Page 15 of Hate to Love You

I’m like a deer caught in headlights. “Ummm.” I have no idea what to say. My brain has suddenly gone on the fritz. So has my mouth. I stand motionless, gaping like a smallmouth bass freshly reeled from the water.

Reed spears a finger in our direction and waggles it back and forth. “Are you telling me that you two are a couple?”

I need to put an end to this madness.

Unfortunately, Brody beats me to the punch.

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

Reed cocks his head and skewers me with a pity-filled gaze. “Things must have really changed, huh?” He laughs. “Can’t say I pegged you for a puck bunny, Natalie. Too bad it wasn’t that way last year. We could have been more of a one-and-done kind of thing.” He shrugs. “But then again, you were a virgin, so I figured I had to put in the time and effort to get the goods.”

His ugly comment knocks the air from my lungs. Heat floods my face.

It was only after I broke up with Reed that I realized what a self-centered asshole he was. To be completely honest, I had my suspicions. My only excuse is that, at the time, I was blinded by him and only saw what I wanted.

But this is hitting below the belt. Even for him.

Brody balls his hands into fists and takes a step forward. Snapping out of my stupor, I slap my hand across his chest to stop him from getting in Reed’s face. Although, I’m hardly going to be able to stop someone the size of Brody if he wants to get to Reed.

“What’d you say, asshole?” Brody growls.

The intensity of his tone sends goosebumps skittering across my flesh. Very rarely have I seen Brody lose his temper. He’s usually laid-back and easygoing, constantly joking around and poking fun at me.

This guy is a different animal altogether. The thickly corded muscles of his body have tensed as if he’s on high alert, just waiting for the signal to attack.

“You heard me.” Seizing on Brody’s reaction, Reed smirks. “What? You gonna do something about it, McKinnon?”

Nausea swirls in the pit of my belly. The last thing I want is a fight breaking out. Especially over me. Brody and I aren’t together. He doesn’t need to defend me or take it to the next level. Hearing raised voices, people in the vicinity turn and stare. Everyone loves a good fight when they’re drunk. Hell, they love a good fight when they’re completely sober.

“You say anything like that again about Natalie, and I’m going to shove my foot so far up your ass you’ll be tasting leather for weeks.”

“Fuck off,” Reed sneers. “You think you’re such hot shit because your dad pulled some strings to get you where you are today. You’re nothing but a hack. You always have been.”

I expect Brody to come unhinged, but he doesn’t. Somehow, he manages to rein himself in. Even though his lips curve into a tight smile, the flash of white teeth is chilling.

“Whatever you say, Collins.” Brody takes a step toward Reed and grits out, “Natalie’s with me now. You want to talk crap about her, I’m going to have something to say about it.”

Reed claps Brody on the shoulder and shakes his head. “Shit, man, good luck with that. She’s one lousy lay.” His glittering gaze lands on me, and he shrugs. “You couldn’t hold my interest, babe. Like I said before, one-and-done. But I’ve always been a sucker for a pretty face.” His eyes skim down my body, zeroing in on my breasts. “Amongst other assets.”

Chapter Six

Natalie

I blink, and all hell breaks loose as Brody yanks back his arm and punches my ex-boyfriend in the face. Reed howls in outrage and lunges at Brody. I scream as people rush forward to break up the fight.

There’s nothing unusual about scuffles breaking out at a hockey party. These guys seem to enjoy a good brawl. I may avoid these parties like the plague, but the aftermath usually makes the rounds on social media the following morning. There are always a ton of pictures and video clips. The only difference here is that the guys from the team don’t usually get into it with each other.

I shout Brody’s name a few times to get his attention, but he’s intent upon fending off Reed’s blows and landing a few more hits of his own before they’re ripped apart. It takes two guys to hold Reed and just as many to pin Brody. Both glare, their breath coming out in harsh pants. Reed’s nose is bleeding, and it looks like Brody will have a shiner in the morning.

How did everything fall apart within a matter of seconds?

I knew coming here was a mistake. I should have listened to my intuition and stayed home. Netflix and pizza sound so good right now.

Brody shakes off the guys holding him. He scowls at Reed and barks, “If you come anywhere near her or I hear you talking shit, you’ll answer to me. Got it?”

I stand rooted in place, unable to believe what I’m hearing.

“Fuck off, McKinnon!” Reed shakes off the guys holding him and glares at the gathered crowd until his eyes come to rest on me. “Just know that he’s dumber than a bag of bricks. It won’t take long for him to bore you.”

---