Page 52 of The Pucking Player

I nod enthusiastically, still riding the adrenaline high. “Right? I thought he was going to Hulk out and rip his shirt off!”

“Not that any of us would’ve complained,” Jenna adds with a wink.

We both turn to Jessica, who’s been suspiciously quiet. She’s trying to keep a straight face, but I can see the flush creeping up her neck.

“What?” she asks defensively. “It was...nice of him to step in, I guess.”

Jenna and I exchange knowing looks. “Nice?” I repeat incredulously. “Jess, the man looked ready to slay dragons. He called you his girl. I’m surprised he didn’t challenge the drunk to a duel or something.”

“En garde,you knave!” Jenna mimics, pretending tothrust an imaginary sword. “How dare you besmirch the honor of fair Lady Jessica!”

We dissolve into giggles, and even Jessica cracks a smile.

“Okay, okay,” she admits, rolling her eyes. “It was pretty hot. Happy now?”

“Ecstatic.” I grin. “So, when’s the wedding?”

Jessica swats at me, but she’s laughing. “Please. We haven’t even been on a date yet.”

“Yet being the operative word,” Jenna sing-songs.

As we reach Jenna’s car, I can’t resist one more jab. “You know, Jess, if you play your cards right, you might get to find out if Finn’s as skilled with his hands as he is with a hockey stick.”

“Sophie!” Delighted at the idea, Jessica squeaks, fanning herself with her hand and rolling her eyes. “Now you’re giving me visuals I won’t be able to shake off.”

“What about you, missy?” Jenna diverts, turning to me with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you and Liam making eyes at each other all night. Spill!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mumble unconvincingly.

“Uh-huh,” Jessica says, clearly relishing the chance to find out more. “That’s why you came back from the bathroom looking like you’d been thoroughly kissed?” She pauses, grinning. “Or maybe even defiled?”

“I... That’s... We...” I stammer, searching for words.

“Face it, Soph.” Jenna grins. “You’ve got it bad for the bad boy.”

I groan, knowing I’m fighting a losing battle. “Can we just go back inside? I need another drink.”

“Ok, that’s my cue,” Jenna says opening her car door. “See you tomorrow bright and early, Soph,” she says, before getting in and turning on the engine.

As we watch her drive off, Jessica links her arm through mine. “Come on, sis. Let’s go see what other trouble our hockey heroes can get into tonight.”

We saunter back into the Penalty Box, the bass from the speakers thumping in sync with my heartbeat. But as we approach the Defenders’ table, my stomach drops.

A swarm of women have descended on the team like locusts on a cornfield. They’re all perfect hair, tight dresses, and blinding white smiles. Puck bunnies. The bane of every hockey girlfriend’s existence.

My blood starts to simmer as I watch them fawn over the players. They’re laughing too loudly at jokes that aren’t funny, touching arms that aren’t theirs to touch. But it’s when I spot a particularly bold blonde zeroing in on Liam that my blood goes from simmer to full boil.

She’s got legs for days and a dress that looks like it’s been painted on. As I watch, she sashays over to Liam, hips swaying like she’s auditioning for a music video.

“Hi there, Captain,” she purrs, loud enough for me to hear over the bar noise. “That was quite a game you played tonight.”

Liam looks up, seemingly caught off guard. “Oh, uh, thanks,” he manages, shifting in his seat.

But Blondie isn’t done. Before I can blink, she’s perching herself on Liam’s lap like she belongs there. Liam’s hands fly up, hovering awkwardly in the air as if he’s surrendering.

Something in me snaps. A red haze descends over my vision, and suddenly I’m moving. I barely register Jessica’s “uh-oh” behind me.

Oh hell no.

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