Page 97 of Total Shutdown

I turn back to Jack, who is wearing a devilish grin.

“Oh, it wasn’t money on the line. I told him if I won, then he would be paired up with Lucy at my wedding. I was confident he wouldn’t win the bet, and this seemed like a good opportunity to keep him away from my sister in August.”

I know August 10 is the date Kendra and Jack—no, Jon—has set for their wedding, but the name Lucy is lost on me.

With the game still on pause while the Pittsburgh coach argues with the ref over something, I take advantage and dig a little deeper.

“Who the fuck is Lucy?”

Jack’s cocky smirk turns scheming. “Darcy’s best friend. Kendra has made good friends with her through my sister and asked her to be a bridesmaid.” He leans toward me, hand cupping his mouth like he thinks anyone can hear him over the twenty thousand roaring fans in this arena. “You cannot tell me that when I asked Archer to be the best man alongside you, he didn’t think he’d be paired with Darcy, the maid of honor.”

I snort and drop my head between my shoulders. “Please tell me that Darcy knows nothing about this?”

He scoffs. “You must be kidding. She’d kick my ass into next week if she knew I was being the protective big brother. She hates that kind of shit.”

“But you’re going to be exactly that anyway?” I say, one brow quirked.

He nods profusely, subtly motioning to Archer. “I know he thinks she’s hot, but would likely never act on it.”

Okay, I don’t entirely agree with that statement.

“But I’m not about to offer him any half chances to get in her pants.” He leans closer to me. “Last season in Colorado, he told me he likes to ‘fuck and flee’ when it comes to women.” He scoffs again, harder this time. “So, yeah, just in case he loses his ever-loving mind and thinks about making a move on Darcy, he can try his luck with Lucy and leave my sister the fuck alone.”

I’m gripping the back of my neck and searching for an appropriate response when I’m saved by the ref heading back to center ice.

I motion behind Jack. “Game time. Let’s see if we can secure our biggest home win of the season.”

* * *

Home win record set,I’m pushing into the players’ bar, ready to find my girl and son. I’m wearing the dark blue suit that I know drives her wild. I’m also hoping she’ll tear it off me tonight, just like she did the first time I took her home.

“Oh Jesus fuck, along with the shepherd,” Archer declares from behind me.

Not certain that even makes sense, I spin to face my goalie. “What are you talking about?”

He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, releasing a pained noise. “Next to Collins.”

I search out my girl in the sea of people and eventually land on pink hair and a petite honey-blonde standing next to her.

“Jesus fuck and the entire flock,” I confirm. “Jack didn’t say Darcy was going to be here tonight.”

Archer massages his nose, eyes still closed. “Don’t let me talk to her tonight. Keep me away for my own safety, for the love of God.”

I’m keen to get to Collins and Ezra, but Archer hasn’t talked about Darcy in a while, and I suspect his outburst in the hotel a while back had something to do with the girl he can’t even look at. “Are we going to talk about what the hell is going on with Darcy Thompson or just keep dancing around the issue forever?”

He drops his hand and opens his eyes slowly. “Nothingishappening, and I know I need to keep it that way. I’ve just never wanted a girl I know I can’t have before, and it’s fucking with my equilibrium.”

I clap a hand on his shoulder; it’s mainly intended to be a comfort, although it doubles as a warning. “Come talk with me, Collins, and Ezra. Because if you let your dick run the show, I’m one hundred percent sure it’s going to get cut off.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right.” He exhales slowly, almost like he’s giving himself a pep talk. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, right?”

I’m halfway across the bar with Archer on my heels when I wrap a hand around my girl’s waist, turning her around to face me.

Breathtaking.

At this point, no one knows we’re officially together, not even Jack or Archer, but I’m past caring about announcements. They’ll catch up.

“I’ve always wanted to know something,” I say, burying my face into her neck as she giggles at the tickle of my breath.

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