Chapter 36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

ZACH

F or the first time in months, no, maybe a year, I feel like my head is playing the kind of hockey my body has been desperate for it to find.

I'm fast, strong, and taking no shit.

Best of all? It's against the New York Blades, minus their psychopathic assistant captain, Alex Schneider. He was out of contract at the end of last season, and no one picked him up.

Fucking good. The guy was destined to kill someone.

At least this way he can spend more time with his new baby.

But even with his absence, the Blades are still dirty, being handed penalties throughout the first and second periods. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't partly responsible. I'm on my game tonight, and I've got my girl in the family box with my name stamped across her back. So yeah, I'm cocky as shit.

We're on another powerplay when I send the puck up to Jon, who dances between defensemen like they aren't even there. They may as well not be since we're three goals up. No wait, four. He lights the lamp with a crazy shot to the top left, one only he can pull off. I swear even their goalie gets down on his knees to worship the ice he skates on. He's a generational talent.

"The fuck are we gonna do without you next season, bro?" I clap him on the shoulder and knock my helmet into his, staring him straight in the eyes. "It's too soon. You're still the best player in the league, the fucking world."

Over my shoulder, I know where he's looking. "It's time, buddy."

"One more Stanley for old time's sake?"

"It's coming back to Seattle." He juts his head up, and I smile over my shoulder at the girl who's brought me back to life. "Talking of back to Seattle. Have you asked her to move in with you yet?"

Skating back to center ice, I can't hide my shit eating grin. "I might've suggested it when I spilled my guts last night."

"And?" he shouts as I skate backward and away from him, ready for the restart of play.

"And I'll do whatever it takes to be with her. Just like you."

He doesn't say anything, just replaces his mouthguard, a knowing smile on his face.

LUNA

"That boy." Kate points down to Zach, who's fighting for the puck behind the net. "Is a boy obsessed."

I smile around the straw of my Icee. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Listen." She leans across to me. "There's nothing he wouldn't do for you. He's caught the bug."

My brows knit together as I steal another nacho from her tray.

"The same bug that infected Jon and my best friend," she explains.

"So, tell me, what's the score with Jensen? It seems like there's something still eating at both of you." Damn my unfiltered brain. Felicity's eyes widen from the other side of Kate.

Kate cocks her head at me, but, thankfully, she doesn't seem pissed. "What do you mean?"

"Just um…I don't know, you seem a little on edge around each other."

"I'm fine." She flicks her hair to the side, her voice firm and seemingly unaffected. "It's fine. I have Tom, and I'm sure he's moved on too."

Not awkward. Not at all.

Felicity looks over at me, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Sorry if that was a bit intrusive. My brain's in first and mouth in fifth sometimes."

Kate turns to me, full-on belly laughing. "Girl, you're looking at the queen of come out and say it ." She taps her cup against mine. "To girls who just say it as it is."

I pull my phone out of my purse and drop Mom a quick message. The guilt of her being sick has been gnawing at me since she messaged yesterday.

Me

Hey, how are you doing?

Mom

So sick. I really need you home to help.

I've still got another two nights before my flight home. If I moved to Seattle, it could be months in between seeing her. My stomach twists at the thought of her reaction to me telling her I'm moving away. I still remember the way she mentally declined when Dad left.

I'll be back in two days, and I'll be right over. Maybe you could Instacart something?

I sit waiting for a reply, but nothing comes through.

"Everything okay?" I look up from my phone to see Felicity in Kate's seat.

"Hmm?"

"We lost you for a minute there." She looks down at my phone.

I quickly pocket it. "Yeah, all fine."

Riley's Bar is heaving as we step inside, but security quickly ushers Felicity and me to the private booths at the back. Kate left straight after the game to go meet Tom.

"This place is crazy."

"Yeah." Felicity laughs, taking my hand and guiding me. "It's packed on game nights, but the boys like it since they get a private area, and they're still kind of in the mix of it with the fans, you know?"

"Do you do this every time?" I shout over the noise to her.

She shakes her head. "No. It often depends on the result too."

Suddenly, she stops about twenty feet from the private area. "Ah, shit."

"What?"

She steps aside, allowing me to see past her and straight into the path of Amie and her friends. Most are up on the private dance area shaking their asses. Fine asses at that.

I turn to her. "Want to get out of here and text the boys?"

"Hell. No. That's what she wants. We just ignore her."

The side of my head burns from the way Amie's eyes bore into me as we make our way to our designated booth. We order our drinks; I go to order a juice but get shoehorned into a cocktail, which takes a lot of convincing, and Felicity has a Cosmo.

"Do you think she knows we're officially together?"

Taking a sip, she looks down at the jersey I'm wearing. "No chance."

Laughter spills out of me. "Fair point. But do you think she'll ever leave us alone?"

"I don't know what the score with her and Alex Schneider is, but until she finds a new interest, probably not." She eyes Amie discreetly over my shoulder. "It's hard to believe she's just had a baby."

