Page 50 of Released from the Sin Bin

“Hey.” I flick him on the shoulder. “We’re just friends. Seriously, it was a friendly dinner after our final. There is nothing going on between Carter and I.”

“There better not be. Vic may be the jerk of all jerks, but Carter isn’t much better,” he warns me. “I can’t tell you who to be friends with, but please don’t start shit with him. Not after the hell you just went through.”

“He’s not that bad once you give him a chance. He helped save me, you know,” I remind him.

Carter pushes people away, and I think it has something to do with his father from our conversations, and that doesn’t make him a bad guy.

Luca mutters under his breath and winces, as if it physically hurts to agree with me.

“I’m not ready to start anything with anyone,” I reassure him that there’s nothing to worry about. “I want to be single for a while, so yeah, he’s just a friend.”

“Ok,” Luca sighs and nudges my leg. “But if he hurts you in any way, I will come back here to kill him. I don’t care when it is. It could be during the Stanley Cup finals, and I will leave the arena to fuck him up.”

“You’re ridiculous.” I roll my eyes and flick his ear. “You better not screw up your shot like I did mine.”

Luca is on his way out. The San Jose Quakes signed him to join their team. This is his last week here and then who knows when we’ll be in the same town again.

Fate and luck brought us back together for the last couple of years. We were childhood best friends until his family moved away. Like any teenager would, we lost touch. And fast forward four years later we end up in the same school and it was like we were never apart.

Now, I can’t imagine my life without Luca in it in some fashion. He’s my brother and will always be family to me.

“You made a mistake. We all make mistakes.” He gives me a hopeful smile.

“Yes, and don’t you dare make one that will cost this opportunity you have.” I say, waving my finger at him.

He knows I’m hinting at that very expensive ring he just bought. I know Luca. He’s not going to wait and it’s way too soon. They just became an official couple. Kandi will say no, and Luca will be devastated.

Worst-case scenario, he’ll push her away so that she’ll run. There’s nothing I can do to stop him, but I hope he knows what he’s doing.

It's the last game and no matter how uncomfortable I am, I promised Luca I’d go to watch.

“Woo! Looking good, Luca!” Kandi shouts and cheers as the team warms up.

I sink down in my seat and cover my face to hide from the attention she’s drawing to us. The guys are just warming up, and she’s already screaming at the top of her lungs.

“What are you doing?” I look up as Carter bangs on the glass a few rows in front of us. He steps up on the bench to lean over the side and question the guy sitting next to it. “Are you handicapped?”

“No, shouldn’t you be warming up?” The man motions to the team.

“How’d you get these seats?” Carter glares back at the guy.

“Does it matter?” The guy snaps at him and shakes his head.

“See that woman back there,” Carter points to me two rows up, “you’re going to help her switch seats with you.”

“Fuck that! I paid for these seats.” The guy angrily stands.

I grasp onto Kandi’s hand when Carter slams his gloved fist into the glass, causing a loud bang to shake the wall.

“Switch your seat or I’m going to jump this glass and shove my skate up your lazy ass.” He points a gloved finger at the guy.

The guy glares back at him a moment, checking how serious Carter is before looking at me.

“Yeah, ok.” He gives in and motions for me to hand him my crutch. “But I’m telling the chief.”

“Fucking snitch.” Carter smiles, sharing a quiet joke with the guy.

“Come ladies, welcome to your new seats.” The guy who I believe is a local that may or may not be a volunteer firefighter with Carter helps Kandi and me over the rows.

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