Page 130 of In It to Win It

Everly and I are going to share the bed in the downstairs spare bedroom, so we don’t have to drive home tonight. All the champagne, whee!

“Having fun?” Lacey stops near me and clinks her glass against mine.

“Sure.” I force a smile.

“I have to tell you something.”

“What?” I eye her curiously.

“That fight JP got in with Manny the other night . . . he did it because Manny insulted you.”

My chin nearly hits the floor. “What?”

“Yes.” She nods, shooting a furtive glance toward Théo. “That was why JP hauled off and punched him.”

I move my head slowly from side to side. “Oh my God.What did he say?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. JP told Théo.”

I inhale and exhale. “Wow.”

“It’s kind of romantic.”

“He got kicked out of the game, suspended for the next game, and they lost both those games!”

“That’s how much you mean to him.”

“Then why did he break up with me?”

“Uh . . . oh hey, I need to check on some food.”

Watching Lacey dash away, I shake my head.

Manny said something to him, about me . . . and JP punched him? I press a hand to my stomach. That would be just like him . . . getting himself in trouble trying to protect someone else. It was never about him. It was protecting another player, covering for the coach’s daughter . . . defending me.

Damn. It was my fault that he got in trouble. No wonder he broke up with me.

I guzzle some champagne to ease the tightness in my throat and head to the kitchen for a refill. I move to stand next to Everly at the island in the kitchen and grab a bottle, refilling my glass until the fizzy drink overflows. Oops.

The kitchen is crowded. Why do parties always end up in the kitchen? One of life’s mysteries. I pop a spinach puff into my mouth.

“It’s ridiculous,” Everly says. “No other team sport tolerates fighting.”

“It’s part of the game.” Wyatt Bell smiles from the other side of the island.

Man, he has a sexy smile. If I weren’t already in love with JP, I’d . . . Wait. That totally makes me seem like a puck bunny. I had a little crush on Bobby Ponomarenko when he lived in this house. Then I dated Manny. Then I dated JP. No good has come of any of it.

“Hockey should be about skating, speed, and skill,” Everly says.

I give her a thoughtful look as I sip my champagne. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard her defend fighting in hockey. Why is she arguing about it with Wyatt?

“What does your father think about fighting in hockey?” Wyatt asks with a glint in his eye.

“Please. Don’t bring him into this. He’s a dinosaur. Of course he thinks fighting is necessary.”

“It does have its place. Cool things down when the game is getting out of control. Send a message to the other team—and your own team—that bullshit won’t be tolerated.”

“How about sportsmanship and controlling your temper?”

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