Page 87 of Wicked Truths

“When I do propose, it will be an entire planned evening with no work for either of us.”

Not some half-assed proposal because I’m an impatient fucker that wants her to be mine in every sense of the word, including the mother to my children.

“Good luck with that. You might be proposing on your deathbed.”

“I can promise you the proposal will happen before I am old and dying.”

The locker room door opens and Coach Bobby walks in. “Two minutes guys.”

Before I put on my skates, I head to the bathroom to empty my bladder. Playing with a full bladder sucks and makes the period drag on for what feels like an hour.

I quickly put on my skates and follow the team down the tunnel to the ice. The lights turn off as the announcer gets the crowd hyped for our entrance.

“It sounds like a full house out there tonight.” Joey says behind me.

“After our past two seasons, it would be a miracle if we sold out.” I grumble.

I love having the crowd cheer for us. I love seeing the excitement and wonder on children’s faces, but the reality is no one wants to cheer for a losing team.

The announcer introduces the teams as the crowd continues to cheer. I take the ice and glance around the packed arena.

“I guess everyone was excited to see the team owned by New York’s mafia boss.” Spencer teases Joey.

“Oh, yeah, people love the fucking gossip. It’s like the Page Six of the south.”

Spencer glances at me with a questioning glare, but I have no fucking clue what Joey is talking about, so I shrug.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Joey glances between the two of us. “You know, Page Six.”

At our confused faces, he says, “Page Six is a gossip column. It’s where New Yorkers get the inside scoop on all things beauty, fashion, shopping, celebrity, and news about the royal family.”

I interject. “Like the British Royals?”

“Yeah, those royals. We might be free from them, but Americans love their gossip and news.”

“I never would have taken you to be the one that’s caught up on all the gossip.”

“I’m not. That’s my sister and cousin’s thing. I justknow about Page Six because my family has been featured several times.”

That makes sense.

The crowd goes silent as the announcer introduces the singer for the National Anthem. I stand in my normal spot between Joey and Spencer before taking my spot as the team’s starting right winger.

I take a deep breath as the puck is dropped, and the game begins. Spencer wins the faceoff and passes the puck to Joey.

He pushes past a couple of opposing players and tries to pass the puck, but it’s taken by the other team.

We skate after him, trying to get the puck away from our goalie, Anderson.

The announcer’s voice gets louder, ringing through the arena. “The puck is stolen and the opposing team has a chance to be the first to get on the board with this incredible breakaway.”

Anderson makes a great save and shoots the puck toward me at the blue line.

I get possession of the puck and head straight toward their goalie. Someone slams into me from behind as their stick falls in front of my skate.

I slam down hard on the ice.

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