Page 51 of The Pucking Wrong Man

The second his truck disappeared around the corner, I took off at a sprint, my leg aching with every step, sure I wasn’t going to make it.

One of the night guards was standing by the door, about to lock up when I rushed up the steps. “Cutting it close, Ana,” she chided gently as she opened the door and raised a questioning brow.

“I know. Thanks, Georgia,” I told her gratefully, breathing a sigh of relief as I passed over the threshold of the shelter.

As I hustled down the hall toward the main room where the cots were set up, I was still very sure that even if I’d had to sleep on the streets...

Tonight would have been worth it.

CHAPTER 9

CAMDEN

For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to get ready for my game.

I had to report for warm-ups, so I couldn’t personally stop Anastasia’s date. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to use other means to stop it.

I mean, I was better than that.

“What’s that smile on your face, Hero? You kind of look like a serial killer,” Ari drawled as I changed into my uniform.

“He’s probably thinking about a grandma he helped cross the road,” Logan commented seriously. “Grandpappy business.”

Ari rolled his eyes. “I said he looked like a serial killer, not someone helping little old ladies with their grocery bags.”

“I bet serial killers do that. As a cover,” Logan mused.

“Are we really talking about me being a serial killer right now? As I’m standing right here?”

“At least we’re the kind of friends that talk about you to your face,” offered Disney, strapping on his goalie pads.

“I think I’m alright with you talking about me being a serial killer behind my back,” I said. “Although this conversation is completely pointless. I am not a serial killer, and I did not help any old ladies cross the street. Geraldine is not fond of walking across roads in general.”

“Still going steady with Old Geraldine?” Ari asked.

“She must be good with her mouth,” Logan said. “She probably doesn’t have any teeth to get in the way.”

I stared at him horrified.

“Can we not talk about James and seventy-five-year-old women,” Lincoln said, wincing as he tightened his skates.

“I would appreciate that, thank you, Daniels,” I said magnanimously. I ignored the little thrill that came with Lincoln Daniels agreeing with me on...anything.

We didn’t need another simp on the team.

“Now that we got completely off track, we need to talk about warm-ups,” said Ari, staring at all of us seriously like he was about to give a big speech.

“What are you talking about, Lancaster?” Lincoln asked distractedly as he stared at some kind of video on his phone. It almost looked like he was staring at a live feed of Monroe in the back of a car.

Weird…

“Tonight’s the night. How could you have forgotten?” Ari asked, sounding outraged.

I blinked for a moment, trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. Was there some kind of award ceremony? Kind of an odd part of the season to do that.

“Our performance!” Ari growled, throwing his hands up like we’d mortally offended him.

It took a second, but then horror hit me.

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