I've fought hard for the past ten minutes to attempt to ignore her, but curiosity gets the better of me as I try, and fail, to catch an inconspicuous glance at her.

"Yeah, she noticed." Felicity winces.

"Is she coming over here?"

She shakes her head. "No, but it's obvious what she's thinking."

I raise an inquisitive brow.

"Wherever you are, he is. Wherever I am, Jon is."

My face scrunches with disgust. "Jon? She's tried for him too?"

"Babe." She smiles. "She's tried for them all at some point."

"I'm sorry? Who's tried for them all?" A girl I don't recognize walks up behind Felicity.

"And you are?" My friend peeks up at her.

"Bryony."

Something like realization shoots across Felicity's face, but she quickly resets. "I've no idea who you are. Sorry. Can we help?"

"No. I just heard you trash-talking my friend and wanted to call it out, that's all."

"Are we really having this conversation?" Felicity retorts, rolling her eyes in my direction.

"Yep. Since you haven't got your men to defend you this time." Amie comes to stand alongside her friend. Both pout at us as if waiting for a fight.

I give them both my best unintimidated expression. "I don't need anyone to fight my battles."

Amie turns to me, casting her eyes over Zach's jersey. "Do you want to pose for another side-by-side photo shoot? They could post about who wore it better."

Another of her friends comes to stand at her other side and hands Amie a glass of something red.

"I think my students have more maturity than you. I'm not interested in your games." I pause and throw her a sarcastic smile. "Or a social media collaboration."

Felicity fights back laughter as she takes a sip of her cocktail and waves her hand out in front of her. "Run along now, children."

"Fucking bitch!"

Red wine hits me straight in the face, soaking into my hair and Zach's black-and-white Scorpions jersey. I'm stunned into silence and so is most of the bar as people reach for their phones to take footage.

"Bathroom, now!" Felicity pushes past Amie and grabs my hand. She pulls me along as quickly as possible, and luckily, it's only a few paces before we're out of sight.Tears prick in the corners of my eyes as Felicity slams and locks the door behind her.

"Don't cry, babe. We'll get you cleaned up and out of here."

"This is fucking humiliating."

"The only one who should be ashamed is her." She furiously points to Amie, who's no doubt loitering on the other side of the door.

"I can manage," I say, taking a brush and a pack of tissues out of my bag.

"Here." She digs into her big bag and pulls out a spare top. "I'm a size bigger than you, but wear this."

I take the black cami from her and smile. "Thanks. I think this is ruined though, right?" I pull at the hem of the wine-stained jersey.

"She's a fucking bitch," my best friend spits, and for a minute, I think her temper has finally snapped as she reaches for the door handle.

"Don't," I hurry out.

She turns back to me.

"Don't give her what she wants: a scene." I shock myself with my calm tone. Ordinarily, I'd be out there, but thoughts of what that could do to Zach and his career race through my head. He's dealt with enough of her crap to last him a lifetime.

"Luna?" A familiar voice calls from the other side.

Felicity unlocks the door and pulls it open.

Zach stands on the other side in his post-game dress pants, shirt, and tie. He grips the edges of the door frame above his head tightly and then looks at Felicity, fire swarming in his eyes. He's pissed. "Who did this to my girlfriend?"

"Who do you think?"

He drops his head between his shoulders. "For fuck's sake. I'm so sorry, baby."

"It's fine. I have a spare top here, and I can put my hair in a bun, and then?—"

"It's not fine." He pushes off the frame and stalks into the room, his eyes fixed on me. "It's not fucking fine. No one treats my girl like this."

"I'll leave you to it." Felicity slips out and shuts the door.

Zach runs a gentle hand through my soaked hair. "Fucking bitch. She's lucky she's a girl, or I'd bury her right now."

I rest my hand on his chest, the warmth of his skin heating my palm, and his touch vibrating a need straight through me. "It's okay. I'm okay." I look down at his jersey. "I'm not sure this has been so lucky."

Lust overtakes his features as he kisses me deeply, his tongue gliding against mine. "Take it off." He tugs the jersey over my head and then wraps my hair in his fist, gently angling my face to his. "I'll get you a thousand more to wear."

"As long as they have your name on the back."

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he picks me up with ease, sets me on the counter, and then leans across and turns the lock. "You can wear my name for a lifetime, but right now, I want you to scream it."

He unbuttons my jeans and pushes them all the way down and then starts on his belt, unzipping his pants until they hang open at the front. "Feel how hard I am for you. How much I want you."

I reach into his boxers and pull out his hard cock.

He leans in and sears me with a red-hot kiss, his hands flying to cup my cheeks. "Take off those panties and let me fuck you."

Other than my black lace bralette, I'm completely naked as he pushes into me. His mouth is still on mine, and his hands are everywhere as we both gasp for air at the sensation.

"I want everyone in this goddamn bar to know how much I love you. Now, fuck this cock."

He grabs my ass, sinking his fingertips into my flesh as he pistons into me repeatedly. I know I'm screaming, and the entire bar can hear, but I don't care.

They can go right ahead and post about how crazy I am for Zach Evans.