Page 63 of Puck Right Off

The tension is palpable at the table, although Josh, Travis Holt, the left winger, and Bryant Lawson, left defender, don’t seem to notice.

Travis takes a drink of his soda, his eyes on Alex. When he sets it down, he leans back in his chair. “Hey, Alex. What’s up with you lately? You usually have puck bunnies hanging all over you, but you were pushing them away last I saw. You interested in a girl?”

Alex visibly tenses beside me. He hasn’t stopped talking about Chelsea since the party they attended. I know they textoften. “Nah, just focused on my game since I’m entering the draft. Taking lessons from my boy, Tristan. Women are a distraction.”

His words strike a nerve. My jaw clenches as I visibly tense but wisely keep my mouth shut.

“Well, that leaves more pussy for me and Bryce.” Landin releases a boisterous laugh before raising his glass, and Bryce lifts his, clinking their glasses together. He smirks at me but doesn’t say a word.

Landin stops laughing and nudges Josh’s shoulder, his eyes on the door. “I believe you have a stalker.”

I look over, inwardly cursing when my eyes briefly meet Janelle’s. Her smug smile, all the makeup caked on her face, and the provocative way she’s dressed makes me recoil, a sickening feeling in my gut that I fucked her.

“Excuse me, guys.” Josh is on his feet, staring at Janelle. “Duty calls.”

Landin snorts before drinking his beer. “And by talk, he means he’s gonna convince her to blow and fuck him in the bathroom.”

I nearly choke on my drink at Landin’s accurate assessment. “You’re not wrong.” The first genuine smile is on both our faces, a temporary truce between us, as I tap my glass against his before I drink.

“Are you sure she’s not here to audition to be on the stage?” Alex’s brows furrow as he looks her over. “I’ve seen lingerie less revealing than her dress.”

I snort, nearly choking on my drink. “It leaves little to the imagination, that’s for sure.”

My eyes glaze over as I pretend to watch the girl dancing on stage, but my thoughts are on Jordyn. I overheard her telling Josh she planned to stay with Chelsea in New York this weekend.

Running away from me yet again.

Josh bounds over, his arm around Janelle. “You guys won’t be pissed if I bail, right?” His pleading gaze skims over us, locking with Landin’s since it’s his birthday celebration.

“Nah. Go have fun.” Landin winks at him, holding his drink up. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

As they walk away, Alex leans over. “I hope this girl finishes soon. She reminds me too much of Natasha.” He shudders, a look of disgust contorting his normally jovial face.

I nod, sympathy rolling through me.Poor Alex.He dated Natasha our freshman year of college until she fell for her professor and dumped him. Alex was a fucking wreck, bouncing from depression to irrational anger. It took him a while to recover, and when he did, he vowed he was done with relationships.I wonder if he told Chelsea that.

The dancer on stage seductively concludes her dance, then beams at the audience before walking offstage, her hips swaying from side to side.

The announcer’s voice booms into the mic, drawing my attention to the stage. “And for our next performer… Please give a round of applause for Aqua Spice.”

Aqua Spice. What the hell kinda name is that?

I politely clap when the next stripper saunters onto the stage, her hips sashaying with confidence beneath the tight maroon dress she’s wearing. Her blonde hair glimmers beneath the stage lights, resembling spun gold.

My heart pounds faster as the blonde gets closer.

No. There’s no way. It can’t beher.

My world ends as Jordyn stops in the center of the stage, her eyes locking with mine so wide I can see the whites around them.

A low, feral growl rumbles in my chest as I stare in disbelief at the woman I’ve fallen head over heels for, standing on the stage, about to dance.

What the puck is she doing?

CHAPTER 38

Jordyn

Oh my God. What the hell is Tristan and the Wolverines hockey team doing at Sinful Sirens?

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