure tonight’s game is the best time to do that?” I don’t have to elaborate because she knows what I’m referring to.
“Well, isn’t this the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?” a voice chimes from behind me.
Speak of the literal devil.
I turn to see Bryan, a cocky smile on his face, staring directly at Avery. I move to block his view and inch closer to him. “Don’t look at her. You look at me.”
He laughs and it only infuriates me more.
“Oh. I see. You still haven’t figured out how crazy this one is.” He nods to where Avery is standing and I stride toward him so we’re chest to chest.
“Watch your fucking mouth, Murphy.”
I hear the sound of blades crunching into the ice before they come to a stop right behind me.
“We got a problem here?” Niko asks.
I don’t say a word, but the loud mouth I’m ready to decapitate doesn’t miss a beat.
“No problem, Captain Bobcat. Just congratulating Smith here on knocking up my sloppy seconds.”
I raise my arm to pummel him in the face but Niko grabs me before I can deliver. He moves closer and whispers in my ear. “He’s not worth it.”
I’m seething now, trying to reign in my anger but it’s consuming me. “He seems pretty worth it to me,” I spit out.
“They’ll kick you out before the game has even started. Wait.”
He’s right. I would probably only get one punch in before they broke it up. Fighting in warm-ups is asking to be suspended.
“Yeah, listen to your captain, Smith. You wouldn’t want to risk a suspension defending the girl who cried wolf. Has she tried to milk you for all your money yet on bogus medical shit? Run while you can, man. That one is a leech.”
I’m ready to say fuck it and risk the suspension, but Niko throws his arm in front of me, pushing me behind him.
“Enough! I’ll give you five seconds to skate away before I let him loose. Save it for the game.”
Bryan throws his head back and laughs but moves to join his team to finish up warm-ups. My eyes don’t leave him even as he skates in circles around the zone.
“Yo, Connor. Fucking focus.”
Tearing my gaze away from Bryan, I look at my captain. “Niko, I love you. But I’m going to fuck that guy up tonight.”
He nods and punches me in the shoulder lightly with his glove. As he skates away, he leans in close to my ear. “Fine, but maybe check in on the woman you’re about to go to war for. You know, the one standing right behind you who just saw all that bullshit go down.”
Pivoting, I see Avery with her hands on her hips.
“Are you done marking your territory now?”
I lean my elbows on the boards. “Not yet.”
She shakes her head, and I’m convinced she’s pissed by the way her eyes are narrowed at me, but then she huffs out a quiet laugh. “Just don’t do anything to get suspended. He’s really not worth it.”
I push off the boards to my full height and lean over them, planting a quick kiss on her lips.
“Connor, people can see.” She looks around nervously.
“Let them see. This marriage may have started as a farce, but you’re mine and I have every intention of keeping you all to myself.”
Turning around, I skate away before she can respond.
I go through the motions of warm-ups, letting out some of my aggression by taking slap shots at our back-up goalie before it’s time to head back to the locker room.
The coaches come in to give their pre-game speech while the Zambonis clean the ice.
I’m trying like hell to calm down, but my knee continues to bounce until it’s time to head out for the start of the game.
We’re ten minutes into the first period when Mack covers up a shot from the blue line.
The St. Louis players all crash the net and we push them away, protecting our goalie.
A little scrum ensues, nothing serious, but I look around to find him.
He’s using his stick to jab Jefferson in the spine at the top of the crease.
I’m there in two strides, yanking him back by the tops of his shoulder pads.
He stumbles but catches himself and turns to face me.
It’s truly hilarious that he attempts to go toe to toe with me, considering he’s a good six or seven inches shorter. He rights himself and then shoves me with both hands in the chest.
“You gonna punch me now, Smith?”
A linesman’s arm comes between us, attempting to break up apart. I reach over his arm and shove my glove in Bryan’s face, whitewashing his stupid, smug face.
“All right, Smith. That’s enough. We’re not doing this tonight,” the linesman says.
