Page 68 of Breakaway

But then someone races right in front of the plexiglass where we’re standing, and I’m momentarily distracted. It’s Roman. He skates incredibly fast, a puck dancing on his stick.

“He’s practicing stickhandling,” Michael says to me, a lopsided grin on his face. “But he’s also showing off.”

“Is that so?” I ask, and Michael starts laughing, looking absolutely pleased with himself.

“Hundred percent.”

“Good to know,” I murmur, my eyes trained on Roman, who’s coming closer to us again.

His gaze finds mine, and I see a fire spark behind his irises. Letting his eyes coast over me, he frowns. Tilting his head to the side, he raises his hand and makes a twirling motion.

He wants to see whose jersey I’m wearing.

With a smirk, I turn around and show him my back, which has Drake’s number and last name on it. I look over my shoulder, and before Roman hurries away again, I get a chance to notice how his lips purse.

Looks like my plan is working.

For the next ten minutes, we continue watching the players warm up. More and more people fill the arena. Layla comes over and stands beside me, while Angie and Ava with her daughter, Meghan, sit in our seats and talk.

“It’s time,” Michael says, and I realize he’s right. The teams are starting to leave the ice.

I’m ready to go to my seat, but in my peripheral vision, I notice Roman skate toward me. My heart instantly goes pitter-patter, my pulse pumping so hard I’m worried my veins are going to explode.

Layla sees Roman too, and with a smile, she takes Maya from me and turns to look at Ava’s son. “Let’s go, Michael. Roman and Nev need a moment alone.”

Even without Layla, Maya, and Michael, I’m surrounded by so many people. There’s no place to hide so Roman can tell me what he wants to tell me in private. But, strangely, it doesn’t matter.

“Shouldn’t you be heading to the locker room?” I joke once he stops in front of me.

“Shouldn’t you be wearing my jersey?” he counters, not wasting a minute of his time.

“This one looks?—”

“I dare you to say it looks good on you, Malyshka. Say it. You’ll find out what it means to be on my bad side.” Roman glances to the left and realizes he’s the last one on the ice.

“It looks good on me,” I taunt, not giving a damn that the woman beside me is listening to our conversation.

Roman shakes his head and backs away. “You better pray we win tonight, Nevaeh. I won’t be in the mood for games if we lose. And next time?—”

“What?”

“Next time, wear mine,” he says in a low growl. Then he rushes off the ice without glancing back.

And now I’m not sure I want the Thunders to win anymore.Getting punished by my husband sounds way too intriguing, I think to myself as I sit down beside Angie.

It’s something he hasn’t done before.

Chapter 27

A Coward

ROMAN

We lost.

We fucking lost our first home game of the regular season.

We were losing two to one until Colton had a moment at the end of the second period and scored a perfect snap shot, tying the game. It gave us all a great boost of confidence, and made the fans go berserk. The arena was so loud, I didn’t even hear what my teammates were saying as we celebrated. We had a chance to win—until Järvinen from the Vegas team scored again. Two minutes before the third period ended, making the final score three to two.

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