Page 58 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“Yo, Aiden. What’s got you so fucked up, man?” Caleb calls out, skating over to me. I’m not really in the mood to talk about it, and I’m not trying to divulge shit that’s no one’s business.

“Nothing,” I reply, grunting as I stand. I see Jax turn his head towards me, but he doesn’t speak, and neither do I.

“Just didn’t get much shut-eye last night.”

Caleb shakes his head with a crooked smile.

“Let me guess, some sweet young thing got a bit wild with you under the sheets?”

I snort. The last sweet young thing I’ve had in my life is Aurora, and since then, she hardly looks at me anymore.

“Nah,” I say simply, not wanting to encourage him. “Just a bit out of it today. Don’t worry about me, man. I’ll pick it up on the ice.”

I push out onto the ice and warm up a few laps, trying to get my blood pumping and shake off my spiraling thoughts. I don’t have time to get caught up in this shit when there’s a game on the line. I’ll never forgive myself if I’m the reason why the rest of our season goes to hell.

The rink’s buzzing with the sounds of skates slicing through the ice. I let the noises carry me, focusing my thoughts on practice. The air’s crisp and biting, and I feel beads of sweat slide down my face as I push through, giving practice my all. I know I’mbeing more physical than normal, but the push and pull is almost cathartic as I let myself feel instead of think.

I’m caught up in the instant drive to skate faster and push harder.

When I realize I’m on the offensive, passing the puck and heading straight for Jax at the goal, I narrow my eyes and hone in.

I see him tense, his grip tightening on his stick as I pass the puck to Sebastian. Jax shifts side to side on his skates, eyes moving to follow before glancing back over at me. Something about that gaze then rankles me, and I feel myself push harder, racing towards Jax and not bothering to consider what might happen when I get to him. There’s a split second when I think Sebastian might shoot, but he shoots the puck to me, and I take it, slapping at it, intent on scoring. The thud of it hitting Jax’s glove has me gritting my teeth.

Jax’s eyes narrow before he straightens. “Not good enough, Aiden. If you can’t score a simple goal, then maybe you should sit this one out.”

“I know one thing I’m good at,” I shoot back, sliding up to him. I don’t give a shit if he has more padding. Talking shit is a good way for me to slap his ass down. “Haven’t had any complaints about that, I quip.”

It’s a low blow, but I’m not pulling any punches. I see the moment Jax gets what I’m alluding to. He drops the puck and steps to me. “The fuck did you just say?”

“You heard me,” I reply with a sneer.

“You son of a bit—“ Jax lunges for me, and I throw my stick down, ready to go at it. If not for Sebastian jumping between us, I would have reached him. Caleb is on Jax, struggling to keep him from reaching me.

“Guys, what the fuck is going on?”

I struggle against Sebastian’s hold, trying to throw him off. “Ask Jax. He’s the one acting pissy for no reason.”

“No reason?” Jax yells as the rest of the team slowly forms a circle around us.

“This asshole is fucking around with my sister.”

Silence falls over the rink, and I feel all eyes on me. Sebastian doesn’t let go, but he does turn and gives me a wide-eyed look. “Dude. Really, and you were all over us? I thought family is off limits.”

Frustration gnaws at me.

“I’m not fucking around with her.”

“The fuck you weren’t,” Jax counters. He pushes Caleb off of him finally but doesn’t make another move towards me.

“She’s finally doing better after the bullshit with her ex, and you just swoop in and drag her right back into shit.”

“What the actual fuck are you talking about?” I ask, shrugging Sebastian off. “I didn’t drag her into anything.

Aurora’s a grown-ass woman—she can handle herself. She’s not a kid that needs to be coddled.”

Jax scoffs, and I try not to scowl. “You’re right. She is grown, but she’s also finally getting out on her own. Do you know how amazing that is after how hard her ex tried to beat it into her head that she was worthless? His family used to tell her how fucking lucky and privileged she was that her ex even looked her way. Like she was some dog begging for fucking scraps. She was finally just starting to see her worth.”

Hearing how Aurora was treated has my blood boiling. I wish her ex was around so I could let loose on that motherfucker—release some anger on someone who truly deserves it.

---