Page 45 of Mine

We got ready for another faceoff, the Bobcats looked determined to tie the game again. It was the beginning of the third period and at this point, anything could happen.

Webber wasn’t quick enough to get the puck as Dominik Mikelson shot it to his teammate. Cap was on their wingman, but these guys were like a well-oiled machine and they played great with each other. Clark didn’t stand a chance as two of the bobcats surrounded him, sinking a shot and we were fucking tied again.

“Fuck!” Hunter growled, skating past me with daggers in his eyes, but I knew it wasn’t anyone's fault, they were just that good.

There was a line change, and I desperately needed it. We had been neck-and-neck all game and it seemed like this might go into overtime. If that was the case, we all needed to pace ourselves because this might be a long-ass game and it turned out to be just that.

We went into overtime and I could feel the win at our fingertips until they scored. It wasn’t like our other losses, this time we knew we busted our asses, it's just the Bobcats were a good team and you could tell the men were very comfortable with each other.

We shook hands, congratulating them. Hunter was pouting and growling in disappointment. I checked his shoulder, rolling my eyes at him.

“That should have been our win,” he clipped.

“Yeah, but I think we have come far enough that we gave them one hell of a game,” Cap said, clapping Hunter on the shoulder.

“Hey Cap, can we have a quick word?” Our PR person called him over for an interview.

“Tell them I was amazing!” Webber called out. “That I carried the team.”

“You wish,” Hunter said, knocking into Webber.

“We all know it was me who carried the team with my two goals,” I said, with my head held high.

I saw Hunter roll his eyes and I'd remember that.

“Hey Florida, I’m hurt to see you cheering for your old team,” Clark yelled. “You're a Yeti now.”

“Ah, don’t be jealous,” she smirked. “I was with them for a few years, those guys are awesome, but I am wearing a Yeti shirt. You know I’ll always root louder for you.”

“Didn’t seem like it, Valencia, we saw you cheering when they scored,” I said, getting closer to her. “Have you been a bad girl?”

Her eyes widened.

“We don’t reward bad girls,” Hunter whispered next to me, then pushed me out of the way.

“Get a life H-Riggs,” I snapped, almost saying Hunter.

Since our night at the hotel, I had been calling him Hunter and that felt more friendly than calling him by his last name. No one needed to know we were friendly, that might raise too many questions.

“Don’t bother, Valencia,” he growled, pushing me.

“Go fuck yourself, Riggs!”

“Hey, I’m going to go have a couple of beers at a bar just down the street with a couple of Bobcats if anyone would like to join us!” Valencia shouted. “We are going to Cheers!”

“I’ll be there!” Webber and Clark shouted.

“We have a light practice tomorrow, don't stay out too late,” Cap said, as we walked into the locker room.

“I can skate while I’m drunk, Cap. Don’t worry.” Webber winked at Cap, and I was glad I wasn’t captain, having to deal with all these young guys.

Most of us were between the ages of twenty-two and thirty, which was prime going out ages, I knew most of us gave him a heart attack. Hunter raised his brow at me, silently asking me if I wanted to go. I nodded, getting undressed thinking this might be the perfect time to talk to her.

After we fooled around again, Hunter talked about how perfect this arrangement could be. I could explore my sexuality, we could blow off steam, have fun and win games. I knew most of us were superstitious and what Hunter said was kind of true. We had been winning games since we had fooled around. Our games had been better, and we had been getting along. Even though we fought a lot, more so to keep everyone thinking we didn’t like each other.

Hunter was ready before me. I walked to my jeep to see Hunter parked close to me. The last few days had changed our dynamic and while I wanted to freak out, it was nice not being mad at each other all the time. He had also started to coach me instead of bellowing at me, which helped the most. Yelling at me had never worked and my father never got the memo. It made me shut down and get angry.

Pulling out my keys, I opened the door to my Jeep to throw my shit in. I got in and lowered the window closest to Hunter. He did the same, smirking at me.

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