Page 14 of One Touch

That made me smile wider, and Samson shuddered. “Seriously. You’re like that creepy, scary movieSmile.”

I rolled my eyes at his dramatics. A minute later, the line shift was called, and we took to the ice. My focus was back, and I fell into a serenity I only found on the ice. I could sense my teammates around me and intimately perceive their movements. One beat louder than the others, and I could discern him without even looking.

I ignored why and used it to my advantage, passing the puck back to him after one touch.

The movement was so fluid that Nashville didn’t catch it, and Miller absconded with the puck as the defense surrounded me, and our sticks clashed. A second later, the goal sounded through the arena, and they both froze, looked down, and realized too late that the puck was gone.

“You might want to get your eyes checked. I’ve seen Peewee teams track a puck better.”

The big defender shoved me into the boards but skated off before it escalated. I smiled the whole way to the bench. Miller got pats as he hydrated, and I took my own bottle and sat right next to him. He ignored me, something I’d typically welcome, but it annoyed me the more he did it.

“You’re welcome,Bambi.”

“Excuse me?” His head whipped around so fast that his helmet knocked into mine, and our gazes locked. I got lost as I stared into his hazel eyes, and the game, team, and fans ceased to exist. A shove to my shoulder as a line changed jolted me out of the trance, and I lifted a brow.

“I gave you that goal.”

“Whatever, Silver Spoon.” He scoffed and rolled his eyes. He turned toward the player on his left and ignored me.

Gritting my teeth, I focused on the game. When the second period ended, I skated into the locker room with a renewed vigor. I’d put him in his place once and for all.

With a few clicks on my phone, I set the ball in motion. Miller thought he was in charge, but he had it all wrong. I’d told him I didn’t like to be ignored. It was time I reminded him of the consequences. I wasn’t someone to be messed with.

A new energy saturated my body as I took the ice for the last period. I felt on fire and skated faster and cleaner than I ever had. I made two goals and two assists before the period ended, bringing us up to five points and winning over Nashville.

Not even the media or traveling dampened my mood. I was riding high as we stepped off the plane late that night. I watched as Miller climbed into his car and waved.

“See you later, Bambi.”

He rolled his eyes. “Only in your dreams, Silver Spoon.”

Smiling, I practically whistled as I slid into the car. I hadn’t felt this buzzed since my first year playing. I took my time as I unpacked and walked around my place. My phone had been vibrating for fifteen minutes, but I’d disregarded it. He’d figure it out.

I ignored the fact that I was more excited for Miller to submit to me than I had been for anything else in years. It was only because I enjoyed putting him in his place. He was too happy, too friendly, and too trusting. He was going to get eaten alive, and then my brother would be cross with me. It was better I taught him how the world worked first with my safety net in place.

My phone buzzed with another notification, and I smiled as I checked it. Finally, the front desk was alerting me to a visitor.

With bare feet, I padded over to the front door and opened the camera for the hallway. I wanted to see his face the second he stepped off the elevator. Triumph spread through me at the anger radiating off him as he stormed toward my door.

My smile widened, the muscles protesting at their overuse today, but I shrugged it off. I’d deal with the pain later. This was too good.

The thud against the door and the constant press of the doorbell did nothing to steal my smile. I waited for a good thirty seconds before I unlocked and opened the door.

“Bambi. It’s so good to see you. What brings you by this evening?”

Miller’s face was red, and his fists were clenched by his side. I’d never seen this side of him before, and something about that lit a fire in me. I wanted more of this—the raw and hidden parts no one else got to see.

“What did you do?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Cut the crap, Silver Spoon. I went to my apartment, and all of my stuff was gone, and the locks had been changed. So where’s my stuff? I knowyouhad something to do with it.”

“Oh, that. Your stuff is in your room.” I stepped back so he could enter my place.

“You had no right.” He brushed by me, and his arm grazed my naked torso. It was then I realized I’d miscalculated. I’d been so eager for him to arrive that I’d zoned out and gone about my routine, including stripping down to nothing but a pair of boxers.

Suddenly, I was the one off-kilter and about to lose.

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