Page 60 of Pucking Revenge

And Playboy’s by my side

Yeah, War gon’ attack

And Slick gon’ spin in

Welcome to the Bolts’ house.”

By the end, we’re all singing along and breaking it down, the energy in the locker room out of control. Aiden isn’t team captain, but he might as well be. He may drive me fucking nuts half the time, but he’s a leader, and he beats to his own damn drum.

The guys come to me when they need a steady head to help work through shit, but on the ice, Aiden’s a natural leader. His skill is unmatched.

For a moment, I allow myself to get caught up in how proud I am of him. And how grateful I am that I get to play hockey with him.

“You okay?” War turns, putting his back to the rest of the guys who are now tying up their skates and bullshitting with each other.

I blow out a breath. “I’m good, man.”

The second my shoulders relax, my uncle enters, and his steely gaze immediately finds me. I don’t allow myself to tense up again. Instead, I drop to the bench and lace up my own skates, wanting as little interaction with him as I can get.

All that matters is the game.

Sara’s request from this morning filters into my mind, so I close my eyes and go back to visualizing. Tuning out all the noise. I wouldn’t mind a repeat of last night, and if she wants to use my hockey superstitions as an excuse to let me touch her again, then I’ll happily get on board with that.

TWENTY-TWO

SARA

“Damn, girlie. Brooks is going to come in his pants when he sees you wearing his jersey.”

With a squeal, I spin around and throw my arms out.

Lennox launches herself into my arms, her platinum blond hair swinging back and forth in its high ponytail as we sway from side to side, holding tight to each other. Her sugary scent permeates the air, hitting me with a dose of pure elation.

“You smell like a candy shop.”

She pulls back, grasping my biceps, and shimmies her shoulders. “Thanks. I snagged the bottle and the lotion as my last F-U when I left the spa.”

“Wait.” My stomach flips over. “I thought you loved that job?”

Until this moment, I thought Lennox was still working for a nationwide chain of upscale spas. She traveled to each one to help them pick their stock.

With a huff, she throws her head back. “I did. But then I may have told Janine that she swallowed too many kids, and that’s why everything that comes out of her mouth is childish. HR wasn’t a fan of that.”

I snort. “You did not.”

“Sar,” she says, popping one hip, “she sucked. You know it takes a lot to get me to that point.”

I tip my chin down and scrutinize her, my lips pressed into a straight line.

She holds up her hands and takes a step back. “Fine. Okay, I’m always like that. I can’t help it if I’m incapable of lying. You see this face?” She moves one pale pink nail in a circle in front of her. “It conveys all my thoughts, with or without my permission.”

With a laugh, I turn back to my mirror. We need to leave for the arena in ten minutes, and the nerves are starting to eat at me. I still haven’t decided whether to tell Lennox the truth or stick to the fib that Brooks and I are really dating.

I trust her with my life and every one of my secrets, but Brooks and I haven’t discussed the idea of cluing her in to the ruse, and if I do so without checking in with him first, it feels like I’d be betraying him. That is the last thing I want to do, but I don’t know if I can openly lie to my bestie.

“You look…”

She taps her finger against her chin and circles behind me, taking me in. I focus on my reflection and finishing my makeup, but her scrutiny is like a physical touch. It’s impossible to ignore the way she’s studying me.

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