Page 77 of The Ex Puck Bunny
By my side, Dad winces and then swings his arms as if demonstrating to Grady how to throw an uppercut. I cannot watch.
If it were a few months ago, the brat in me may have taken pleasure in seeing the guy who betrayed my fiancé get pummeled. But I don’t like that any more than my brother beating up Trey.
Bunny grabs my attention when she asks, “Mama, does GG want my unee-corn to help?”
“Hmm. I think that’s a good idea but from up here.”
She flies her unicorn stuffed animal around before smooshing it against the glass. We all laugh while the lamp lights and the goal score song comes on. There’s an uproar from both sides and some blood on the ice, but now the Knights are up two points.
My brother chuckles. “And that’s how it is done.”
“Grady has got it,” Dad says, pumping the air.
“That’s my boy,” Mom shouts.
At the same time, my man looks up toward the VIP suite and shakes his stick as he skates to the exit. He smiles and Lucan Ketsivalis limps off the ice like the loser he is.
The game is a nail-biter. Derek’s fingers are proof. They put our goaltender, Beaumont Hammer, through his paces. But in the final period, Ted offers an epic assist to Hayden who scores a backhand goal that’ll go down in history.
At the after party, we celebrate the win. Margo themed it as a medieval knights and royalty affair, complete with candelabras, silver chalices, the walls hung with team color banners, trumpeters, a court jester, and a dragon.
My little unicorn bunny rabbit has tired herself out, running around with the other kids. It’s a madhouse in the best of ways.
Grady slides his arm around my shoulder and says, “Badaszek had a plan.”
“To have you beat up Ketsivalis?”
“It’s kind of my job.” But the fight in his eyes isn’t just about that. I can tell it’s something more and has to do with him being in his rightful position in the line.
“Derek and Dad explained. Would’ve been nice to have known that you’re the tough guy.”
“Wouldn’t want you to think I was just out there to destroy other players.” He coughs and then adds, “Enemies.” Then he coughs again and says, “Trey.”
Derek comes over and taps his glass against Grady’s. “That was something.”
“It was a piece of cake,” he answers with false modesty.
“And you said Badaszek wasn’t going to give you ice time.”
“Sitting out reminded me how hungry I am to play this sport. It was humbling too.”
My brother says, “I think he was holding you back to reveal a secret weapon. If there were any doubts about the Knights next season with Ted retired, there aren’t anymore.”
A few of the other guys jump in on the conversation and I drift over to the girls. They fall into a hush when I appear. I have the distinct feeling they were talking about me. I’ve never been on this side of the gossip wall—Sophia and a few of the other cheerleaders and I were always the ones dishing it out. Gotta say, it doesn’t feel good.
“Okay, we have to tell her,” Delaney blurts.
Whit bites her lip. “I think we should tease it out.”
“Now you’re just teasing me. What’s up?” I ask, stomach dipping.
Cara says, “We’ve been planning.”
“Scheming is more like,” Harlow says with a devious glint in her eye.
Margo says, “As the official party planner of the group and someone who is not a fan of surprises, we’re discussing your bachelorette party and seeing if we can do a day at the aerial arts school in Omaha.”
Relief rushes through me. “Oh, that.” Then I stutter. “Wait, you mean like trapeze? That’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
