Page 13 of Going All In

“Sure. They’re all skating like crazy after that puck, and sometimes, they throw a few punches.”

“Oh, Darcy, there’s so much more to this sport. Maybe Jake could teach you.”

“Not happening. Oh look, Dom’s on the ice. How’s it going with him?”

“It’s not right now. I think Ethan threatened him.”

“He did not,” Darcy exclaimed, knowing full well that Ethan would do that in a heartbeat to keep his sister away from the hotshot rookie.

“I really have no idea. I can’t get a read on him.”

“That’s annoying.”

“No kidding. Now watch the game so you have something to talk about with Jake.”

“You’re the worst. And you’re evading talking about Dom. That’s not like you.”

“I just don’t know what to say about it anymore.”

Darcy put her arm around Ally’s shoulders. Men were so damn frustrating.

“What the hellwere you thinking last night?” Ralph asked as he sliced the steak in front of him.

“I explained that in the text last night,” Jake muttered, taking a sip of his bourbon. Lunch with his agent always went smoother when the man had a steak in front of him and Jake had a glass of something stronger than water to drink.

“Yeah, and I get that, but you’re racking up penalty minutes, and then that fight,” Ralph said.

“I was defending my teammate. They were gunning for Harty. That should count for something.” Jake took another sip of bourbon.

“In your current situation, it doesn’t count the way we want it to. You’ll be back on the market come July first if you don’t ink a deal with the Strikers before that. You do want to stay here, right?”

“Yeah. I like the team. The city is great. They have strong Cup potential. I definitely want to stay if the deal is good.”

“Keep acting like this and the deal won’t exist,” Ralph said around a mouthful of food.

“Listen, I’m working on it. My numbers are solid this season and I’ve been a damn saint off the ice.”

“Saint is stretching it. I’ve stumbled across more than a few pictures of you with random women. Never the same one twice.”

“There’s nothing wrong with playing the field. And I’m avoiding anyone tied to the team.”

“Thank fuck for that. You really got yourself in a bind last year.”

He didn’t need the reminder. Yes, he’d gotten wasted and publicly hooked up with his former team owner’s daughter at some club. It’s not like they’d had sex in the middle of the dance floor. They’d done it in the bathroom. She’d wanted him just as badly as he’d wanted her. They’d flirted and casually hooked up a few times earlier in the season, but that night had gotten out of control.

And he’d had no idea that someone had followed them into the bathroom. Rookie mistake not to lock the door.

Correction. Rookie mistake to hook up in a club bathroom.

The following morning, an audio recording of how vocal Brandy had been was posted online. They hadn’t even hit him up for blackmail money first.

Then pictures had surfaced of him and Brandy readjusting their clothes as they walked out of the ladies’ room. Management had been furious, Brandy’s father leading the charge for Jake’s head. Add to that his garbage season where he couldn’t get a goal to save his life, and they’d been ready to trade him. He’d gone to the Strikers for two players who’d barely seen ice time in San Francisco and a third-round draft pick for two years from now.

It was fucking insulting.

“I don’t need the reminder. And your pep talks suck, man.”

“Hey. Don’t shoot the messenger. We’re trying to get you a solid deal and you’re digging a bigger hole with every fight and penalty. You ever thought of settling down?”

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