Page 91 of Chasing the Puck

A girl a couple seats to their right chimes in, “I heard the Falcons player stole McCoy’s girl.”

A knot rises in my throat. Of course, that’s not what happened, but it’s too close to the truth for comfort.

I’ve got no problem on the stage in front of hundreds or thousands of people with every pair of eyes in the building on me. When I’m playing a role, that is. But being the center of attention just as myself, just as Olivia Lockley? I hate it.

“Tuck McCoy’s girl? As in singular?” one of the guys in front of us replies. “Yeah, right. I’ve taken three classes with that dude. Not to mention been to plenty of parties where he was, too. Trust me, the last guy in this state to have one girl is McCoy.”

Now that knot is higher and tighter in my throat, accompanied by a bad taste in my mouth.

Some of the tension twisting in my shoulders dissipates as I feel Summer’s hand gently squeezing my arm.

“Rumors are a funny thing, aren’t they?” she says with a wink-wink lift in her voice.

I force myself to huff out a laugh. “Right. They sure are.”

I just hope there’s no repeat of yesterday’s drama in this game.

I told Tuck that I don’t want to have to even think about Ryan, so I’m hoping that no matter what underhanded tricks my shitty ex pulls, Tuck won’t rise to them. I told Tuck that I don’t need, or want, to be defended against Ryan’s words.

When the players skate onto the ice, my hopes of a drama-free game start to look more and more like wishful thinking. One of the Falcons players “accidentally” bumps into Sebastian while he’s stretching, sending him tumbling to the ice. Three Black Bears have to hold Rhys back from going after the offending Withermore player.

I start hearing chatter from people in our section about how there was some confrontation between the teams in the back while they were heading to their respective locker rooms today.

Luckily, at least Tuck and Ryan are keeping their distance on the ice.

Tuck’s eyes find mine, and I blow him a kiss. I can’t help but notice Ryan looking on in my peripheral vision as I do so; but I pat myself on the back when I successfully keep my gaze from flitting in his direction.

It’s time for the game to start, and the teams line up. The crowd is rocking, everyone on their feet as the players square off. Tuck and Ryan face off for the puck, the referee standing next to them holding it aloft.

The atmosphere is electric, the air almost crackling.

The referee drops the puck.

Tuck swats it away.

He drops his hockey stick. Ryan drops his.

Everyone else on the ice does the same.

The arena is deafening as a brawl erupts on the ice.

Every player is squaring off with another from the opposing team. Throwing blows, trying to grab holds of each other, struggling to stay upright. Even Hudson’s skated out to tangle with the Falcons’ goalie.

Everyone in the crowd is on their feet, screaming themselves hoarse.

Tuck and Ryan are in the very center of the rink, raining blows on each other. I gasp as a right hook from Ryan connects with the side of Tuck’s helmet, and the protective gear falls off his head and clatters to the ice. But Tuck ducks the next shot and grabs a firm hold of Ryan’s jersey, peppering him with straight jabs that Ryan recoils from, trying to cover up as Tuck’s fist keeps hammering him like a piston.

Finally, the refs separate them. The crowd is still roaring like spectators at a gladiator fight in ancient Rome. As Tuck skates to the penalty bench, he angles himself towards me and blows a kiss.

Everyone notices.

I feel hundreds of heads turn towards me, people whispering to the person next to them as they glance in my direction.

Are people putting two and two together? Hearing that the fight between Tuck and Ryan last night was about some girl, and then seeing Tuck blow me a kiss immediately after their second brawl?

I try to stop the blush crawling up my neck from spreading to my cheeks, but the burning I feel in my face lets me know how futile it is.

The fight last night already garnered media attention, and after the wild spectacle that started this game off, this seems almost guaranteed to make the national sports news.

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