Page 56 of Puck Princess

Okay, so this is a little bit about the fact that I’m fucking his niece.

Again, I can’t fully blame him.

“That’s not why—” I start to say, but he cuts me off again.

“I don’t care why, Sharpe.”

I clench my jaw. “I know that after all the bad press, our team needs a captain who can be a real leader. I’m going to do better.”

“You’re going to have to, Sharpe. Because no captain on my team is going to pull the shit you’ve been pulling.”

I blink. “Is that a threat?”

“A captain needs to set an example for his teammates. He needs to keep his head in the game and his heart on the prize. You’ve been too busy fighting the press and putting a man in the hospital to?—”

“Miles was harassing your niece and assaulted my sister!” I roar.

I know I’m not making anything better, but I won’t apologize for beating Miles into that alley. If I could go back, I’d do it all over again.

“This is what I’m talking about,” he barks back, matching my energy. “Your head is everywhere but the game. Get your priorities straight, Owen. Show me you deserve to lead this team.”

I chew on that for a second. Coach didn’t answer my question, but this is a threat, plain and simple. Everyone is going to be watching me, making sure I don’t fuck up. It also means Spencer is going to be looking for cracks in my armor. Which, if I have anything to say about it, he won’t find.

I am the best man to lead this team. They trust me, they know me, and we are where we are because of me.

No rookie is going to change that.

“We both know I deserve it,” I grit out. “And I can’t wait to remind you why.”

Coach arches a brow like he’s just as anxious to see the proof. “Good. Now, suit up, You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

As I make my way to the locker room, the guys disband, trying to pretend they weren’t listening in. They know better than to cross me right now.

When I get on the ice, I put everything I have into focusing on the game. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to think.

I’m just here to play. I’ve only ever been here to play.

After a long run, we break for water.

I drop down onto the bench and rip my helmet from my head. I’m already sweating through my gear as I take a swig from my bottle.

Behind me, a voice carries. “Seriously, if you’re going to fuck your girlfriend, at least set an alarm so you can wake up in the morning.”

I start to turn when I hear Lance. “We’ve all been there, guys. He’s had a tough run.”

I don’t know how anyone even knew I was with Callie last night. But if I had to guess, Santos had something to do with that too.

I’m frozen there, torn between letting Lance defend me and making whoever was mouthing off choke on their words, when Santos skates over, spraying snow.

“Sounds like you’re having a hard time keeping up, Sharpe. Coach is doubting you as captain. Maybe you should have Callie talk to him for you. See if that nepotism can work both ways.”

I stand up, my water bottle dropping to the floor. “Do me a favor, Santos. Play the game and keep my girlfriend’s name out of your mouth, got it?”

He stares at me, his mouth twitching in the threat of a smirk. “You mean…Callie?”

The way he says her name alone is enough to make me lose my cool.

“Don’t fucking push me, Santos.” I’m not sure if the arena got suddenly quiet or if the blood thrumming in my ears has blotted everything out.

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