Page 65 of First Puck

“Who said I was worrying? Maybe I just want to make sure you’re as hurt as Lance is,” he said.

I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but one minute I was giving him a goofy grin, the next my heart was pounding in my throat like a motherfucker.

“I’m pretty sure I got him good.” I chuckled. As soon as the words came out, I instantly knew that was the absolute worst thing I could have said.

I was meant to beapologizing.

I flicked my gaze back to Alex, disappointed with myself as I met his scowl, growing deeper by the second.

“What did Coach say? Are you still on for games?”

“Yeah, I’m playing all week. I’m too good to bench.”

“If you were that good, we wouldn’t be here right now,” he said quietly, and the reminder hit me right where it hurt the most. “And I wouldn’t be waiting here, scared out of my mind that you had ruined it all.”

“But you’re the one who was all over Lance,” I answered back straight away, like that was a reasonable excuse why I went for him, even though it was the truth.

He jabbed his thumb even harder, right into the softest part of my skin.

“Hey!” I shouted out.

“Stop complaining. You’re lucky Lance isn’t beating the shit out of you for that stunt you pulled.”

“Like he could take me,” I grumbled as another spike of jealousy pulsed through me, about as sharp as the pain of the stretch on my neck.

“Brad.” Alex’s voice eased as his thumb moved from my collar just so he could grip my shoulder. “What are you doing? Seriously?” He sighed. “We’re going to the NHL together, aren’t we? The scouts are going to be here all week, and you might have screwed up your chance to get drafted because… Well, I don’t know… But what am I going to do if I have to go without you?”

Alex bit his lip, and even though what he was saying felt seriously important, I was so distracted by the way he grazed it with his teeth.

“You’re my best friend, yeah? So, act like my friend,” he said.

A fresh round of guilt stabbed me in my already racing heart as I forced my eyes from his lips to meet his gentle, worried expression.

I needed to wipe that away. I had to do something so he believed I still wanted to go with him. Because it was more important now than ever.

There were still rumors about Lance, that he was waiting for more offers, that he wanted to finish college first. No one had said anything about him getting an offer from the Wranglers, but it still hung over me.

I knew I was lucky Alex waited a year for me. And I couldn’t disappoint him.

How was I going to deal if next year I was sitting in front of the TV watching Alex and Lance skate together without me?

“Why did you do it, Brad? I know you didn’t lose control—none of us believed that. So, why now, out of all the times we played together? Why did you do that to Lance?”

His brow creased as my mouth opened, but no words came out.

Because I don’t like the way you smile at him, I don’t like the way he touches you, and I don’t like the way he walks around like he owns the place. And I hate how he knows more about that part of your life than I do.

Alex shook his head, turning again to push past me. As soon as he was free, I shot out a hand, grabbing his wrist before I lost him forever.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“I’m meeting Lance,” he replied, tugging at his wrist. “I’ll be back later, okay?”

“No,” I said instantly. “No, it’s not okay. We’re talking right now, so don’t go.”

Instead of being determined not to look at me by staring at the wall, Alex’s eyes flicked around the room, awkwardly hopping from one thing to another. The only thing he missed was me.

“Why shouldn’t I go?” He finally spoke, but I could barely hear him, even at just an arm’s length away. “I’ve got someone who actually wants to be with me, and he’s honest about why.”

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