Page 15 of Two Minutes for Holding

“No, I don’t want questions,” I answered, swallowing hard as we continued making our way through the lobby. “I don’t think you want them either.”

“Not really. Now, care to tell me why you ran off this morning?”

I shrugged; did I dare tell him it was because I’d flipped out over what had happened between us?

“Don’t you dare tell me it’s because you didn’t enjoy yourself last night, because I have the marks on my back that beg to differ,” he whispered as he pushed the door open and allowed me to go through.

Heat flooded my body as the memory of last night flooded my mind. I’d never say something like that, last night had been the best sexual experience of my life.

“I’ve got to go.”

“It’s alright, Peyton. We’re in the clear, you can talk with me.” Clay added.

“It’s good we’re in the clear, but I really need to go.” I said, heading off toward the bus stop. “See you sometime soon.”

I took off down the sidewalk toward the bus stop.

Chapter 5

Clay - Tuesday

Pain searedthrough me as my body slammed against the boards. It took me a minute to realize what had happened, and then I saw Lucas shake his head and laugh as he skated away from me, fist-bumping Dylan.

“Fucker!” I shouted.

Where the hell had he come from? I shook off the hit and skated after him, deciding to exit the ice instead and sit down.

I grabbed my water bottle as sweat dripped down my face and squirted some into my mouth. The boys and I were just blowing off steam after practice; I knew that, but my mind was on other things, and I wasn’t really paying much attention to anything other than the thoughts floating through my mind. That was why I hadn’t seen Clark coming toward me.

“What the fuck was that, Harris?” Lucas asked, coming off the ice, to sit beside me, joined by Dylan and our two newest players, Levi and Colton.

“I don’t know. I’m asking myself the same question,” I said, reaching for my towel and wiping away the sweat that was now stinging my eyes.

“You should be. You never take hits like that, and normally you can see out the back of your head most games. Yet today it seems you couldn’t see what’s right in front of you.”

“I’m a fucking goalie. I should hope the hell I don’t take hits like that, otherwise the net is unprotected.” I chuckled, taking a swing at Lucas and missing him.

Lucas smacked me in the back of the head and chuckled. “What the fuck is up with you tonight?”

“Guess you could say I’m feeling a little off.” I shrugged.

“You’re off alright. You were off Sunday night’s game too, and you weren’t much better yesterday.”

“What are you saying?” I questioned.

“I’m saying you better smarten up before the next game,” Colton added.

The last thing I needed was to hear from the new troublemaker of the team that I needed to smarten up. He’d been here three weeks and had had more issues in that short of time than I’d had since joining the team five years ago.

“He’ll be fine,” Lucas added. “We’re all entitled to our bad days.”

As if on cue, the lights in the arena went off.

“Guess that means it’s time for us to end the night anyway,” Dylan said, grabbing his stuff while the rest of us did the same and headed down toward the locker room.

The moment we were in the locker room, Lucas turned on the radio and we all headed for the showers.

“Who’s up for dinner?” Dylan questioned, looking at the five of us as we dried and dressed.

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