Page 134 of Face Off
THIRTY-SEVEN
EMMY
Grady:
Maverick didn’t show Cole any mercy, did he?
When were you going to tell me you two are dating?
Me
We are not dating.
Grady:
You’re doing some extracurricular activities, that’s for sure.
And they’re probably horizontal.
Me
I’m never answering your texts again.
Grady:
Classic Emmy deflection!
Must mean it’s true.
The visitors’locker room is chaos after the game. Grant sneaks me in, and the boys are acting like we won the Cup.
Someone filled Coach in on why we played so aggressively, and even though he’s not acknowledging his star player and three other guys getting tossed, there’s pride in his eyes when he drags Maverick to a small alcove to debrief.
“We have a lady in our midst,” Ethan yells. “No one drop your drawers, and keep everything covered.”
“That was worth playing shorthanded,” Riley says. He wipes his forehead with his jersey and grins. “My legs are on fire, but I liked seeing those fuckers get decimated.”
“How are you doing?” Hudson asks, patting the spot next to him on the bench. “Proud of you for scoring that goal.”
“I’m good.” I smile and stretch out my legs. My skates are heavy on my feet, but I can’t be bothered to take them off. “I have all this adrenaline, and I feel like I could play another three periods.”
“Don’t tell Coach that. He’d find a way to make it happen.” He laughs and nudges my shoulder. “Hey. I’m sorry you had to deal with someone so shitty from your past. I can’t pretend to know what that’s like, but you’re our friend now. If someone isn’t treating you right, you let one of us know. We’ll take care of it.”
“By starting a brawl?” I take his hand in mine and squeeze. “Thanks, Hudson. You’re the sweetest guy.”
“Mav was smart to make sure the fight went down like that. A regular tussle wouldn’t have worked, and I’m impressed he lasted so long without decking that douche in the face.”
I bite back a smile. “I’m surprised too.”
I know why he made Hudson kick things off: the third-man in rule.
The first player who joins a fight already in progress automatically gets ejected. Maverick had nothing to lose.
A single punch wouldn’t have worked. It was obvious he wanted to go in for the kill.
And,gosh, he did.
I’ve never seen so much blood. I’ve never been so turned on, and I’ve been questioning my sexual preferences since he got ejected.
