Page 53 of Wicked Games

Chapter 14

Caleb

“Incoming,” Liam warns. He nods toward the benches.

He wouldn’t warn me about Coach. When I turn around, I spot Amelie.

I clench my jaw. We’re at hockey practice, waiting on Coach Marzden to appear, and Amelie trots down the steps to the bench. I skate toward her, anticipating that she’s only here to say something stupid to me about Margo.

I feel Theo at my back. He’s my only silent shadow—the other two are a bit more obvious about it.

“Fuck off,” I tell Amelie when she gets to our level.

She scowls. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I raise my eyebrow. “Unless you’d like Theo to remove you from my sight?”

Our practice is going to start any minute.

Nothing Amelie can say will make a difference about Margo. The lost lamb is mine. I know it. My friends know it. The whole school fucking knows it, no matter what she or Amelie say. The only one who isn’t convinced is Margo Wolfe.

And what a little wolf she’s becoming.

Theo moves forward, his arm brushing mine. A show of force.

Amelie steps back, glaring at him. “Okay, okay. I’ll see you later.”

“No, you won’t.”

She scowls.

When she’s finally out of sight, I glance over at Theo.

He’s scowling, too. Glaring back down the aisle the way she came. “What the fuck does she want?”

I shrug.

Liam stops with a shower of snow over our skates. “She knows she can’t have you, Theo, so she’s trying to get in Caleb’s pants instead.”

Theo laughs, and I shove Liam. Asshole.

“All right,” Coach calls, blowing his whistle. He skates onto the ice. “Get over here, you lazy gits.”

As captain, it’s my job to keep the team together. To set an example. But my mind keeps straying back to Margo.

“Asher!” Coach snaps.

I jerk. “Yes, sir?”

“You’re not alone in doing sprints today.”

I suppress my sigh—but everyone else doesn’t. The groans are audible, and Coach just chuckles. For every complaint, another sprint will be tacked on. Or two.

We line up on the goal line, at the ready, and wait for the whistle.

When it goes off, we skate down and back. My ribs and stomach hurt, the exertion pulling at my bruised muscles, but I force it out of my mind.

Down and back.

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