Chapter 7

JAX

Three minutes leftin the second period and I get hit with a bullshit hooking call, so I have to park my ass in the sin bin for two minutes.

We're down by one goal.

For some reason this game feels way too relaxed. Nobody has any fucking pep in their game.

Too many of us falling in love and being swooned by the world of committed pussy.

I reach for a water bottle, then just sit there, watching the game.

Mac fucks up an easy pass. Villi misses a big hit behind the net.

Knox makes a wild save that could have just been a simple glove save.

The clock ticks down.

It's the longest two minutes of my life but finally, I'm back on the ice.

And I'm out for blood.

There's less than a minute left in the period and I'll be damned if we're going into the locker room without a tied game.

I throw my shoulder into a winger.

Now I'm a target for sure.

The defenders are coming for me.

I have the puck and pass back to Mac.

"Up! Up! Up!" I shout to Gabriel.

Gabriel skates right wing and I'm center while Mac takes left.

The defenders are still looking for me.

I slap my stick to the ice, demanding a pass from Gabriel.

I can tell he doesn't want to do it. It's a risky play with two guys coming for me.

"Now!" I order.

Gabriel makes the pass.

Without hesitation, I ditch the puck behind me to Villi as he trails me.

The defenders come for me, leaving Villi with a perfect lane to pass to Mac.

And Mac is finally fucking focused.

He hits the puck with a shot so fast and precise, ten goalies couldn't have stopped it.

I hit the ice as the puck goes into the net.

"Fuck yes!" I roar as the siren blares.

The place erupts into cheers.

The period comes to an end with the game tied.

Once we're in the locker room I tell everyone to wake the hell up.

I can't stand playing slow and boring hockey.

I love when the game is fast and violent.

That's how we approach the third period… and guess what happens?

Mac scores another goal.

Gabriel scores two goals.

I assist on all three.

Just like that, we take a boring game and turn it into a damn blowout.

The next time we're in the locker room, we can finally celebrate.

Coach Damon claps his hands and whistles. "What a game, boys! That's how you play. With passion!" He points at me. "It all started with this guy right here. Follow Jax's lead. Thank you, Jax. You won this game for the team."

I give a nod.

Mac calls out my name and gets the rest of the locker room fired up.

The cheers for me suddenly spill out of the locker room and into the hallway.

There's a small gathering of friends and fans… and the girls the guys are screwing.

"Nice game," Violet says to me.

"Where's your sister?" I ask. "Not the nerdy one either."

Villi slams a fist into my arm. "Call Vera a nerd again… I dare you…"

"She is a nerd," Violet says.

"But a sexy nerd," Villi says.

"That's weird," Violet says.

Ruby does her little standoffish game with Gabriel.

From the corner of my eye I see more of their little group.

My tutor - Willow.

And Mila.

I turn and stare them both down.

I move closer to them.

"Well?" I ask.

"Well, what?" Willow asks.

"How about that game, huh?"

"Too bad you can't study and pass exams the same way you play hockey," Willow says.

"Ouch," I say. "That one kind of hurt."

"Are you going to waste time around here or get to studying?"

"See how mean she is to me?" I ask Mila.

Mila reaches for her phone and hurries away.

I watch her walk away. The swaying motion of her ass in her jeans. The way she's moving so fast.

Fingers snap in my face and I curl my lip and look down at Willow.

"Seriously?" she asks.

"What? Does me looking at other girls make you jealous?"

"Wow. Way off base there, Jax."

"Base? Wrong sport, Willow."

"Fine. The ice is melting."

"What?"

Willow's cheeks turn red. "Nothing. Never mind. Forget I said that." She points at me. "Don't mess around, Jax."

"Mess around?"

"I'm not blind. I just saw what you did. You looked at Mila's butt."

"And?"

Willow scowls, then she punches at my chest with her left hand. "She's taken! She's with my brother! Don't you dare start anything."

Now this is a great chance for me to play dumb. Cool the situation. Say something silly.

But…

I don't know.

I don't want to do that.

I get closer to Willow.

I lean down.

I curl my lip.

"What are you going to do to make me stop looking at your brother's girlfriend's nice ass?"