Page 36 of Ice Bet

I stepped closer to him, and I thought Aasher was going to burst a blood vessel.

Sully’s lips pursed as he pouted.

I slugged back the rest of my drink, holding back a choking cough, because apparently all the liquor had fallen to the bottom of the cup. I shoved it into Aasher’s chest with as much force as I could. His hand covered mine, and the plastic cup crinkled. “It’s been a long night,” he sighed. “I’m not in the mood for this.”

“No one is asking you to stay,” I reminded him, peering up at his tightly drawn face and swollen lips, no doubt from some poor puck bunny. “What do you think is going to happen if I play a simple game of flip cup?”

“Youknowwhat I think is going to happen.” The air crackled with us going toe to toe. “Let’s go.”

“What was that?” I shouted. “You want me to leave with you, Aasher?” I grew louder with each word and batted my eyes at him. “Are we heading back to your place or mine?”

Aasher’s gaze dropped to my lips, then to my chest, and then down my legs. His nostrils flared. The cup I smashed into his chest dropped to the floor, and he tightly gripped my hand. “We need to talk.”

Next thing I knew, I was being pulled through the party like a child. He shoved me through an open door, and I jumped when it slammed behind him. The light flipped on above our heads, and I realized we were in the pantry.

“What the hell are you doing, Duster?”

He was seething.

I ripped my wrist out of his grasp and backed up all the way to the shelf that was lined to the ceiling with protein bars. “I’m having fun,” I snapped. “Why is that a problem for you?”

“Havingfun? You’re rubbing your tight ass all over Jones and Sullivan like you’re asking to get fucked. Do I need to remind you that if you sleep with any of them, they are literally just doing it to win afuckingbet? If your dad finds out—”

“I’m not going to sleep with any of them.” I rolled my eyes, interrupting Aasher’s hissy fit. “I’m just trying to get back at them.”

“You’re just fucking with their heads.” Aasher erased the space between us. “And mine. So stop it.”

“You asked for it, and so did they. Stop treating me like I’m a child who needs a babysitter and let me put them in their place.” I shrugged. “And then maybe I won’t tell my dad how his team is a bunch of disgusting pigs.”

Aasher grabbed the shelf right beside my head, and my heart raced. He mumbled something under his breath, and although I was a little tipsy, I heard him plain as day.

“So, it really is true.”

For the first time, Aasher wasn’t glaring at me. The divot between his eyebrows had disappeared. My heart raced faster, but my anger shifted to someone else.

“My dad seriously asked you to keep me from being with the hockey players?”

Aasher probably thinks I'm a slut.It’s no wonder he was so worried. I assumed my dad had told the hockey players that I was off-limits and gave them a little warning, but hetrulyasked Aasher to keep me away from them? It all made sense now.

“Is that what this is about? Keeping your word?” My jaw slacked. I didn’t want to be angry at my dad, because I knew he was trying to protect me. Some guy hurt his daughter, and it caused a snowball effect, but his lack of trust was demoralizing.

“He asked me to keep an eye out for you.” Aasher’s tone was soft as he tried skirting around the truth. It amped up my anger. “He specifically told the team that you were off-limits.”

“And he told you to intervene anytime I got close to someone?”

“Just knock it off and stop tempting them.” The shelf creaked beneath his grip.

“Or what?” I spat.

I was beyond frustrated. My dad. Aasher. The bet. The quickly approaching date for tryouts. My stupid panic attacks anytime I got close to the ice.Damn it.

“Riley.”

I jutted my braless chest out and brushed against him. His head twitched.

“Are you going to bend me over and spank me, Aasher?” I laughed when his eyes widened. “Are you going to run off and tell my dad about the bet? I thought you were afraid that it would ruin the team? Isn’t that what you’re so concerned about? Your precious players getting kicked off the team and the Frozen Four slipping through your fingers?”

I was poking the bear, but it made me feel better, so whatever.

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