Page 80 of Fighting Chance

well!

MOMMA BEAR

and you?

are you feeling okay? Not tired or anything?

LAYLA

I’m good Mom

more than good

I promise x

Ican’t tear my gaze away as Kieran bows his head to whisper something in the rival player’s ear, the very one he slammed into the boards in front of us, nearly giving me a heart attack.

The tension radiating off Kieran is like nothingI’ve ever seen before, the energy so palpable I can sense it from my seat. I know hockey fans love violence, but I can’t shake off this horrid feeling in my gut that it’s more than just the standard game fights.

Something is wrong.

Bella whistles low. “Fucking Montgomery.”

“Who is he?”

Cindy grunts. “The smallest man who ever lived.”

Emmy leans forward on my lap, her hands pressed to the glass as if she can’t get close enough. She just keeps repeating Daddy, over and over. Her little excited squeals join the cheers of the crowd anytime Kieran moves into her line of sight. And when he sits on the bench, she jumps up and down so much it’s a challenge just to hold her.

Watching Kieran in his element has left me stricken. He was born to be a hockey player. Anyone watching could see that. The way he moves is so languid, like skating comes as natural as walking. That’s all I could focus on before the altercation.

Bella leans into my side from the left, her hand deep in a popcorn bucket. “That was the player trying to take Grayson’s position on the team.”

Cindy joins in on my right. “He’s as dirty as they come, but he’s sneaky about it. Very selective with his words so the refs don’t hear his taunts, and his plays are just on the cusp, making it so he technically didn’t do anything.”

My nose wrinkles as my eyes track him and the death glare he’s sending Kieran in the penalty box. “What a creep.”

“No wonder he’s going after Kieran tonight, he’s on fire,” Bella notes.

“Maybe it’s because he’s trying to impress a certain someone tonight,” Cindy adds with a wink.

“Yeah.” I heft Emmy up higher, letting her stand on my legs despite knowing I’ll have bruises from it later. “Emmy.”

Bella rolls her eyes as Cindy snorts. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Blowing out a breath, I lower my voice so the little ears in front of me don’t hear, even though she’s not paying me a lick of attention. “I’ve told you girls he’s not interested. He just likes toflirt with me since I’m probably the only woman who’s said no to him.”

Bella hums under her breath, watching Grayson as he flies down the ice. Cindy smiles to herself. “Whatever you say, Layla.”

The sudden gasps filling the arena has my head snapping back to the ice. Kieran’s back out, and he’s not alone. He and Montogomery are locked together, pushing one another with their helmets.

“What the…” I trail off.

Grayson skates over and O’Connor launches from his spot on the bench, his fists curling in anticipation.

Montgomery pulls back, his eyes sliding to the side and landing on me. Something flashes in them, a knowing look before he turns to Kieran with such a grin full of spite I shiver in disgust.

His lips move, and whatever he says has Kieran’s face contorting in fury.