Page 90 of Wicked Ends
“I do. You know I do.”
Cole sighed and pushed off the wall. “Then stop fucking it up. Don’t let the Bailey temper drag you down… like the rest of us.” He stopped in front of me and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Resist the urge to fuck your life up. I know it’s strong, but you need to be stronger.”
Then he turned and left, leaving me perplexed by his words. Cole didn’t do life advice, and he certainly never encouraged my hockey ambitions.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out.
Asher: You get bandaged up? Better hurry up and make it back for the party.
Fuck, the Hellions’ dorm party. I’d forgotten. It was the centennial anniversary week of the Hellions’ team, and we were throwing a costume party at the dorms. There was nowhere I wanted to go less.
Marcus: I think I’ll pass. I’m beat.
Beckett: Getting your ass spanked by Coach by being a fucking moron took its toll, right?
Cayden: You can’t pass. You’re the reason all these fucking strangers are in our dorm. Get back here or I’m setting off the fire alarm.
Asher: Agreed.
Beckett: Does this mean the party king himself has fallen?
Asher: I guess a few stitches and sharp words from Coach, and the party’s over.
I sighed and typed out a quick response. Those motherfuckers. They meant well, but sometimes it got grating always being the one who held the group together. The social one, the party king, the fucking glue. It was exhausting sometimes. More than sometimes.
Me: I’m on my way.
I grabbed my jacket and headed out of the emergency department. Cole stood at the reception desk flirting with lovestruck nurses, looking downright dangerous in his leather against the white, sterile background and baby-pink scrubs.
My phone rang. The caller’s name flashed over the screen.
Birthday Girl calling.
I didn’t answer. Just the thought of the game and Brody fucking Sinclair making comments about Ari made me see red. My temper was far from cool. Still, I wanted to see my girl… but I didn’t want to talk, I didn’t want her concern, or worse, a teacherly lecture about behaving on the ice. No, I wasn’t in the mood for any of that… I was in the mood for burying myself as far inside my little off-limits professor as I could, sealing her lips closed with mine, making her smell like me… reminding her and myself that she was already mine.
Yes, that was exactly what I needed. But I was meant to be staying away from her. I was meant to be proving that I could do that, even if it hurt.
But there was nothing in the rules we’d agreed to that she couldn’t come to me…
I sent the call to voicemail and dropped her a location instead.
If you want to see me… come and find me.
Arianna
The Hellions’dorm was lit up, dazzling in the dark night, every single light blazing. The outside deck was packed with people, the doors open, and a low, thumping electronic bass vibrated the sidewalk under my feet as I stood across the street.
A banner was pinned up above the front door.
100 Years of Hell
People were dressed in hockey jerseys and masks, the girls in cute outfits like the team’s Ice Girls might wear at a big game. Green-and-black attire was abundant. I didn’t recognize anyone, which made sense, as most were in hockey masks of different types. From the classic goalie mask, painted with Hellion colors, to masks with cages, to street hockey masks, they were everywhere.
On the grass lay a bunch of discarded clothing. I glanced around quickly, wondering if the owners were coming back for their stuff, but there was no one in sight. I grabbed one of the masks from the top, a street hockey mask, and slipped it on. It coveredmy face entirely, except for my eyes and small nose and mouth slots.
Marcus had finally answered my messages with a shared location and no explanation. As soon as I’d realized it was the Hellions’ dorm, I’d decided that I would turn around and go back to the motel… but now I was masked and stepping through the front door.
I couldn’t help it. I was worried about him. He’d lost control, and in a game like ice hockey, that could be dangerous.
