Page 86 of Waiting Game

“Russu? That nightclub over by the docks?”

“Yup, that’s the one. Did you know my brother-in-law owns that place?”

“Does that mean you can score us free tickets?”

“Yeah, I’ll ask him next time I see him because you can’t afford your own,” he mocks.

“Hey, I’ll be doing the club a massive favor.”

“How do you figure that?”

“Publicity?! Duh. Man, you really forgot how this shit works. I know it’s different when you’re stuck in your apartment all night?—”

“Cut it out,” he grouses.

I arch a brow at him. “Cut what out? Does Gracie stamp your hand before you go to bed? Maybe she should start integrating you into real life, huh? You have to miss nightclubs.”

“Because there's so much to miss.”

“You loved clubs before.”Beforehis kidnapping.Beforeeverything got so fucked up.

I asked Pops if he’d let me pay for the ransom—the bastard wouldn’t sign a waiver with my trust fund for me. Even went so far as to put a block on transfers over five hundred thousand on the family accounts. I threw that into the ransom kitty but Liam was freed before we had enough to pay the kidnappers.

The whole family got a hard lesson about cash flow during that time.

Ever since, Mia aside, I’ve stopped spending like crazy because I’ve come to realize that I can’t depend on my trust fund for the shit that matters.

“You said it yourself—that was before. I enjoy being at home.”

Bradley calls, “Korhonen, get your ass on the ice.”

Clapping Liam on the shoulder, missing him in a strange way despite him standing right next to me, I return to the scrimmage as Lewis flies over the boards. His face is redder than a fire engine and I can hear the clatter behind me as he half-collapses onto the bench.

But the second the puck drops, that’s when my worries about Liam disappear and I focus on the game.

My love for it has never faded but it’s intensifying now that I’m with the Stars, where Liam is my captain and Gracie is GM—I’ve found my home.

I have to keep at it to be worthy of this team.

I earned my rep for being a pest and I make it work with the Stars. Greco is cursing under his breath when I sneak a wrist shot from the slot after directing a pass from Gagné into the net.

Not three minutes later, McIsaac slaloms the puck to me from the boards and I slide it past Greco. He’s not happy, so that means I’ve done my job right.

By the time the scrimmage is over, lights have won three-oh. Liam punches me in the gut to celebrate—it’s a weird Bukowski celly—but I take it.

That’s when Lewis backs into the boards with his hands raised as Liam focuses on him. He’s laughing, though, as he cries, “I’m innocent I tell you.”

Liam grins. “Shut the fuck up. We won. Gotta celebrate.”

Lewis slugs him in the shoulder before Liam can get to him. “I’d be happier if that wasn’t against our defense. You saw them—they were giving everything they got.”

That has me humming in agreement.

Defense is a major problem for the Stars...

But mostly, I’m thinking it’s Bradley because instead of releasing us, he shouts, “Last night, one of you assholes thought it was a good idea to get into a fight.” Most of us trynotto look at Lewis. “One of you does the crime,allof you are going to do the time so let’s get set up for bag skating.”

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Gagné growls. “We didn’t do anything wrong!”

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