Page 1 of Puck & Make Up

One

Fox

Iwant to rinse my eyes out with acid.

Then gouge them from their sockets with a spoon.

Because—

I gag.

Ihadbeen worried about my best friend—and teammate—Joel, who spent the afternoon in a meeting with management of the Rush Hockey team we both play for.

He was thinking this might be it.

That they weren’t going to renew his contract.

That this was going to be the end of his career.

Something I was feeling more than a little guilty about.

BecauseI’djust gotten the best news.

I’m getting a contract to the big leagues.

Not the Gold as I’d expected, but the Grizzlies—one of the newest teams in the league. Still local. Still fucking awesome. Still everything I’ve always wanted. Only…my news was tempered by concern for my friend.

Wouldhe be done?

Would he beokaywith being done?

So, when I ran into Joel’s girlfriend, Billie Rose—or Rosie as we all call her—and saw the look in her eyes when she came into Monroe’s, looking for Joel after his meeting…

I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had all gone wrong.

So, I texted.

But she didn’t reply.

Neither had Joel.

Or picked up any of my calls.

And trouble follows those two like it’s a goddamned note taped to each of their backs.

So…I went to their house, intending to take a peek inside, to make sure they connected and were both okay.

And—

I shudder.

Well, I sure as shit had gotten mypeek.

And more.

Much more.

I gag again, shake myself, and keep making my way along the tree line.

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