Page 61 of Puck'N Enemy
I exhale through my nose, still burning with the need to do something. “I hate waiting.”
“I know,” he says, his voice softening slightly. “But trust me. Pete’s days are numbered. I’ve seen this a dozen times. The wannabe king always ends up a corpse or a cautionary tale.”
I nod slowly, the tension in my shoulders easing only a fraction.
Mitchikov tilts his head, studying me. “So… you and Dylan.” A faint grin tugs at his lips. “High school sweethearts, huh? And you held onto the secret all this time.”
I give him a sharp look, but he just chuckles. “Relax, I’m not judging,” he says. “I just feel bad about all the girls who keep trying to win you over.”
“I allowed them to win me over,” I say with a wry grin. “But my heart’s always belonged to Dylan.”
“You’re such a romantic, Cap,” he says, moving closer to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “You love too deeply. I finally understand you’re not trying to protect some random guy. You’re trying to save your person. It’s almost...heroic.”
A laugh escapes me. “Heroic?”
He shrugs a shoulder, grinning, finally looking like the goofy guy I’m used to. “Youarea hero for sleeping with the enemy. You’re going to be a legend among the Thunder Knights.”
I shake my head but a corner of my mouth twitches.
Mitchikov claps a hand on my back. “Keep him close, Logan. The danger isn’t going to last long. Until then? Be ready.”
I nod, my resolve to protect Dylan hardening. Because whether Pete burned out on his own or not, he wasn’t getting anywhere nearmyboyfriend.
19
Dylan
At first, I thought Logan’s constant presence was just a side effect of us finding our way back to each other. But over the past few days, his clinginess has shifted into something heavier.
Logan walked me to class almost every day over the past week. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if we were going to the same school. But Logan goes to Knightswood University, which is several miles away from Silverlake City.
I even found him waiting outside the rink while I practiced with the Bears. He hasn’t bothered staying low and now, all my teammates know we’re seeing each other.
I’d expected a lot of trouble from them but the Bears weren’t as aggressive as the Knights when they found out about my relationship with Logan. They were mostly surprised I’d hooked up with a guy who was on a different team and went to a different school.
Just yesterday, Logan showed up at the food court during my work shift. Instead of ordering any food or coming over to flirt with me, he sat at a corner table, watching the scene.
Each time someone so much as looked my way, he’d flinch and stiffen up, like he was expecting someone to openly attack me in a crowded food court.
While a part of me secretly loves having him close, it’s starting to become a bit of a problem.
At present, I’m practicing on the rink with my teammates. I’m doing my best to focus on the drills for next week’s game but I’m having trouble. Logan’s right here, leaning against the bleachers, hood pulled up, watching me with that unreadable, hawk-like intensity.
“Dude, why’s the Knights’ captain here again?” Reece asks, nudging my side. “Is he seriously dating you or trying to scout us?”
“Or maybe he’s spying on us,” Myers, one of our defensemen, mutters as he skates past us.
“What would be the point?” Reece mumbles. “We’re not playing them next week. He’s most definitely stalking you, Dylan.”
I have no answer to their questions.
Logan’s just been unusually intense over the past week, barely letting me out of his sight. Sighing, I get back to practice, hoping my coach won’t catch me losing focus.
After nearly an hour, Coach signals the end of today’s training session.
Feeling drained, I follow my teammates off the ice and head toward the locker rooms. Just as I’m about to slip inside, I find Logan walking toward me.
“Hey,” he calls out, his voice low, almost cautious. “You’re done, right? I can drive you back home.”
