Page 26 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

“Yeah, well, maybe she is,” I offer, cutting him off.

Silence.

Fucking silence.

Their eyes widen as they exchange curious glances with each other, the energy in the arena twisting with testosterone. And interest.

The blood drains from my face, but I keep my expression indifferent, well aware I’m on thin ice and even the smallest wrong move could send them spiraling.

“Are you saying she’s a virgin?” Logan asks, voicing the question they’re all wondering. Then, his mouth lifts in the corner as he glances toward the tunnel where she recently disappeared. The bastard’s practically salivating.

My tongue slides between my upper lip and teeth as I realize just how much I screwed up. But I don’t answer him. If I do, it’ll only put a bounty on her head.

Tukani slaps his knee and lets out a laugh of disbelief. “Dude, how’s a girl like her still a virgin?”

“Just stay away from her,” I order. My attention shifts from one player to the next, my blood boiling in my veins at the idea of any of them touching Blakely or being her first.

“Nah, man. You can’t tell us she’s a virgin then expect us to drop it,” Graves says. I knew the guy was dense, but I didn’t think he was this stupid.

Shifting my stick to my other hand, I point my index finger at him. “Especially you, asshole. You just broke things off with Sally. You really think hooking up with Colt’s little sister is the way to go? Stay away from her.”

Tukani raises his hands in the air. “Sorry, Theo, but if she’s interested in getting a slice of the Tukani Tsunami––”

“Dude, she was talking to me the whole time, not you,” Depp reminds Tukani.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure she’s got a thing for rookies,” Austin jokes from the edge of the group.

The rest of the team laughs as Graves slaps Austin’s shoulder. “Sure she does, little man. Sure she does.”

“Oh, you think I’m wrong?” Austin argues. “Then, let’s make a bet. Hundred bucks says I can sleep with her first.”

“Shut the fuck up, Austin,” I bark, skating closer until the toes of our skates are touching and I’m looking down at the bastard. He’s still trying to find his place here, but if he thinks this is his opportunity to show the team what he’s got, he has a death wish. He’s shorter than me by at least three inches, but he’s got balls. I’ll give him that much. Because he doesn’t cower. Maybe it’s because he knows he has four other guys backing him right now, but I’m not afraid to take them all on if I have to. Not when it comes to Blake.

“Let me make one thing clear, Austin,” I warn through clenched teeth. “You are not going to make a bet on Colt’s little sister’s virginity.”

“You might be the captain on the ice, but you don’t control shit off it,” Graves reminds me. He skates closer until he’s standing next to Austin. You’d think he’s the freshman’s right-hand man or some shit. My upper lip curls in disgust as I turn to him, ready to throw a punch on my own teammate without any regret if he dares to say one more fucking word to me about Blakely Thorne and her virginity.

A loud whistle cuts through our conversation like a hot knife through butter as Coach Sanderson strides toward us from the hallway leading to the locker room.

“I’m sorry. I thought I told you to warm up,” he calls, dropping the whistle from his lips and letting it rest against his sternum from a black piece of string hanging around his neck.

My nostrils flare as I shift my gaze from Graves, to Austin, to Logan. But I don’t back down. I don’t move first. I just wait. Like we’re in a game of Chicken, and the first to crack loses. Graves grumbles something under his breath and backs away from me as the rest of the team disperses and lines up to start sprints from one side of the rink to the other, following his lead.

“Taylor,” Sanderson calls.

My head snaps toward him, my anger threatening to suffocate me.

“You good?”

Tongue in cheek, I force myself to nod and line up with the my teammates on the far goal line.

And even though I’m grateful Coach broke up the conversation, it doesn’t stop Austin’s smartass remark from niggling the back of my mind for the rest of practice.

He wants to place a bet on Blake’s virginity?

I’ll fucking kill him.

9

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