Page 93 of These Pucking Boys

Wendy snorts. “Broke things off, my ass. Pictures of Lorena making out with one of her European fuck boys made it to the tabloids, and she wouldn’t answer Lachy’s calls. I say she ended things.”

Oh no. Poor Lachy. What kind of vile human being would betray him like that?

“Yes, it was awful. And right in the middle of the playoffs,” Maya adds. “Fucking bitch.”

My brows shoot to the heavens, and she sees my reaction. “Sorry. I adore Lachy, and he didn’t deserve to get his heart shredded to pieces like that.”

“I agree,” I say, and stare at the ice.

The game is about to start, but my mind is far away. I’m tempted to look up Lorena Pearson on my phone, but I sense Wendy watching me like a hawk. I’m trying my best to keep my emotions bottled up, but I’m terrible at it. I hope she can’t tell I’m consumed with retroactive jealousy. We all have a past, but why does Lachy’s hurt so much?

LACHY

The first period ended with no goal for either team. The Miami Lions are one of the best, and we’re evenly matched. But I’m feeling good about our defense. We just need our playmakers to do their magic. I’m the last one to make my way into the tunnel but stop in my tracks when I hear someone mention Lorena. I’m tense in an instant. I haven’t thought about her in a while, but for months after I discovered her betrayal, I could barely function outside the crease. The fact that it happened during playoffs saved me from spiraling into a dark place. Hockey kept me distracted.

I turn, looking for the person who said her name out loud. I spot two of Melissa’s interns. They’re both glued to their phones and don’t realize I’m nearby. I should ignore them, but I walk over instead.

“What did you say?” I ask.

Both look up from their phones and widen their eyes.

“Oh, nothing,” the lad replies.

“Nothing my arse. Go on, out with it already.”

They trade a look, but it’s the lass who replies, “Lorena Pearson is here with her new boyfriend.”

I don’t move. I don’t even blink as I process the news.

“Lachy, what are you doing standing there like a statue?” Ryan asks.

“Nothing. Not a bloody thing.” I turn around and stride to the dressing room.

Ryan runs after me. “You heard, didn’t you?”

I grunt in response.

“Are you gonna be all right?”

I stop suddenly and glare at him. “What are you implying?”

He steps back. “It was just a question. Don’t need to bite my head off.”

“I’m not going to fucking crumble, if that’s what yer worried about.” I push the dressing room door open and find my seat.

I’m surprised that Lorena would come to a Titans game after what she did. There isn’t a Titans fan that doesn’t hate her guts. I also had my phase of loathing her, and it was a shock to hear her name after so long. I expected the anger to resurface, and that’s why I walked away from the interns. I didn’t want them to see my reaction. But I feel nothing, and it’s freeing. I can move on without fear that I’m doing it only to get over that snake.

June’s image comes to the forefront of my mind. I’ve known her for only a few days, but it doesn’t matter. She’s already left her mark on me. Now, I can’t screw up.

CHAPTER 40

RYAN

Things in hockey happen so fast that you never know when a hit will fuck you up good. I know it this time as if it’s happening in slow motion. I’m chasing the puck to a corner in the offensive zone, when Alex Kaminski, the Lions rookie D-man, comes barreling toward me as I’m turning. I don’t have time to protect myself before I’m slammed hard against the boards on my right shoulder. I wind up on the ice.

The hit stuns me, and I don’t get up right away. Honestly, I’m trying not to pass out from the pain. Motherfucker. From the corner of my eye, I see Malcolm is already on top of Kaminski, but the rookie looks like fucking Thor and is giving our veteran enforcer a run for his money. Soon it turns into an all-hands-on-deck brawl.

One of the referees checks on me. He’s speaking, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying over the buzzing in my ears. Hell. Did I hit my head too?

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