Page 29 of One Pucking Destiny

Looking at Elena, I confirm she is occupied with a conversation with Beckett. My hand stings where Ari pinched me, and I can’t help but smile. “Thank you. I like it rough.”

If I play my cards right, I’ll get to show Ari just how good it can be. She’s stubborn, sure. But when I want something, so am I.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

ARI

Nostrils flared, I push myself away from the table. Hurrying across the tiled floor of the pavilion, I throw my plate away.

Sebastian is not playing fair, and it pisses me off. It would be so easy to ignore me this week and go on his merry way as if I weren’t here, but I get the impression that is the furthest thing from his mind. He’ll insert himself in every situation, ensuring he’s never far from my mind.

I have never had such a needy one-night stand in all my life. Then again, I’ve never had a “Bash” in all my life. He’s… something entirely different.

Yet nothing has changed, and no amount of under-table hand holding will change that.

“Hey, everything okay?” Logan asks, now standing beside me. “You got up from the table awfully fast.”

“Sean,” I sigh. “Why do they call you Sean if your name is Logan?” The whole thing has bothered me since he told me his name in my mom and Beckett’s kitchen a couple of months ago.

He chuckles. “It’s Beckett’s fault, actually. When I first joined the team, Coach Albright was giving me a tour of the building, and we ran into Beckett. It was last summer when Beckett was going in every day to work with the Doc on his knee injury. Anyway, Coach introduced us, but I think Beckett was only half listening. It might have to do with the fact that he was crazy for your mom and wasn’t thinking straight.” He raises an eyebrow, shooting me a smile. “Anyway, for some reason, he heard the coach introduce me as Sean and not Logan. When I showed up for practice, he introduced me as Sean. I tried to correct him, but the hustle and excitement of the new season overshadowed my voice. By the time I got it across to the guys that my name was not Sean, they were so used to the name they decided it had to stay.”

I shake my head, grinning. “You guys are so weird.”

“That’s not a lie.”

“So then you’re fairly new to the team? Out of college?”

“No, I actually played for Edmonton for five years, then was traded to the Cranes. You might’ve noticed I’m not on the ice much, but I’ll get there. Just gotta convince Coach I deserve to be there.”

He’s wrong. I didn’t notice. I haven’t watched a game all season. Sports are not my thing. “You’ll get there.” I give him a playful punch to the shoulder.

“Yeah, just gotta wait for Cookie to mess up.”

“What? Why?” I ask, the mention of Bash tuning me into the conversation I was faking my way through just a moment ago.

“I played his position in Edmonton, so it’d be an easy transition to it here. Only Bash rarely messes up. He’s brilliant on the ice. So…”

“What position does he play?”

My question is met with an assessing stare. “Center.”

If Logan hadn’t been aware before, it’s clear to him now that I know nothing about the Cranes besides that my mom is the team doctor. The guy has manners because he doesn’t call me out. “You never know. Anything could happen. A starting position could open up. I mean, someone could get injured or…”

“Whoa.” He holds up his hands, palms out. “I realize you’re not a hockey enthusiast, but try not to jinx us.” He reaches past me and raps his knucklesagainst the wooden beam holding up the pavilion's roof. “Knock on wood. Quick.”

I do as instructed.

“We don’t voice that kind of stuff out loud,” he continues. “I may not start or be on the ice as much as I’d like, but I’d never want a position if someone had to be injured for me to do so. The most important thing is keeping everyone healthy for the good of the team.”

“Oh right. Okay. That makes sense.”

“Now, if Coach sees me in practice and realizes I skate circles around Cookie and wants me to start in his place, I’d be proud to step up for that reason.”

A forced laugh sounds as Bash joins our conversation. “Please. I think we both know that’s just a little dream that lives in your heart,” he teases. “That won’t be happening, Sean.”

“It could,” I say. “Maybe you’re not as good as you think you are.”

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