Page 47 of Puck Around and Find Out

“In the bag,” I interrupted, putting a hand to my head as the world did a little dip and dive.

“What the fuck, Atlas. Are we not going to be able to go or what?” Hoffman asked in a bored tone.

“Shit,” I said and sat back hard on my ass as my head spun. My breath caught and I let out a long sigh, trying to stop panting as my fingers and lips began to tingle.

Wy made a triumphant sound and pulled out the twin plastic case for my EpiPens. He took a long look at my face, then popped the yellow top on one of the plastic tubes like he was preparing for war. His jaw firmed.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” I asked as he whipped out the EpiPen.

“Yep,” he said, getting it ready to stab me.

My stomach swooped. “You know, maybe you should just take me to the hospital,” I said, then giggled, dropping back against the hot pavement. I hissed. “Shit.”

“Yeah, no. You’re fucked up. We’re doing this. Unless you want to drop dead between here and the hospital.” He glared.

“It isn’t that bad,” I said, but my gut was starting to churn and I really wanted to lie down on the ground. Oh, right. I already was on the ground. I rubbed my hand across my neck. It felt tight.

“Fuck it,” Wy said, and before I could brace myself, he slammed the end of the EpiPen against my thigh. Pain sliced through me and sent stars bursting behind my eyelids as I screwed them shut. It fucking hurt because the EpiPen forced a needle through my jeans into one of my biggest muscles, and the liquid burned as it was injected. My heart jackhammered from the epinephrine—I’d had it happen in the past and hated the sensation. It was like running when you were standing still, and it made me feel as if a bear were chasing me.

“Is that Atlas on the ground?” Rain shouted, and his shoes were loud on the pavement as he came running up to us. “Should I call an ambulance?”

Wy stared into my face, concern taking over his expression. “Are you breathing okay?”

I nodded, and he shoved the second EpiPen into my hand. “Okay, hold this. I’ll drive you.”

“Aww, no bus with the whirly lights for me?” I asked, then snickered. “If I need the second EpiPen, I’m fucked.”

“Just hold it and use it if it feels like you can’t breathe.” Wy shook his head, eyes too wide, and grabbed my shoulders. With a grunt, he hauled me upright. I hissed as Rain helped him get me onto my feet.

“I would thank you—” I tried to stifle a snicker that bubbled out of me and couldn’t. “—but that fucking hurt. You’re a dick.” My head spun and I felt awful. Without warning, everything in my stomach ended up on the pavement, and everyone with me groaned.

“I’m out of here,” Hoffman yelled toward us, and I raised a hand in his direction. I couldn’t remember why I’d been excited to talk to him in the first place.

Wy snorted. “Thank me after they pump you full of meds at the hospital,” he grumbled, walking me toward his car.

Groaning, I let him lead me along. “Dad’s going to be pissed about this,” I said, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. “Time away from hockey. Time away from class. Time fucking up.All this is because you weren’t paying attention,” I said, imitating my dad’s voice as well as I could. “He fucking says it every damned time. And if I have to miss a game? Jesus Christ. End of the universe.”

“Screw that asshole,” Wy snarled, and for some reason that was the funniest thing I’d ever heard in my life. I chuckled off and on all the way to the hospital while Wy gave me scared looks from behind the steering wheel, but I was too fucked up to tell him how much I’d loved hearing those words come from his mouth.

Hell, he was my new hero.

14

WYSTAN

I paced the waiting room,my feet wearing a hole in the floor. Anger and worry made a horrible combination, and I was a walking anxiety time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. The team was here, too, offering support to Atlas—and me apparently. Boss kept checking if I was okay, and when he was sure I was, he went back to sit next to Thane again.

“Is it life threatening?” Rain asked from where he sat in the corner.

Beside him, Miloševic grunted and shook his head. “What do you think, little mouse?” He was built like a Zamboni, wide as fuck, heavy, and strong. He took up the width of his seat and a bit more, invading Rain’s personal space, though it didn’t look as if Rain minded too much. There was no other word for Miloševic but handsome, though not many would agree on the ice. I’d learned quickly that he was a powerhouse who dominated as an enforcer.

I hugged myself and glanced at the door near the check-in desk when it opened, hoping it was the doctor with news about Atlas, but it was Mom and Joseph instead. Mom came rushing over to me and pulled me into her arms, and I went because what else would I do? Her comfort always made everything better, and I didn’t care that I was a twenty-two-year-old man getting a cuddle from his mom. I needed her.

“Have you heard anything?” Joseph cleared his throat and shifted his weight, and I took in the lack of his usual confidence. Maybe since his son was hurt, he was actually starting to feel emotions for Atlas.

“Nothing.” I stepped away from Mom and crossed my arms. I gritted my teeth. “I gave him his EpiPen, and he didn’t need to use the second one, but they want to check to make sure his airway is clear and he’s breathing correctly.”

“Why aren’t you in there with him?” There was accusation in Joseph’s voice.

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