Page 29 of Mistletoe Face Off

Okay, I’ll admit it’s a current crush, but it’s far outweighed by the fact he knowingly allowed me to admit my past feelings to him.

I blow out a breath. Maybe it’s time to let that go.

“I'm happy. What do you think, Holly? You up for a feud with Harrison?” Stephen asks, and all eyes in the room turn to me.

“Will it mean you’ll support my bid for that promotion?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “I don’t see why not.”

I pull my lips into a smile, only half wondering at my sanity. But if it means snagging that promotion into National News, I don’t have much of a choice in the matter. “I'm in.”

Chapter Seven

Harrison

I scan the ice at our home arena, my breath heavy as I shout directions. We’re in the final period of a tough game against the St. Louis Vortex, with more fights than usual, Hunter at the center of a bunch of them.

Man, that guy needs to chill. He's a talented player, but he'll never shy away from a fight, starting half of them. At times, hegets us more penalties than points, and if I were captain, I would do my best to bring him into line.

With Dan on the bench, Coach put me in charge tonight, and I’m finding it hard to pull the team together in the face of a tough opposition.

Dion wins the face-off, feeding the puck to Fletcher. Lorcan streaks down the wing, but Fletcher ignores him—much to Lorcan’s frustration. Those two often bring their dislike for one another onto the ice.

I see Hunter clearing space, intimidating as ever. That’s one guy I’m glad I don’t have to come up against.

Suddenly, and without warning, their enforcer, Sharansky, slams right into Hunter, sending him crashing into the plexiglass. Immediately, both of them drop their sticks, their gloves flying off.

Fight time.

Not again! This game is getting away on me, and that’s the last thing I want when Coach has put me in charge.

Pinging off the plexiglass, Hunter's fists are a fast moving blur, pinpoint accurate as they connect with Sharansky's jaw. The crowd is on its feet, baying for blood, like they always do when a fight breaks out. Sometimes I wonder whether half of them are here more for the fights than the actual hockey.

But I don't have time to think about that because Fletcher is now throwing his own gloves off, backing up his teammate as another Vortex player gets involved.

I rush in, grabbing Hunter's jersey before this thing escalates any further. Chase is there too, pulling Sharansky back. We’ve each got a hold of them, as all the others swoop in.

“Cool it, guys!” I shout, trying to be the peacemaker as the two hurl expletives at one another.

Both teams are now glaring at each other, the atmosphere thick with tension. But even though Sharansky and Hunter arestill throwing some colorful language around, I’ve done my job, separating them as the refs swoop in, dishing out the inevitable penalties.

“Keep it together, Hunter,” I warn. “And you, too, Fletcher. I don’t want any more repeats tonight.”

All Hunter does is grunt before he collects his gloves and stick and skates back into position. But he turns and nods at me, and I get the feeling he’s appreciative of my effort, even if he didn’t get to finish the fight. I've got his back, just like he's got mine on the ice—despite the fact he's way too much of a hot head.

Lorcan circles nearby, that ever-present sneer on his face. I know what he's thinking, I can read that guy like a book. He wanted me to get drawn into that fight so he could look the hero in Coach’s eyes as he broke us up.

But I’m rarely involved in fights, so he can go suck it.

Play resumes, and we’re still down 3-2 to the Vortex with the seconds on the clock ticking down. Fletcher dekes, but he loses it. I dive, pushing the puck to Dion. He lines up his shot and makes it, but their goalie blocks. Too bad for them because I'm there for the rebound. I pull off a slap shot, getting the goal.

Yes!

The crowd roars, leaping to their feet, ecstatic their home team has equalized the scoreboard.

I glance at Lorcan and see his face is twisted with envy.

I'm not one to gloat, but when I get one over Lorcan, it feels pretty dang good.

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