Page 87 of Ice Princess

“We’d need masks or something,” Watson mumbles, leaning against the wall and scowling in the city slicker’s direction. “That guy looks like the type who’d snitch. One hundred percent.”

Chance looks astonished. “Are you guys plotting an assault when Gunner’s dad is thesheriff?”

“Why do you think we’ll wear masks?” Watson spits out of the side of his mouth and a thick glob lands in the dirt.

“You’re one of us now, McLanely. You can’t be so naive.” Theilan shakes his head.

Chance glances at the suit, studying the man’s fixation on Rebel. In a low voice, he leans toward me and says, “Want me to find out where he lives?”

“Now we’re talking.” Watson grins.

Theilan gives Chance a high five.

The captain juts his chin at Rebel. “If some schmuck was openly drooling over April like that, I’d put on a ski mask too.”

“It’s disrespect. Plain and simple,” Theilan agrees.

Watson grins and rubs his hands together. “So we all agree? We’re slashing his tires, dragging him to the field behind the drug store and roughing him up a bit?”

A dark voice grumbles behind us, “No oneis roughing upanyone.Are you guys insane?”

We all whirl around to find Max glaring at us.

Theilan whistles and pumps the paintbrush handle like it’s a barbell. “Oh, hey, team manager.”

“Roughing up?” Watson blinks innocently. “No, you heard wrong. I said…drinkingup.”

Max glowers at him, not buying it for a second.

Watson opens his phone. “Oh, I’m getting a call.” I spy him opening his calculator app a second before he puts the phone to his ear and croaks, “Hello? Yeah, this is Watson.”

Theilan doesn’t bother with an excuse. The guy just runs away.

Max takes a seat beside me.

“You’re the captain and vice captain,” he scolds. “You should know better. We can’t afford a scandal in the middle of playoffs.” He points a finger at Chance. “A bar brawl got this guy suspended from the league. You think the minors will play nice?”

“They were just messing around,” I say.

Max snorts. “Those knuckleheads look up to you. They’d attack if you say the word and you know it.” He nods at Rebel. “I don’t mind if you’re using us to win brownie points. The Lucky Strikers are a part of Lucky Falls and putting in time to help people is never a waste. But if you have relationship issues, solve them yourself. Don’t drag the team into it.”

“Who said he has relationship issues?” Chance jumps in, defending me like his life depends on it. “He and Rebel are totally in love! Why would two people who love each other have issues? It’s not like they’re faking a relationship or anything.”

My teeth grind together and I slant Chance a punishing look.

He winces.

Max turns to me, groaning in disappointment. “Come on, man. Not you too.”

Me… too?

“Was thisyouridea?” Max wields a threatening finger at our captain. “Just because you and April started that way, you want everyone to do the same?”

“It wasn’t me.” Chance lifts both hands.

I scrutinize our team manager. “Did you know about Chance and April?”

“Yeah, I knew.” Max plucks his shirt, trying to whip up more breeze by moving the material back and forth. “I also knew it was only half-pretend. April thought he was leaving Lucky Falls eventually, but I didn’t. From the start, this sap was a goner.”

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