Page 10 of Pucking the Team
“It’s an affectionate term; he’s a brick wall on the ice.” Ben was still looking at me from over the seat in front. He’d run his hand through his blond hair, and it stuck up from his brow in several thick curls
“Ice?” I said.
“Yeah, the ice.” Ben repeated.
I shook my head. I had no idea what they were on about.
“Ice hockey,” his brother Theo said rolling his eyes. “She thought it was grass hockey, douchebag.”
“Grass hockey?” Eduardo made a scoffing sound. “That is sissy stuff, just for girls.”
“Not true.” I frowned. “And you can’t say things like that.”
“But it is true. Grass hockey is for girls, ice is for men.”
“So girls can’t play ice hockey?” If this Frenchman wanted a debate about equality, today was the day I could give it. I was overdosed on indignation. Fired up. Ready for a fight.
“Hey, Pippa. I can call you that, right?” Dylan scooted closer again, and the scent of some richly spiced aftershave washed over me.
It was so different to the light citrus one that Steven wore, and I breathed deep, hoping to rid myself of the memory of my ex-fiancé’s smell.
Ex.
I had an ex now. An ex-fiancé.
“Sure.” I frowned at Eduardo who was grinning at me. “You can call me Pippa.”
“We’re sorry your Big Day hasn’t turned out as you’d planned.” Dylan pulled his thick dark eyebrows together, and his eyes seemed to bore right into me.
“Yeah, we really are,” Theo said. “Sucks. Big time.”
Ben nodded. “Hate that this has happened to you, Pippa.”
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“We’re not going to quiz you on details,” Dylan went on in his gruff, gravelly voice, “but if there’s anything we can do to help, just let us know. Anything at all.”
“Why?” I asked, looking between the four men. “Why would you help a stranger?”
Eduardo shrugged. “We are gentlemen.” He pressed his hand to his chest. “Not so much on the ice, no, then we are not gentle, but off it,oui, we are gentlemen, and if we can help a damsel in distress, we will.”
“I am not a damsel in—”
“A person in need,” Dylan said quickly and gesturing to my wedding gown. “As you clearly are, and we are here to help.”
I swallowed. I was in no position to turn down assistance. “Thank you. I appreciate it. And getting to Cardiff will be a start.”
“A start to what?” Ben asked, raising his eyebrows.
“A start to moving on from a lying, cheating bastard and a best friend who clearly is not a best friend at all and…” I couldn’t finish the sentence and closed my eyes, hating the fact my lower lids were prickling. I sniffed and pressed my hand over my mouth, trying to contain emotions.
“Shit, that’s bad, sorry,” Ben said with a frown.
“Ma choue!Oh no,” Eduardo added. “Your man and your best friend.Putain.”
“He’s an idiot,” Dylan said.
Theo huffed. “I hate him already.”
