Page 94 of Hot Shot
We’re fifteen into the second period when it happens.
EJ and Hunter exchange words in front of the Fury’s net after the whistle blows. EJ shoves Hunter, but the referee gets between them before anything escalates.
Caleb takes the face-off and gains possession of the puck but he can’t shake off one of the Fury’s defenders. I can’t hear what Brody says but he’s clearly asking for the puck, banging his stick on the ice. Caleb passes it to Brody who is waiting for it to the left of the Fury’s net.
Before he can take the shot, one of the Fury’s forwards comes flying at him and Brody’s forced to skate toward the wall with the puck. The Fury players hot on his heels, he checks for an open teammate. Out of nowhere EJ skates up behind Brody, lowers his shoulder and plows Brody into the wall so hard the glass shakes.
The Fury take possession of the puck, moving into the neutral zone. It was a questionable hit but the referees don’t call a penalty and Brody’s definitely shaken up as he skates back to the bench.
Hunter yells something at Caleb and another player I don’t know before skating after EJ.
Shit, this can’t be good.
I can’t hear what’s said over the roar of the crowd, but suddenly gloves are dropped and Hunter is in EJ’s face. EJ responds by grabbing Hunter’s jersey with one hand and swinging his first with the other. Hunter tries to get free but he can’t.
EJ throws another punch that Hunter ducks. Hunter’s response is to grab a hold of EJ’s jersey and punch him. I jump to my feet and get close to the glass. Elias, who’s first to the fight, grabs EJ from behind. EJ brushes him off and continues after Hunter.
By this time, the rest of the Storm have made their way over, and the referees are trying to break up the fight. Elias says something, I can see his mouth moving, and suddenly he’s dropping his gloves and swinging at EJ.
Holy shit.
The crowd goes crazy. Fighting between teams is one thing, but teammates fighting each other never happens.
After what feels like forever, the referees and the linesmen finally pull everyone apart. Hunter, EJ, and Elias are given ten-minute penalties and go to their respective locker rooms because there’s only five minutes left of the period.
“You okay?” Rachel asks from next to me. I jerk back, not realizing she was standing there, a hand over my racing heart.
I shake my head and follow her back to our seats. I can’t focus on the game as play continues.
I wish I could go down to the locker room and make sure Hunter is alright. I pull my phone out, hoping that maybe he’ll text me during intermission, but he doesn’t.
This is all my fault.
Chapter thirty-five
Hunter
Ichuckmyhelmetacross the locker room and throw myself down on the bench. Ten-minute penalty for fighting.
Fuck me.
It probably wasn’t the smartest move, but Elliot’s hit on Brody was uncalled for. This isn’t the first time he’s done something like this. Only now that I know who he is to Madison his actions felt personal.
I saw the way he glared at me when she introduced us. She hasn’t said anything, but I have a feeling he doesn’t like me. So yeah, I saw red when he slammed Brody into the wall. I reacted. The only good thing to come out of the fight is that Elliot also got a ten-minute penalty.
But so did Elias.
I’m not sure why my brother felt the need to jump into the fight. I’m grateful but also feel like shit that him helping me meant fighting his teammate.
I roll my neck and shoulders, trying to shake out the tightness that’s settled in since I came down the tunnel.
Groaning, I sit down on the bench, pull my jersey off, and wait for the rest of the team to come in for intermission.
“What. The. Fuck,” Brody bites out as he sits down on the bench next to me and reaches down to pull his skates off. I shrug.
“Quit being an idiot and starting fights. That’s my job,” Wes says.
Great, the peanut gallery is here.