That’s what he thinks. We skate away from each other to our respective benches. When I step onto my bench, I look at Avery and she has a brow raised at me. I wink at her, then take my seat. Niko pops down next to me and hits my hockey pants.
“I’m guessing there’s not anything I can say to convince you not to fight that asshole?”
I keep my eyes on the ice. “Nope.”
I’m sure if I were to look at him, Niko would be giving me the same look he gives Sophia when he’s disappointed in a choice she’s made.
“Sadie told me what happened yesterday.” I hum but don’t respond. “Just make sure I’m out on the ice with you when you throw gloves.”
My head whips toward him, surprised he’s giving me the green light.
He shrugs. “What? If someone said that shit about Sadie, even I’d sacrifice five minutes in the penalty box. Just keep it clean.”
The game continues and we’re up 4–1 in the second period.
Bryan skates the puck down the boards, entering our zone.
I can tell he’s about to take off in an attempt to get around me, so I step up and throw his ass into the glass.
He falls on the ice hard, and the crowd starts screaming out in approval.
I ignore the clown on the ice and grab the puck, firing it across the ice to my partner. He shoots it up to Jefferson, but an Archer forward intercepts it and skates across the blue line. Bryan is still in our zone though, so the play is whistled offside.
It’s time for a line change, so I skate toward our bench.
I’m lifting my foot to get off the ice when I hear Bryan’s voice behind me.
He’s at the door of his bench, leaning into the area where Avery is standing, running his mouth.
She didn’t like me sticking up for her before the game, so I stay put but block out everything else around me, trying to hear what he’s saying.
“They only hired you because you’re nice to look at.”
I don’t wait to hear what comes next because I’m back on the ice, skating right to him.
“What the fuck did you say to her?” I grab the front of his jersey.
“You heard me. She has a pretty face but she’s a lousy lay. I’m sure you already know that, though. At least she stayed quiet when I’d fuck around on the road. I guess that’s one thing you have to look forward to.”
I throw my stick and gloves on the ice. I yank him by the jersey at the same time I throw my arm back. He’s throwing his gloves on the ice when my fist connects with his face. His head whips back but then he grabs the arm I’m using to hold his jersey.
“All this anger for a mediocre pussy? I thought you were better than that, Smith.”
My ears start ringing and I see fucking red. I absolutely lose it and start wrecking his ugly, smug face with my fist. I’m aware of the scrums happening around me and glance to see a ref coming our way. I pull him across the ice, directly in front of where Avery is standing.
Giving him another jab, I connect with his nose. Blood starts gushing down his face, but I don’t care. I turn him so he’s facing Avery.
“This woman is so far out of your league. You were never good enough for her.” He laughs and I shake him, pulling back my fist again. “Apologize before I break your jaw next.”
He spits on the ice next to us. “She’s just another puck bunny, Smith. Why do you care so much?”
I lift him off his feet and raise him in front of me so we’re eye to eye. “She’s my fucking wife.” His eyes bulge at the new information, but I continue. “Now, apologize before I end both of our seasons by giving you a beating so bad, you’ll never be the same.”
It’s quick but I see it. Fear.
Niko appears at my side, but I shake my head. “Say it,” I spit at Bryan.
He turns to Avery, his feet still dangling in the air. “I’m sorry.”
I set him down on the ice. “Good boy.” I shove him so hard he stumbles backward, falling right on his ass.
I’m fully expecting to be on Avery’s shit list after that display of toxic masculinity, but when I turn, I see her covering her mouth with her hand. She drops it and places her hands on her hips. “Good boy? Really?”
I shrug one shoulder, but can’t stick around because the ref has me by the back of my jersey. There’s only four minutes left in the second period, so he escorts me to my bench to head down the tunnel.
Right before we get there, the ref steps in front of me. “You know you’ll probably get a hefty fine for coming off the bench and bashing his face in like that right?
I smile at him.
“It was worth every fucking penny.”