Page 107 of Justice for Puck Bunnies

On the one hand, it calmed my parents down. Everyone except Bennett seems to believe the lie that the guys think I’m a beta. No one pressures us or forces the topic into the discussion.

If only it could be that easy everywhere.

The guys fit so well together. What they’re building is so good and I’m standing in the way.

My Friday plans with Jolie morph.

This needs to end.

I can’t handle it anymore. I’m way too deep in it and if I don’t crawl my way out, I’ll suffocate.

Jolie won’t be at the game itself anyway, so I can use the opportunity to force Brad’s hand. Secure permanency in the place I need to be.

Let everyone move on.

With any luck, come Friday, I’ll have my best friend back and we’ll be planning our double wedding.

Chapter Sixteen

The stadium shakes as the crowd roars. Fans stomp their feet and scream with full lungs and arms raised.

I’m in the loge to the left and behind the net, not at the ice level but one up, and it’s exactly where I want to be. Trick offered me a box pass but there’s no better seat than this.

The deafening noise reverberates in my chest and steals my breath.

This is why I love the games.

Yes, the players are hot. That helps.

But my family has been attending since I was little for moments like this.

The third period isn’t even a few seconds in and already the players are jockeying for position. My guys are up one and none, and the old rivalry with the Airmen tinges every exchange of the puck.

They fly along the surface, ice flying with each turn, and stop, and that little black disc ricochets and rockets along the boards.

Vin waits crouched in front of the goal. He snatches a puck from the air with his glove and casually flips it to the ref while the crowd loses it.

I scream even though he’ll never hear it and add my voice to the chant in his name.

Vin-son!

Vin-son!

Vin-son!

He circles his glove at the crowd and they go impossibly louder.

More frantic plays ensue. A Cannon defensemen shoves the Airmen’s into the boards, and Mason skates by easily then takes the puck. A bit of footwork and careful skating, and it’s passed to the center.

The wingers and center trade the puck back and forth in exacting movements.

Each of the three is positioned precisely in a triangular pattern near the Airmen’s goal. Trick and another defensemen lock sticks with the other players and blocks their lines of sight.

Another pass to the center.

Back to Mason.

To the other winger.

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