Page 11 of Puck After Puck

Instead of heading to the stands and my designated cheering section, I pick up Cassi's shoes and carefully make my way across the cold arena floor with only my sheer pantihose protecting my feet. I intended to grab my extra pair of skate, put them on, and go to my cheering section, but once I got to Cassi's office, Irealized I didn't feel like cheering, and I certainly didn't feel like being forced to watch the three men I'm pretty sure I've fallen in love with skate around the ice like they didn't just throw me away like I meant nothing to them.

With my mind made up, I send a quick text to Gemma, who is now the head cheerleader of the Valkyrie, after Tiffany's involvement with the whole revenge porn Gemma's ex-hockey-playing boyfriend tried to pull, which landed him in jail, and let her know I don't feel well, then I lay down on Cassi's couch and pull the throw over my body and let the darkness take me as I fall into a fitful sleep.

***

"Heidi, wake up. It's time to go home." Cassi's voice pulls me from my dreamless sleep.

I yawn and stretch my hands over my head, "How long have I been asleep?"

"It's the second-period break. I didn't see you in your normal cheering spot, so I wanted to check on you." Cassi leans down and brushes a lock of hair off my cheek. "Do you want to tell me about it? Does it have anything to do with those three hot as sin referee's you've been hanging out with?"

There's no use hiding the truth from Cassi, "I think I'm in love with them, but they don't want me. They said I'm too young. I have my whole life in front of me blah, blah, blah." I can't control the tears that roll down my cheeks. "Why did I have to go and fall in love with them?"

"Oh, honey. Life is a mystery. There's no rhyme or reason to who you fall in love with or, in our case, how many you fall in love with. But if they don't love you back, you have to let them go and move on. There's a whole wide world out there filled with guys who deserve your love—don't waste it on three who don't."

I know she's right, but it still hurts, knowing they're so close yet so far away.

"You should probably know I got an update on my phone during the first period of a change in the referee schedule—your three referees aren't on any of the Minnesota Norse games for the rest of the year."

If I didn't believe them at first, this is the final dagger to my already shattered heart: "Cassi, do you have somewhere I could stay for a while until I can figure things out?"

With a soft smile, she replies, "Actually, I do."

twelve

Riggs

Isearch the cheersquad as they practice their routine on the ice for tonight's game. My eyes scanning the group for even the smallest glimpse of Heidi. But I don't see her anywhere.

These last few days without her have been hell without her. Not just sexually, but her quick wit and sunny personality aresomething I need in my life. I know Anders and Bodie feel the same way—like we are just going through the motions, too numb to process our true feelings for Heidi. We called more penalties in the last few days than we have all year, and the team owners are beginning to notice. Two days ago, Anders almost got into a fight with some of the players during a game.

That was the final straw. We knew we needed our Baby Girl back. We had to pull a lot of strings to get back into the rotation to work a Minnesota Norse game on such short notice, but we somehow pulled it off.

"Is she out there?" Bodie glances around my shoulder.

It's two hours before the game, and we should be in our pregame meeting instead of looking for Heidi. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to step into the referee lounge with the memories of what the four of us did in there the last time we worked a Minnesota Norse game.

"I don't see her," Anders adds. "Do you think she's okay?"

"If you mean, is she sick from a broken heart? Then yeah, she's not okay." We turn around at the new voice that has entered our private conversation to find Cassi Masterson, a cutthroat sports agent, glaring at us with her hands on her hips. "I should gut you myself for what you did to that poor girl. All she has ever wanted was to be loved and have someone make her the center of their universe. The three of you did that for her—gave her everything her heart desired—then, poof, it was gone along with the three of you."

"How did you know about us? I thought she wanted it to be a secret since we are so much older than her," I ask, still stunned by Cassi's assessment of our situation with Heide.

"Heidi and I are best friends, even if I'm a little bit older. Even though she's only eighteen, she's an old soul who had to grow up fast since her parents didn't care about her. Her older brother tried, but he was dealing with his own stuff. She was doing good living on her own with a roommate, a full-time job, she was even starting to hang out with our Ladies of the Norse group. She was finally living her life independently—then you three ass wipes stroll into her life, give her the love and connection she's been craving—then rip it away."

Hearing our shortcomings and Heidi's crushed dreams coming out of Cassi's mouth makes me feel about two inches tall. By the heartbroken looks on Anders and Bodie's faces, I can tell they feel the same way.

"But we're twice her age. She can't possibly what to spend the rest of her life with our old asses." Anders glances from Cassi to me, then to Bodie as he says the words—a look of longing in his serious gaze.

"After the way you treated her, I'm not sure she would take any of you back." We glance out at the ice, searching for our sable-haired beauty. "She's not out there. She needed some time to think about things. I let her use my cabin on the lake. I can't believe I'm doing this, but here's the address." Cassi hands me a slip of paper. "I'm trusting you with this information—don't hurt her again, or I'll make sure you never ref another game in your life. Understand?"

I take the piece of paper offered, shoving it in my pocket for safety. "Let's go get our girl," I say.

Anders, Bodie, and I turn to leave, but Cassi stops us. "What about the game, gentleman? Who's going to officiate if you're not here?"

Shit, I completely forgot about the game since it's the least of my worries. "We can try and call for replacements."

Cassi rolls her eyes and pulls her phone out of her purse, "Go on, I got this." She waves us off with a flick of her wrist.

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