Page 43 of Shot to the Hart

“Ready to get to my daughter, man. She’s probably exhausted, she’s never up this late.”

“Not trying to get to that raven-haired angel out there?”

I side-eye him as I pick up my bag and shrug. Of course I saw Kodi, who wouldn’t be able to keep their eyes off of her? She’s absolutely stunning, and the way she looks wearing my jersey does something to my body that I can’t acknowledge if I don’t want to draw attention to my package in the locker room. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. . .”

“Come on Mav, we all saw you looking towards their seats after every goal.”

“Yep to my daughter.”

“And to Kodi.” Dom sidles up, clasping a hand on Nik’s shoulder. “Ready?”

“See you later guys. Have fun tonight,” I say as I walk towards the door.

“Oh I will!” Nik calls after me as I make my way out of the room.

Spotting my girls, I rush over, pulling them both in for a hug then taking Bella, who snuggles deeper into my arms, her eyes closing immediately. “Thanks for being here. You guys hungry?”

“Yes, for sure. She may not eat. She threw back french fries like they were going out of style.” I chuckle at this because potatoes are definitely Bella’s favorite food group.

“Let's go. I know a place we can order from, but I think we should get Bella home.” I place my free hand on Kodi’s lower back guiding her through the hall and the waiting family members and friends.

“KJ, baby!” A booming and familiar voice says from behind us. Kodi’s shoulders lift to her ears and she tries to keep walking, but I stop and turn to find Conrad Hoyer. Fucking hell, I hate this guy. He’s a terrible winger and even worse man. When I played for Carolina, he was constantly sleeping with a new woman, leading them on until the next one took his attention. It’s a miracle the guy doesn’t have ten kids running around somewhere. He thought he was God's gift to hockey but could barely keep up with me on the ice.

“Conrad.” She offers a soft smile while I shoot daggers at him.

“What are you doing here? Why wouldn’t you tell me you were coming to a game?”

My blood is suddenly boiling and I need to know how he knows my girl. A sense of possessiveness washes over me, wondering why he thinks he has any sort of right to know Kodi was at the game and why he would even want to know. I roll my shoulders back involuntarily making myself look a little taller.

“And what was it about me leaving in a hurry and not texting you back that made you think I would be interested in a sure to be underwhelming round two?” she states. She's trying to maintain her composure, but she’s fiddling with the end of her ponytail and her chest is rising and falling just a touch faster than normal. Dom and Nik are approaching, stopping when they see who we’re talking to.

He steps closer and I immediately pull Kodi into my side. “You know that’s not what happened girl. I’d love to redeem myself.”

Before she can respond, I step in, letting my voice drop a cadence. “She’s good, bro. Thanks, see you next time.”

“It was nice to beat your ass instead of carrying it tonight,” Dom tosses at Conrad. They played together in college before Conrad was drafted to Carolina and Dom to Tampa.

I turn us around to walk away, but Conrad grumbles just loud enough, “Fucking puck-bunnies.”

Oh hell no.

I stop, handing Kodi my daughter, gently gripping her chin so she looks into my eyes and calmly letting her know, ”Kodi, Darlin’. You and Bella meet me at the exit doors. I think Conrad and I need to have a little chat.”

“Mav, really it’s not?—”

“Oh, it is. Please go, you guys don’t need to see this, I won’t be long.” And I turn on my heels. Conrad is waiting for me with his chest puffed up, casually leaning against the wall, as if I’m worried about his stringbean ass. Perfect.

Nik and Dom lean against the other wall, watching and waiting.

I approach him quickly, grabbing him by his collar and pushing him further into the wall, seething. I can see the vein in my forearm popping with the pressure I’m putting into keeping him still. “If you ever look at her, speak to her, or say some stupid shit again, I will not hesitate to beat your ass.”

“Yeah right, bro,” Conrad says, his voice a little unsteady. I laugh, actually laugh, adding a little more pressure. Now he’s squirming beneath my grip.

“I mean it Conrad. Stay. The. Fuck. Away.” My jaw is starting to hurt from how my teeth are grinding against each other, waiting to see if he is going to keep pushing me. As if they knew I was losing my cool, Nik and Dom are at my side, attempting to pull me off of him.

“Maverick, he’s not worth being benched and fined.” Nik grunts at my struggle, still holding tightly to Conrad’s collar.

“Come on man, let’s get out of here. You’ve got two pretty girls waiting on you.” Dom pulls harder now and I loosen my grip, taking a step back and shaking them off my shoulders.

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