Page 45 of Breaking Point
The corner of my lip tips up into a grin. “Knew you couldn’t stay mushy with me for long.”
Kieran winks those blue eyes so similar to mine as I slide out of his truck. “You should be kissing my feet, Crawford, because you’re the only one who sees that side.”
A bubble of laughter rises but never escapes.
The first thing I notice as I enter my home is not the tense voice of my agent on the phone but the citrus scent that lingers in the hallway.
Bella.
It’s the first time I’ve managed to take a deep breath since I walked into Coach’s office, the first breath that doesn’t hurt, and it shocks me when I realize I’m searching for her as I make my way to the lounge room. Why is it that the worst thing that could happen to me is occurring and I’m instead looking for her in every room I pass?
“I’ll have to call you back,” Lucy says, quickly ending her callas I take a seat on the couch. She turns, addressing me. “Do you need another lecture, or should I just get into how we’re going to fix this?”
I shake my head. “I know I fucked up, Lucy, and I hope I can confidently say this is the last time I’ll do this.” When I lift my eyes to hers, I find her gaze hard as she stands before me in a no-nonsense pantsuit.She’s brought her A game.“I want to stay on the team. They’re my family,” I croak out, the last word splitting something inside my chest.
It makes Lucy pause, her lips pursing.
“What is it?” Kieran asks. “You’re holding something back.”
I have no idea how Kieran can read people so well. It’s his superpower and I’m not questioning it; he’s never been wrong before.
Sitting forward, I lean my arms on my knees. “If there is something I need to know, say it.”
“They’re considering filling your position with a Michigan Bulls player.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Kieran spits, instantly on edge as Lucy mentions our rival team.
We always end up playing against them in the Stanley Cup. The rivalry and competition has grown over the past four years to such an imaginable feat that whenever we play one another, fans take bets on how many fights will break out.
“Who are they considering trading in?”
“I’m not skating with one of those red fucking tomato bulls.” Kieran shakes his head as he leans back and crosses his arms. “Over my dead body. One of them nearly broke Mitchel’s neck last year.”
Lucy holds up a hand in his direction but her eyes never leave mine.
“Fuck, Lucy, just spit it out. Who is it?”
“Chase Montgomery.”
Kieran and I jump to stand at the same time, spitting out in unison, “Fuck off!”
Lucy’s lips flatten into a line.
Chase motherfucking Montgomery.
The one man I would rather eat nails over than ever see skating in my position. The man who is not only on our rival team but is mypersonalrival. I’ve never despised someone as much as I have him.
He’s a pig, the biggest pig I’ve ever come across. He flings out dirty insults as frequently as he plays dirty, and it beats me why half of his shit doesn’t get called out. He’s always just a fraction away from it being something punishable.
The last straw for me was when he capitalized on Drew's death and that was the moment I realized he’s not only a dick but literal scum of the earth.
“I’ll do anything to make sure he doesn’t get on my team.” And yes,myteam. I might have lost my way for a while, but those men are my family. That is my home. That is my team. Not fucking Chase Montgomery’s.
“Why on earth would IceHawks want him?” Kieran asks and I’m shocked I didn’t ask that myself.
“He’s a family man. As dirty as he is, he’s never in any PR scandals or nightmares, and after the slew of bad press Grayson has given the team, they want the security of knowing they won’t bring a player on with similar issues.”
“That’s bullshit!” Kieran explodes. “That man cheats as often as he eats M&M’s.”
