Page 159 of The Pucking Wrong Man

Then, we all were laughing at the same time.

I think I was going to like these girls.

“More cookies?” Mabel asked, appearing out of nowhere beside me the second I’d sat down, this time with spectacles perched on her nose.

I glanced at the girls who all looked to be holding in gasping laughter. Blake had a hand over her mouth.

Mabel seemed used to it, her own eyes twinkling like she was definitely in on the joke.

I grabbed a cookie, and then another, and settled into the flight.

I’d missed out when I’d sat in the nosebleeds. The front row was a completely different experience. The players literally crashed into the glass right in front of you. Your seat actually shook with the force of it.

I’d never seen anything so exciting in my entire life.

Although, if I had sat with the girls that day, I would have missed what happened after...and I certainly didn’t regret that.

I shifted in my seat just thinking about his hand palming my ass.

Camden winked at me as he skated by...like he could read my mind.

“Oh, we’re up there...again,” Olivia huffed.

Blake slung her arm over our shoulders, reaching farther to grab onto Monroe’s shirt. “Smile ladies,” she laughed as she pulled us close.

I stared up at the Jumbotron now displaying our faces—our smiling faces.

I barely recognized the girl up there, with color on her cheeks and a grin so wide it took up her whole face.

I’d never believed I could be that girl, either.

So happy that I could barely breathe without smiling.

I glanced at Camden, watching as he slammed someone into the boards, fighting over the puck.

And it was all because of him.

CHAPTER 31

ANASTASIA

Iwalked down the hallway after class, exhausted and ready to head home. “Anastasia,” a voice called. Turning, I saw one of the office admin people walking toward me—Linda, I think was her name—and Michael.

I froze, gaping at the wide smile on his face as she said something to him and pointed over to where I was standing.

“I had no idea you had such a charming brother,” Linda cooed as she got closer. “He came to the office looking for you. You really need to answer your phone,” she chided lightly.

“Foster-brother,” I murmured, the synapses in my brain not working correctly because I was used to Michael showing up outside. This was the first time that he’d actually come inside, violating an unspoken treaty between us I just now realized I had believed in.

My heart sank, dread twisting in my stomach.

“Thank you, Linda,” Michael said charmingly. “My parents will be so grateful for your help. Anastasia has been so busy lately, we’ve scarcely seen her!"

I felt sick as I watched him play Linda like a fool. This was what he always did, and just like always, I couldn’t believe that no one else seemed to see the cockroach that lay under his pleasant surface.

I wanted to scream as I watched her walk away.

“Get over here, Anastasia. We’re leaving.”

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