Page 32 of Forbidden Forward

I ignore him and throw my shoulder into Asshole, who stumbles backward from the force.

“Chase, don’t!” Harper yells.

I’m ready to shake off my gloves and grab Asshole’s jersey for a dance when Jackie’s words slam into me. “He says you annoy them too, that you’re carrying a big chip on your shoulder, and you get yourself in trouble and put your team at a disadvantage.”

My body vibrates with fury, but I don’t touch Asshole again. Instead, I turn my head to the side and spit in disgust. “Nothing like taking down a defenseless player from behind to show how tough you are, huh, pal? Your whole team is nothing but a bunch of hacks who have no plays besides gooning it up.” They’re actually a really good team, but they’re not playing like it tonight because we’re getting into their heads.

Asshole stares at me.

“C’mon, let’s go. Show me what you got,” I taunt. “Or are you afraid you’ll hurt your pinkie nail?” This I say in a baby voice.

He lurches for me, but a linesman wraps him up and hauls him backward. It’s amazing how strong these guys are. They have to be to corral us because we’re strong and we’re fired up.

Asshole spews insults at me, and I throw my head back and laugh my ass off. “Enjoy your timeout in the box, baby boy. Oh, and tell your girlfriend if she wants to hook up, same place, same time as before, I’m always up for it—unlike you, or so she tells me when she’s riding me.”

“That’s a dick thing to say,” Harper grits out as he watches Asshole being escorted to the box.

I shrug. “Nothing like a parting shot to his manhood.” When I send Harper a sidelong glance, I catch the fury on his face. He’s pissed. At me. “You’re welcome,” I add.

He turns his head my way. “Look, I don’t need you or anyone else coming to my rescue. I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, you can. But I’m not going to stand by with my thumb up my ass while someone tries to hurt one of my teammates. I’d do the same thing for any of the boys on our team. I don’t give a fuck if they’re golden boys like you or grunts like me.”

“You almost got thrown in the box yourself,” Harper scoffs.

“But I didn’t, did I? What have you got against me anyway, dude?”

His jaw muscle tics, and I can practically hear his teeth grind from here.

I give up and let my frustration show. “Why don’t you quit your bitching and take advantage of the opportunity I just served up for you?” I wave my hand in a shooing motion. “Do something useful. Go score us a power play goal.”

I don’t bother reading his expression, instead skating toward the bench in a huff. Nick glides beside me. “Did you really bang that dude’s girlfriend?”

My eyebrows dips. “What do you think?” I level a stare on him. He shakes his head. “Not just no, but fuck no. Don’t even know her name, but apparently he thinks I do. That’s all that matters.”

We’re going on the power play, so Nick’s and my shifts are over for now. He doesn’t play special teams at all, while I get a shift here and there on the penalty kill. Harper needs a rest, so he heads off too but gives me a wide berth. We take our places on the bench, and I squeeze water into my mouth.

Nick shakes his head and chuckles. “You’re like a bloodsucking tick, Chaser.”

“Why, thank you. Nicest compliment I’ve had this month.”

We both laugh and watch as the boys go out and score us a power play goal.

After that play and the celly that follows, Coach puts a hand on my shoulder and leans down to my ear. “Good job keeping your hot head cool out there.”

No lie, my chest swells a little. Nice to have some positive feedback for a change.

As the game winds down, he leans in again. “Now get out there and finish this game.” I look at him over my shoulder, and the surprise must show on my face because he adds, “You’ve earned it.”

The puck drops on the ensuing face-off, and I win it back to my D-man. My linemates and I play an elaborate game of keep-away for the next few minutes, then ice the puck. It’s not a big deal because guess who takes the next face-off?

Yep, and I win that draw too.

We eke out a victory by one goal, thanks to that power play, which makes for two wins in a row. Three, if you count the W before the break. We’re on a streak, and it feels damn good. Back in the dressing room, I check my phone but see no texts from Jackie. I thumb a quick one to her.

Any news on the job front?

I know she’s spoken to Peggy because Peggy texted me. Jackie’s keeping quiet for some reason, which is probably for the best. There’s no hope of anything happening between the two of us. Ever. Not with the daggers her brother throws my way.