Page 12 of Room Twenty-Eight: Her Beautiful Surrender

My smirk only incites him. “Too damn late,” I taunt. Dropping my stick, I register the fist coming and don’t hesitate to throw one right back. He’s big, but I’m bigger and angrier. He has no fucking right to my girl. He didn’t take her innocence and spill his seed inside her welcoming body. He wasn’t man enough to give her what she needed.

I was.

We were.

And for that, Asta will always be ours.

“Break it up!” gets shouted as hands attempt to drag me off the cocky center, but I don’t let up, and soon enough, Diesel, Colton, and a couple of other guys from both teams are in the fray.

When we’re finally separated, Leon is dragged off the ice because he swung first, but Diesel landed himself a penalty, also, for hitting one of the other guys.

Tugging Colton into me, I hiss into his ear, “You fucking take these assholes down. Don’t let a single one of them stop you from whooping their asses because that motherfucker just tried to warn me off our girl.” Our sights cut to the woman in question to find her frenzied eyes moving from us to Leon, then Diesel in the penalty boxes, and back again.

“We need to find out who the fuck he is to her,” Colt growls. He’s as laid back as they come, but I’m glad to see his instinct to claim our girl has risen to the surface. “I got this, Maj. You stop every fucking puck. Shut ‘em out!” He skates off to the faceoff, and the rest of the game remains aggressive on both sides, with a record number of fights between the two teams, and finishes with us winning five to nothing. Colt got a hat trick, and I’ve had my sixth shutout of the season.

Diesel doesn’t hesitate to tell Jeff to grab Asta and bring her down to the tunnels as Colt and I head out for after-game reports and interviews. Anticipation floods my veins as I watch the entrance for Asta and Jeff.

* * *

Asta

I don’t understand a lot about the game of hockey, I just know what Leon and the guys have told me or things I hear in the stands or when I watch them on TV. But I do know that what happened between Leon and Major was not typical. Goalies don’t normally get into fights on the ice. And let’s take a second to reflect on the fact that I slept with three of the best NHL players in the league.How did I not know that?Their names are familiar, of course. Leon always bitches about Diesel and Colton after a game against the Black Bears. I didn’t even clue in until that guy brought me the jersey with Diesel’s name and number emblazoned on the back.

When Leon noticed my change of attire, he was not impressed. He didn’t speak the words, but I certainly understood the look of betrayal on his face.

The game post-fight had been incredibly intense; even the fans were on pins and needles, wondering what the hell was going on.

“Miss, if you’ll come with me?” the same guy who gave me the jersey asks, holding an arm out to escort me wherever it is he wants me to go.

“Oh, uh…uhm. Okay, sure, I guess.” I’m supposed to meet Leon in the tunnels, but my plans appear to be changing. I shoot him a quick text to let him know I’ll be late.

Following along with the guy leading me, we go down instead of up, and I’m taken through where the players go back to the locker rooms. Standing at the end, near the locker room entrance, is Major Reeves, superstar goalie, breaking all kinds of records this year. Or that’s what some of the fans sitting around me said.

Slowing my steps, I stay back, not wanting to interrupt his interview or be spotted. When I messaged them earlier, I had no idea, would never have guessed, that they were three of the most famous players in the NHL. And now I know it will be plastered everywhere if I’m with them. My face will be on every tabloid possible, and my father will see it all. The judgment and animosity are already hard to bear. The accusations about ruining Leon’s career will be next.

God, Leon. He must be so angry with me. Pulling out my phone, I slink closer to the wall, trying to remain out of Major’s line of sight. My phone is lit up with messages.

Big Bro: What the fuck Asta?

Big Bro: How the fuck do you know them?

Big Bro: I can’t fucking believe this right now.

Big Bro: Just…stay the fuck away from them.

Big Bro: You know they’re my enemies right? Diesel and Colton almost ruined my fucking career!

Tears pool in my eyes as I read his messages. I have to believe he’s not going to hate me. I can’t have my only family hating me. Before I can respond to him, I get a message from Cecily.

Crazy BFF: Well, have you seen them yet? God, tell me they’re as hot as I assume they are!

She seems like the safer option to answer right now, so I send her the picture I took of the three of them on the ice after I’d been given Diesel’s jersey and realized who they were.

Crazy BFF: Shut the front door!

Crazy BFF: What the hell are the chances they’d be in the NHL too? Fate? Me thinks so!!

God, I love her. She’s one of the best things to happen to my life, and I couldn’t imagine one without her in it.

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