Page 83 of Second-Rate Superstar

“What’s going on? Why are they throwing hats?”

Smiling at me and patting my hand as if I were a small child, she explained, “Your boy just scored his first professional hat trick. Better mark it down in the baby book!”

Ignoring that she’d called him a baby more than once since her arrival, I asked, “What’s a hat trick?”

Bristol leaned her forearms onto the counter, yelling, “Three goals for a single player!”

Mentally, I recounted the goals I’d seen this evening using my fingers. Yep, three for Braxton.

Proud of him for scoring half of his team’s goals during the game, I peered down to see him watching with his teammates as hats rained down on the ice faster than the crew on skates with big plastic bins could clear them.

“I’m guessing that’s a big deal?”

Slinging an arm over my shoulder, Hannah pulled me close. “Oh, honey. It’s so good. You better buckle up because you are gonna get railed into next week when he gets his hands on you.” Shaking her head, she muttered, “So jealous.”

My eyes widened. What was she talking about? What did scoring three goals have to do with Braxton wanting to have sex? And according to Hannah, it wouldn’t be easy, gentle lovemaking. She made it sound like he would want to fuck hard.

Bristol caught my eye, giggling behind her hand. She knew my secret, but there was a question neither of us had the answer to.

Would tonight be the night I lost my virginity?

Chapter 19

Braxton

Tonight had been allabout Jaxon, but in true selfless-big-brother form, he shared the spotlight. Not once, but twice, he’d set me up for goals. The only one I’d earned on my own merit was the final one—a gimme goal on an empty net. It wasn’t the most respectable hat trick in the history of hockey, but it counted just the same.

And sure, it didn’t hurt knowing my girl was in the stands watching.

The clock hit triple zeros, the horn sounded right before the team’s victory song blasted through the arena speakers, and we lined up to congratulate Reed in net.

Jaxon snuck up behind me, shaking my helmeted head with his gloved hand. “Hell of a game, man. You’ll remember this one forever.”

Yeah, but not for the reason you think.

He was right. I would remember this game forever. But it wouldn’t be my accomplishments that stood out in the forefront of my mind. It would be the praise raining down on my brother while I faked a smile, pretending for all the world to see that he was my idol, that I couldn’t help but follow in his footsteps. Only I knew that was all a lie, a façade, so Ididn’t look like a toddler having a temper tantrum because their older brother had something they didn’t.

Deep down, I was happy for him. He had earned the accolades he’d received throughout his career. I only wished it wasn’t shoved in my face every minute of every day.

Giving Reed a tap to the pads with my stick and congratulating him with my helmet pressed to his, I skated to the bench where the hallway led to the locker rooms beneath the arena.

Jaxon followed directly behind, carefully stepping on the protective flooring so we didn’t trash the blades on our skates. When I came to a screeching halt, he barreled into me, knocking me off balance, and I dropped to my knees.

“Shit. Sorry, Braxton.” An arm looped around mine, dragging me back to standing. “You all right?”

“Yeah,” I said in a daze, dread settling in my gut.

“Good. Let’s get moving. We’ve got a party to get to and the press to deal with first.”

Moving around me, Jaxon strode down the hall, finally viewing the reason for my sudden reluctance to continue my trek to the locker room.

“Hey, Dad.”

I knew my parents were in town, but this was the first time I’d come face-to-face with Michael Slate since my professional debut. Judging by his stormy expression, I was in for it.

Seriously? I’m trying everything to make it through this day in one piece.

Blowing out a breath, I trudged toward what promised to be harsh judgment from my father. It was nothing new, but maybe some small part of me had hoped that proving myself in the league—yeah, okay, I could admit Jaxon was padding my stats—would be enough to have him back off a bit. But I guess that was nothing more than a pipe dream.

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