Page 59 of Puck'n Bully

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After all that fighting, all that pain...he still lost.

A cold, hollow feeling settles in my chest as the supporters in green and silver roar and cheer. Their voices are deafening but I barely hear them. My ears ring and my pulse throbs in an erratic rhythm.

I can only imagine how Hayden must be feeling right now.

Looking toward the rink, I search for him. When I finally spot him among the players in blue and gold, I find him standing all by himself in a corner, his gaze fixed on a man in an impressive black suit.

With his helmet off, I catch an expression on his face that sends icy tendrils through my veins. Unlike his teammates, he doesn’t look disappointed and exhausted. He looks wrecked.

With a jolt, I realize Hayden’s wearing the same expression as the time I pulled him out of the sea. Either the loss devasted him or it’s something to do with the man who’s caught his attention.

I glance back toward the stranger, taking in his tall, muscular build and dark hair. He has a cold, unmoving demeanor and is staring right back at Hayden.

“Come on, Meyers,” Dr. Blanton says, lightly shoving my shoulder. “It’s time for us to go.”

Turning around, I see that people are exiting the stands. I don’t want to leave yet but I’m forced to get up so that I’m not blocking the way for others. Helplessly, I follow the crowd, exiting the arena while my heart aches for Hayden.

20

Hayden

The stadium hums with the fading energy of the game. The Silver Bears and their cheering fans have already left to celebrate their win while folks from Knightswood shuffle out of their seats, their low, disappointed voices echoing in the corridors leading to the exit doors.

My body aches from all the relentless hits I took during the game but it’s not over yet. The real pain inside me is just coming alive as I skate toward the side of the rink.

My dad stands there rigidly, waiting for me. His stony expression and the familiar cold, dead look in his eyes are enough to send a shiver through me.

Dread fills me, my stomach churning as I move toward him.

“Hi, Dad,” I mumble, feeling guilty even though I haven’t done anything to be feeling that way.

He doesn’t say anything at first, just looks at me.

And somehow, that makes me feel smaller.

“Go clean up,” he says after a heartbeat. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

The coldness in his quiet voice feels like a noose around my throat, choking me.

I want to say no to him but all I do is give a silent nod.

My obedience was beaten into me since I was a child. Even though I want to say no to him, it’s a hard job to fight against my survival instincts. So, I just obey and struggle to hide the emotions crashing through me.

The aches in my body flare up as I skate away. I bite my tongue, refusing to acknowledge them.

Deep inside, though, I’m yearning for the feel of a warm body that smells like caramel and sea salt.

Liam.

I want to drown in his warm, sapphire eyes and forget about every damn thing in my life right now.

My chest aches, knowing I can only have Liam in my dreams. He’ll never allow me to get closer to him again.

Swallowing hard, I enter the locker room.

The air in the room is as gloomy as a graveyard. Most of my teammates are slumped on the benches. Groans and grunts escape them as they strip off their gear. Cuts and bruises mar their bodies, reminders that I wasn’t the only one the Bears ripped into tonight.

“Fuck! My ribs are killing me,” Mitchikov groans, lightly pressing his side.