Page 67 of Fear of Love
“Jesus.” I flinched as one of our players slammed into the plexiglass in front of us. I had no idea how they could take a hit like that and just skate off like nothing happened.
“Come on, guys. Get the damn puck,” I heard Josie yell a few seats down from me, her voice hoarse from screaming the whole game. On my other side were Mila and Evelyn, the two of them chatting and watching the game.
“God, they’re playing rough.” Tasha beside me winced.
We sat in the stands as the guys played their final game before the playoffs. The Knightswere already guaranteed a spot, but of course, they wanted to be number one in their division. They were ahead by one goal as the clock ticked down. They needed to hold the other team off for another three minutes.
“Haven’t seen Trevor in the box this much before.” Tasha and I glanced over at the penalty area where Trevor was sitting for the third time this game. Even Bryton was in it tonight, which didn’t happen all that often.
“It’s like he’s in time-out.” Mateo poked his head between us. He and Landon were seated behind us since there wasn’t room for all of us on the same row. “Like a little kid being punished,” he joked.
“A little kid that could kick your ass,” Tasha replied back.
Mateo snorted. “He wishes.”
“Dare you to say that to his face later,” Landon said from directly behind me. I’d been trying to focus on the game, but it was next to impossible when I was hyperaware of every movement he made. His knees brushed against my upper shoulders, thanks to his long ass legs and the short seats.
I felt the brush of fingertips along my neck, making me shiver. Over the course of the game, Landon would reach out and touch me every so often. Just enough to make me tremble and want more. He was a fucking tease.
“I will. Not like he can catch me, anyway.” Beside me, Tasha snorted.
“Yeah, I’m not saving your ass when you do.” Landon said. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was shaking his head at his younger brother.
I looked over my shoulder at Mateo. “You do know he has more muscle mass than you, right?”
“Babe, have you seen me?” Mateo lifted his arm and flexed. Even under his thick jersey that had his brother’s number on it, I could see the muscle of his bicep. I swore every time I saw him, he got more muscular.
“Sorry, hun, but all I see is a stick arm.” I sent him a sad look.
He fake gasped like he was hurt. “L, that was cruel.”
“The truth hurts sometimes.” I reached back and patted his knee.
“Landon, she’s being mean to me,” Mateo whined like a little kid.
“Maybe you deserve it,” came Landon’s response.
“You’re my big brother. You’re supposed to defend me and my honor.” I snorted at the word honor.
“Yeah, not gonna happen.”
We both knew that was a lie. Landon would go to the ends of the earth to defend and protect his brothers. Case in point to what I learned a few days ago when he told me about their father reaching out to him. Landon gave up so much to be there for his family.
I understood why he hadn’t told his mom or Wyatt about it. What good would it do? But the look on Landon’s face when he told me was like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. All I could do was hug him and hope that telling me helped ease some of the weight.
A week later, a small part of me thought Landon looked a little less tense, but I was probably just kidding myself.
The crowd around us got louder, so I shook myself out of my thoughts and tuned back into the game. Wyatt was back on the ice with only one minute left.
Being in the arena surrounded by fans was incredible during a regular game, but this last game before playoffs was… electrifying. The excitement was palpable to the point that I could almost feel it buzz through my fingertips. I didn’t go to the Cup Championship game last year, so if this was how it felt now, I couldn’t imagine it then.
My eyes found Bryton as he barreled down the ice, expertly moving the puck between and around players. On my left, Mila cheered her boyfriend on. She was practically out of her seat as she screamed.
Bryton suddenly came to a stop, twisting his body to hit the puck around the opposing player to Trevor as ice shavings surrounded his skates. Trevor, who wasted no time, skated hard down the ice toward the goalie. God, he looked like a beast on the ice. He towered over everyone and looked ten times more intimidating with all the extra padding.
Tasha’s hand clamped around my arm, fingernails digging in as she watched her boyfriend. I didn’t think she was breathing as she kept a death drip on my arm.
I watched with rapt attention as Trevor weaved around players, shoulder checking them as he went. The hits he received didn’t slow him down. The buzzer was seconds away from going off as Trevor looked for a way to score.
