Page 10 of Mine to Take

Players from both teams descend, trying to pull Maverick and River away from one another. I don’t have to hear the words that fall from my brother’s lips to know that he’s pissed off. Frustration wafts off him in thick, suffocating waves.

Mom shakes her head and scowls. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—that McKinnon boy is an animal.”

“Damn,” Holland mutters. “I was hoping more of a fight would break out. Maybe a little bloodshed to break up the monotony.”

Mom shoots her another glare as my gaze slices to my twin’s rival. His teammates have their arms wrapped around him as the ref blows his whistle, ending the possibility of a brawl breaking out.

When Maverick’s hard-edged stare slices to me for a second time, my fingers rise to play with the silver W pendant that hangs loosely around my neck. River wears a matching one with his initial. He bought them for us after my diagnosis, and there’s never been a day that I haven’t worn the delicate piece of jewelry. It’s become a good-luck charm.

As the game gets back underway, anticipation crackles in the air like an impending storm. Instead of keeping my attention focused on my brother the way I should, I find myself staring at the handsome defenseman.

3

Maverick

I glance at the clock on the scoreboard. We’re midway through the third period and the game is tied. The energy in the arena feels like a living, breathing entity. It’s always like this when we play the Rattlers. East Town University is only forty-five minutes away, so it’s an easy trip for their fans to make. One side of the arena is a sea of orange and black, while the other is white and light blue. This is our team’s biggest conference rival, and both sets of fans are rabid for a win.

If we don’t pull one off tonight, there’ll be hell to pay.

And yet…

As much as we have riding on the line, I can’t stop thinking about the pretty blonde in the stands near the glass and the way our gazes caught as I checked River Thompson into the boards.

Fuck, but taking him out like that in the first period had been a pure pleasure.

The guy’s been out for payback ever since.

Bring it on, asshole.

Bring.

It.

On.

I’m sure he was pissed that I made him look like a pussy in front of his girl.

My heart stutters for a handful of seconds before pounding into overdrive.

Is that what she is? His girl?

The thought burrows beneath my skin like an incurable rash. I send another look her way, only to find her watching me.

Good.

I want her attention focused on me the entire time she’s wearing Thompson’s jersey.

Even though I don’t know who she is or what her name is, I want to tear the damn thing from her body.

My hands clench in my gloves in order to stop myself from crawling over the plexiglass and doing exactly that.

I glance at her again.

She’s like a ray of sunshine with the way her golden hair tumbles around her shoulders. I’m having a difficult time concentrating on the reason we’re here.

The game.

I swear under my breath as River manages to get around me and score a goal.

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