Page 58 of Pucking the Enemy

Phillip scoffed. “Like we would let you be on your own while you’re sick. We already discussed it. One of us will stay back from every game so someone will always be with you.”

“Smart,” I commented. I hadn’t intended to give them credit, but they had clearly thought about taking care of Hazel, and I could appreciate that. “Look, if I come with, I can be there when you guys have away games.”

“Yeah, but if you’re upsetting Hazel, you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

“Hazelnut?” I turned to her with a pleading look. “I’ll be so worried about you.”

She turned to Phillip. “Maybe for a night or two, just so he realizes you guys aren’t serial killers?”

“Maybe, but he’ll have to sleep on the floor.”

A few nights. I could work with a few nights.

Chapter 20

Hazel

The drive back to the pack house was somewhat awkward with Sebastian in the back seat.

“Are you sure you want him to come with us, Duchess?” Roman asked, glancing in the rearview mirror at him.

“Just for a day or two, so he knows that I’m safe.”

“If you’re sure, though I reserve the right to punch him again if he upsets you,” he said as he turned onto the street that led to the pack house.

“I’m right here, you know. I can hear every word you’re saying.”

“Well, crap.” I sighed in an overdramatic voice. “And here I was, thinking you’d lost your ability to hear.”

Seb snorted. “If any of us is going to lose our hearing, Hazelnut, it’s going to be you.”

“What?” Roman’s voice was sharp.

“Hazel likes to listen to music while wearing earbuds at top volume. She does it constantly, no matter what I tell her, and I can always hear the song from clear across the room.”

“I like loud music when I study.” I pouted.

“Duchess, that isn’t safe.” Roman frowned, looking between Seb and me, concern on his face. “You won’t be doing that again.”

I raised my eyebrows at him before turning to look at Seb in the back seat. “If you’re going to gang up on me, I will kick you out myself. Or worse, I’ll give your number to that puck bunny who wouldn’t stop stalking you last year. I’m sure she’d be really interested to know what you’re up to now.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll behave for now. Don’t go giving my number out to psychopaths, please. But when it comes to your safety, I’m still going to tell them.” He shrugged.

I opened my mouth to say something rude, but Roman’s laugh cut me off. “You know what, Coombs? You’re not all that bad. It could be useful to have someone that has insider information on Duchess around.”

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. Two years ago, the doctors wanted her to walk more, in general, so she and a bunch of friends got those step-tracking watches and had a little contest—you know what this woman did?”

“Come on, that was not my proudest moment, and it worked out for the best, anyway,” I grumbled.

“She fluctuated between making me wear the damn thing when I went for my runs or putting it on the leash of her friend’s dog.”

Roman burst into laughter. “Okay, that is quite smart, Duchess.”

“I got the gift card to the ice cream shop, didn’t I? And I shared it with you, Sebastian, so shut your mouth.”

“But you lay in your nest and hardly moved for weeks.”

“I was conserving energy,” I said primly.

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