Page 67 of The Stud

Chapter 11

Arden

I don’t need this shit today.

It’s bad enough I got an email this morning requesting we move my surgeryuprather thanbackbecause the surgeon and his fiancée finally solidified their South Haven Island wedding plans over the Thanksgiving break, followed by a group text scolding me for skipping out of the holiday family photo for the third year in a row.

And then things became even worse when I couldn’t get my aid to connect to my Bluetooth so I could enjoy some Shakira versus the pussy game plan some of the boys were very vocal about creating after posing with some unexpected puck sluts at the giftshop.

And then thingsstillbecame even worse due to a vertigo spell that led to me puking on a snow-covered plant in front of what appeared to be the prettiest puck bunny photo challenge.

And now?

Now, I’m being told I can’t even postgame sulk over our loss in fucking peace?!

Why?

Whhhhyyyy?!?!

Whhhhhyyyyyyyyyam I being smited like I’m the lead in a Greek mythology movie?

Er…smote?

Fuck.

Non-hockey words aresonot my thing.

Keeping my cool is beyond difficult. “How do you not haveanyspare rooms?”

“It’s a full weekend, ma’am,” the mousy bell boy behind the front desk squeaks. “There was a hockey game in town, so we’re completely booked up.”

“I’m aware,” I practically growl on a glare. “I’m with the away team.”

“Mighty rough loss tonight, huh?” He cringes. “One to five.”

“Yeah, sometimes life sucks.Like now.” My sneer manages to precede my finger whirling. “Could you get back to poorly explaining how you haveno roomfor me?”

“We weren’texpectingyou to need more than one room-”

“I wasn’t expecting that either!”

“And our number of…sparerooms was already quite limited due to the game. The only other unoccupied room we had was the honeymoon suite-”

“I’ll take that.”

“-which we actually booked for this wonderful couple from Mistletoe, Montanawhilethey were working in your room.”

“Sonofawh-”

“While we have nothing left here, what we can do is book you a great room at our sister hotel just down the road as well as reimburse your account-”

“Thecompany’saccount.”

“-for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

“Mayhave caused?” Outrage has me briefly curling my fingers towards his face. “I have nowhere to sleep for the fucking night and you think thatmayhave caused an inconvenience?!”

He gives the knot to his tie a small adjustment. “Ma’am-”

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