Page 115 of Pucking Obsessed

These Predators are getting away with their attack.

Their bearded left defenseman scoops up the puck and passes to their center, as D’Angelo skates toward Shay as fast as he can.

But it’s too late.

The Predators are on the counterattack.

They’re going to score.

Heine claps. “This game isn’t as boring as I thought it’d be.”

Eden turns like he’s about to storm over and beat the shit out of the team’s billionaire owner for applauding the attack on his twin.

I thought that this game couldn’t become any more of a PR nightmare.

Shows me.

My pulse races. “Hey, ignore the evil imp. Look, Shay’s getting up. He’s okay.”

“Jude isn’t.”

My lips pinch. “He hasn’t been since yesterday.”

“Since before that.” Eden cocks his head. “When you came back from that meeting with coach and the board, he was different.”

I furrow my brow. “How?”

“More like me. Surviving and not living.”

My stomach flips.

I grip the sleeve of Eden’s coat. “Hiding something he’s not ready to talk about…?”

“Processing.”

I swallow. “There was another one of the psycho’s gifts in the costume shop. It was a Lucifer outfit with a command for D’Angelo to wear it.”

“They’re acting like Jude is their doll to dress up.They don’t own him.”

Eden’s expression is closed off in the same way that D’Angelo’s was for the entire silent drive back from 1001 Fantasies.

Processing.

I get it.

“I don’t think that it’s Vega,” I say. “The way that D’Angelo reacted made it feel far more personal. Plus, how he’s been thrown off his game today.”

“So, who is it?”

I shake my head. “Someone who is truly fucking up our lives.”

I flinch but don’t look around as I hear the Predators score behind me.

The Bay Rebels are going to lose.

One game down.

For D’Angelo to win the bet, he’ll have to win the next two games.

---