Page 25 of Dirty Pucking Tease

A smile spread across my face.

Jaxtyn: What are you wearing?

Kaia: #53

My jaw clenched. Whose fucking jersey was that? It wasn't anyone on my team. My gaze flicked around the room to my teammates huddled around the coach. It had to be someone on the opposing team.

My hand buzzed with another incoming text.

Kaia: Just kidding, #32.

She was wearing my jersey. Why did the fact that she was wearing my jersey make my chest swell with excitement?

Kaia: Cam is wearing #87.

She was wearing Owen's jersey.

Kaia: Oh, and Trystan is meeting us back at the hotel tonight. He said to tell you he's sorry he has to miss the game.

I didn't care if Trystan was here or not. Kaia was, and she was wearing my number.

Jaxtyn: Make sure you scream my name loud today. I want to hear what you sound like when you're screaming my name.

I smiled as I pictured the perfect shade of pink flushing across her cheeks as she read the text.

"Let's go, Jax," Coach Tomas shouted. I shoved my phone in my locker and followed the team.

It was time to get my head in the game.

The announcer introduced the teams as my skates hit the ice. I fought the urge to look over to her. She was a distraction. The best kind of distraction but nonetheless a distraction, and I needed my head in this game.

We all took our starting positions, the buzzer blew, and it was game on. We weren't even five minutes in before penalties were flying, and the first fight broke out, and for once, it had nothing to do with me.

Going into the second period, we were on fire. The Blackhawks didn't know what hit them.

Owen cut off #45, Preston, and stole the puck. I pushed off the ice, sliding in to help Owen dodge their defensive measures to protect their goal and steal the puck back. Owen passed the puck to Dallas, and Dallas took his shot, sinking the puck into the goal.

The crowd went wild, and I couldn't help but do a victory skate by Kaia. I knew how much she loved being on the ice, but I never realized how much she loved hockey. The excitement in her eyes as I passed was apparent. If this made her smile like that, I would ensure she had the best seats in the house for the rest of the season.

The TSU Blackhawks didn't know what hit them. By the end of the third period, we were so far in the lead they didn't stand a chance of catching up.

We'd be on fire if this game was any indication of how our season would go.

The buzzer sounded. GAME OVER!

I'd made it through my first game without a single penalty or fight. Kaia was my good luck charm.

"Yo, West," Colton Hunt, the Blackhawks goalie, said, gliding to a stop in front of me. I knew Colton from high school. We graduated from the same class and played in the same league, but after high school, he was recruited by Tennessee State University, and I decided to stay local. "You bringing Kaia to Broadway tonight?" Colton knew Kaia was my weakness. My junior year, the guys went crazy over the new pretty ice skater, Kaia Cruz. I hated it. I didn't know why back then, but it waspretty clear now. She was mine. I spent the entire year fighting over her and almost got kicked off the team, but it was worth it.

"Why?" I snarled, my fist clenching at my sides.

"Oh," he smirked, "I was hoping I could rip that ugly ass jersey off her tonight right before I fuck her." Owen wasn't around to stop it this time. My clenched fist reared back before I slammed it into his face, and it was all downhill from there. That punch in the face turned into a massive team brawl that took way too long to break up.

When we returned to the locker room, we were scolded, but I couldn't hide the smile twitching at the corners of my lips because it didn't matter what the consequences were. It was worth it.

17

Ididn't get to see Kaia and Cam before they left the arena to check into the hotel, but I'd sent them a text to get ready because we were bar hopping down Broadway tonight.

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