Page 105 of Wrong Pucking Player

“I’m late.”

“For what?”

Think Armani. Think.

“Got an assessment,” I lie out of my ass for the sake of getting out of here faster. “Can’t be late, or I’ll be benched.”

“And who’s assessing you, hmm?” Jayce isn’t buying it. “Ross is back in the arena being an obnoxious bitch with her squeaky voice, and Andrews wasn’t present today.” He laughs at that one. “Probably got cold feet now that our first game is coming up.”

“She’s sick, Jayce,” I huff. “Everyone’s allowed sick days.”

“So, you defending her now, huh?” He’s in my face and pushing a tad harder.

I widen my stance to give me a steadier gait, but the longer I stand here, the shittier I feel.

“Jayce.” My voice is stoic. “I can’t right now.”

Not fucking now.

“Nah. We’re going to talk right now because I have shit I need you to fucking do tonight instead of bailing on me like you have the last week!”

Shit to do.

Meaning, fighting his fucking battles for him while he drinks and smokes shit.

“I can’t tonight,” I dismiss him and fix my bag on my shoulder. “Andrews said I shouldn’t do shit during heavy training days like I’ve been telling you the last week.”

“So, you’re useless once you get off the ice? That’s what you’re implying,” Jayce growls. “Andrews is a nurse. She’s not a fucking doctor who holds your life in her hands.”

“I respect her advice enough to follow it for the sake of the team,” I sum up. “As captain, I think making sure your goalie is ready for our first game is more important than anything. Unless you want Xander to be the main goalie for our first game at the end of the week?”

Xander Phoenix actually wasn’t too bad of a goalie. The only problem really was he was half my size and still acted like an excited little boy. Could he stop a few pucks? Sure. I’d give him that much. However, in a fierce game with other professionals, he wouldn’t be able to stop them the way I do.

On the ice, I give it my all.

“You need to do what I’m asking you before the first game,” Jayce stresses. “Our contracts are going to be established and signed on game day, and I expect to ensure the constructed deal is most beneficial to my future. That means you doing some homework, Oscar.”

Yeah. Con a bunch of people with money, guns, and spilling some blood. Fun…

The idea doesn’t seem as appealing as it used to be.

Have I killed people before? Not necessarily.

I’ve definitely been involved with my older brother, but be the one taking another’s life with my own hands because they deserve it?

Not yet.

Not yet…

“Armani!”

I blink out of the daze I fell into. That only proves I need to go home.

Or sit the fuck down.

“Jayce, I need to go, or I’m gonna pass the fuck out.” I mean, unless I get a full bottle of Gatorade inside me, I’m going to drop.

“Not until you fucking agree to what I’m saying. You want me to spend fucking top dollar for some other douche to do this shit?”

---