Page 51 of Puck Prince

“Business, maybe?” Lance guesses. “She is the PT.”

“Maybe she was checking his tongue pliancy. You know, for business purposes,” cackles Lachlan.

I’m about to walk in and throw out “no comment” like confetti, but Kason clears his throat. “So if Callie and Owen aren’t dating, then she’s still free game?”

His tone makes heat rise up the back of my neck.

“You think that’s a game you could handle?” Dax asks. “Someone’s feeling big in their britches.”

Kason laughs. “I mean she’s hot, blonde, fit, and good with her hands. Guys say she’s great when they’re on the table.”

“I’d like to bend her over that table,” Heath jokes.

And just like that, I’m done.

I kick the door the rest of the way open and march in. I’m seeing red as I grab him by the front of the jersey and yank his face towards mine.

“You better watch your fucking mouth when you’re talking about my girlfriend,” I growl.

The smirk damn near slides off his face and into a puddle on the floor. Everyone is just staring, eyes wide and tails between their legs.

With my eyes still locked on Heath, I bark out, “Anyone else got anything they wanna say?”

There is a unanimous, silentNope.

“Good. Now, get on the ice. We have work to do.”

Everyone shuffles around, making their way out. I rip my locker open to change, still fuming.

This whole thing is proving to be a lot fucking harder than I’d expected. For one, it’s a facade I have to keep up around the clock. But also, it really rubs my skin like sandpaper to hear them talk about her like she’s just some puck bunny they can use to get their rocks off.

I slam the locker door shut so hard the screws rattle.

“What the hell, man?” Lance’s voice comes out of nowhere.

I swing around to face him. “What do you want?” I ask, tugging my jersey on.

“‘Girlfriend’? I didn’t know you were seeing her.”

I chew on my tongue for a moment. I know it’s fucked-up—he’s my best friend. There’s never been much to know about my dating life, but if there ever was, Lance would know it. But this isn’t a normal situation.

“Well, I am.”

“I didn’t even know you were into her.” He kind of laughs. It’s a hurt laugh, though, and it makes me feel like shit.

“Well… I am.”

Very fucking eloquent, Sharpe.

He nods grimly. “Alright. Cool. I’d like to get to know her, if that’s the case.”

I squint back at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that usually, when one of us is seeing someone, we hang out. If she’s going to be around and this is going to get serious?—”

“I never said it’s going to be serious.”

“Really? Is that why you almost ripped Heath’s throat out a minute ago?”

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