Page 15 of Pucking Fake

When I was drafted, we both knew the rest of the world isn't any kinder to people with mental health issues than kids are. In fact, they're a whole lot worse. She asked me to make sure she didn't become a news story. Until Lachlan was born, it's the only thing she's ever asked of me.

So I've tried like hell to honor my promise and keep people from talking about her. I act like an asshole and cause trouble to keep them focused on me. People are easy. So long as you give them something to talk about, they don't go digging for a story. I keep the focus on me and whatever bullshit I'm doing so it's never on her. I won't allow anyone to use her struggles to hurther. They don't get to turn her pain into a story. I'll do whatever I have to do to protect her.

But I should have warned Peyton. If I had, she wouldn't have run out in tears, thinking I'm the worst kind of asshole. I may be a lot of things, but I'm not that. I wouldn't do that to her.

"Damn," Diego says, laughing from across the room. "How is it that you took a puck bunny home after the game, but you're somehow moodier than Jordan, who we all know hasn't been laid in a goddamn century?"

I whip my head in his direction, my fists clenched. "Peyton isn't a puck bunny," I say, a warning vibrating in my tone. She's not even remotely close to one of the women we can't escape. Christ, she was a virgin. Until me.

Diego arches a brow at me. "Ah, so you didn't get laid. That explains so much."

"Diego, shut the fuck up."

He falls silent, eyeing me sideways.

"Holy shit," Micah mutters, looking at me the same damn way. "You actually liked her."

I grit my teeth, scowling at him. Why the fuck do the guys on this team talk so goddamn much?

"You did, didn't you?"

"Doesn't matter," I mutter, yanking my practice jersey on over my head. "That ship sailed."

"What happened?" Diego asks.

I shoot him a dark look. There are guys on this team I'd absolutely go to for advice in this situation. Micah is one of them. Diego is not.

"I'm not a complete asshole," he protests. "I can help with this shit."

Micah snorts, bending to lace up his skates.

"She found Lachlan's nursery and dipped out on me," I mutter, skipping over the parts about her nailing me with a shoe andthen kneeing me in the balls. I also conveniently leave out the part about chasing after her bare-ass naked. There's not a chance in hell Diego won't spread that shit all the way around the arena in a matter of hours.

"Damn." Micah shakes his head. "She thinks he's yours?"

"Yep."

"Sucks to be you," Diego says.

"Thanks," I say sarcastically, hauling myself to my feet. "That's so helpful."

He grins at me, shrugging. "I've got nothing useful, brother. That situation is way above my pay grade."

Why am I not surprised?

"You going to try to fix it?" Micah asks, glancing up at me.

Should I? Hell if I know. She's mad as hell. But am I?

"Uh, fuck yeah." She hit me with a shoe and kneed me in the balls after giving me the best night of my life. There's not a chance in hell I'm letting her get away that easily.

Besides, I know what she doesn't. I'm the future boss she was so goddamn worried about. She's going to be livid when she finds out now, there's no escaping that inevitability, but it gives me an opportunity to fix this shit.

Sneaky and underhanded? Absolutely. Do I care? Uh, fuck no.

If you aren't willing to play a little dirty, why are you even playing?

"She's coming in for an interview on Monday."

---