Page 93 of Wrong Pucking Player

“It happened alright,” I laugh, and I’m genuinely proud it did. I’m sure others would be jealous to see two newly formed hockey teams go wild over having Mikayla Cross Johnson as their team nurse, but I’m genuinely happy for her.

The whole “hockey battle” was really between Maddox O’Riley Wilson, the new Captain of the Strattonville Vipers, and of course, Jayce Winchester, the new captain of our team, the Saskatchewan Pincer Blades.

No way did I want Mikayla dealing with being on Jayce’s team. I wanted him to suffer and witness the woman he still has hard feelings for, watching her from the rival team as she wears the opposite team’s jersey.

Truthfully, I wanted every opportunity for my bestie to get back with Maddox. No matter their history, the chemistry they shared was undeniable, and this whole hockey internship was only going to further push it in the right direction.

Seeing her fall further in love with the man destined for her would make my year.

“Must be nice to be the apple of everyone’s eye,” Caren complains as I pull back from our hug to glance over her.

“Just admit you hate that you’re not the hockey world’s center of attention,” I bark back.

Someone calls for Mikayla to come across the ice.

“Oh, fuck. I think we’re already starting. Uh…” she begins and looks back at me. I give her another quick squeeze before pushing her away.

“Go! You got my number, bitch. Text me about how all the men on that team are salivating over you.”

“Oh God, no,” she groans but winks back at me. “Try not to get hit on, yes?”

“Get out of here,” I brush her away with my hands as she skates away, still laughing. I watch her end up going to the other team nurse on her team, Dimitri Maxwell Champion, who’s apparently Mr. Champion’s son. I don’t think it’s biological, but what I’ve perceived with my eyes is that the guy has gothic fashion and can’t skate to save his life.

Mikayla is helping him, the two of them clicking off perfectly from how they’re laughing, even as Dimitri is struggling to balance himself with their slow movements.

See? Why couldn’t I have that?

“What does it feel like?” Caren’s obnoxious voice makes me groan as I glance over at her.

“What does what feel like?”

“Not being the fucking idolized nurse on the ice,” she attempts to sweetly say, but it’s obviously forced.

Why are we having a conversation?

“It feels amazing,” I fake with emphasis as I turn to face her while putting my hands on my hips. “Not having every geared-up hockey player fawning over your existence. Getting on and off the rink without men having fantasies about you. Social media will have nothing to say about the tomboy team nurse on the Saskatchewan Pincer Blades or whatever our name is going to be. I think not being the pucking idolized nurse on the ice feels pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.”

If they’re going to act like a bitch, be a friendlier bitch.

She’s dying to say something. I can just see it in her eyes, but they lift up like she’s looking at someone taller than her, forcing me to glance over my shoulder to realize who’s behind me.

Armani.

“Your internship just started, Andrews, and you’re slacking.”

The way I grit my teeth with pure annoyance while giving him the dirtiest look of hatred isn’t enough to get through his stoic expression.

Compared to the Armani I woke up to, the new goalie looks like someone stuck a hockey stick up his ass.

Actually…

“Now, who stuck a hockey stick up your ass this morning?” I complain just as Jayce, Kane, and Diesel skid to a stop near us. “If it was Winchester, I wouldn’t be surprised. He likes that shit.”

“Oh, fuck,” I hear the curse coming from the man who’s now skidding to a stop on my left. One glance confirms it’s one of the new team members, Mitchel Owens, who is Damien Owen’s younger brother. “Jayce, I didn’t know you were gay.”

“Huh?” I begin and glance over to Mitchel. “That doesn’t signify he’s gay, does it?”

That actually wasn’t my intention.

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