4. Chapter 4

"Logan! Over here! Let me buy you a shot!"

The Sunnyvale campus bar was packed with Hawks fans as my teammates and I walked through the doors. In this town, we were more than celebrities. We were like Greek gods coming down to earth.

"Hey, don't worry about the fight. Maybe everyone will forget about it by tomorrow," Tripp suggested, trying to make me feel better.

Running a hand over my face, I winced. Someone had decked me in the jaw, and it was still sore. "Let's hope so. Coach Carl is pissed."

"Forget about it tonight. We won, and we get to celebrate tonight," Jace reminded me.

I smiled as a hot blonde held up a shot and motioned for me. I guessed they were right. What I needed was to let go and enjoy tonight before I had to deal with the repercussions of my actions tomorrow.

"Man, you were on fire tonight!" a guy yells, as he slaps my back as I pass by.

Jace and Tripp wave me over as they sit at a large high-top table near the back. Their girls, Sadie and Skye, are already at the table waiting with pitchers of beer and appetizers. As much hell as I give the guys for wifing up, I have to admit that it must be nice to have people care for you the way Sadie and Skye care for Tripp and Jace.

A couple of rookies stick by my side as I walk through the sea of people. They know that since I'm single, hot chicks flock to me. I"m sure I'll find some great ass tonight.

I sauntered over to the bar where the girl with the shot is waiting. "Logan, you"re a legend!" she squealed as she snapped a selfie with me, her excitement palpable in the tight space between us. Squinting, I rubbed my eyes and tried to take a step back. "Do you think you could sign something for me?"

"Sure," I smirk.

The guys yell at me from the table, but I ignore them. A great way to celebrate will be to hook up with a hot girl and sleep in tomorrow. It's Friday night, and we have the weekend off after this huge win.

"Do you know what your autograph sells for?" she asks.

Shaking my head, I sidle up next to her and take the shot. Throwing it back, I let the cool golden tequila warm my throat.

"I'm not a pro yet, so probably nothing," I tell her, signaling for the bartender to bring me another drink.

The girl rubs my shoulder, and I can smell alcohol and cigarettes on her breath. Something about this chick is turning me off. Everyone here is ready to party, but at what expense?

Her face drops. "Oh, so, like you aren't famous enough to bring in money?" she questions.

And that's my cue to leave.

I hop off the stool, my rookies still by my side, and start to walk toward Tripp and Jace's table.

"Where are you going?" the girl calls.

I don't bother to give her an answer. Puck bunnies come in all forms, and this is one kind I can't stand. I don't mind a girl using me for a one-night stand that she can brag about later, but when they want a payout from it, I have learned to run. Girls like this will trap you with a kid or a salacious scandal. After our win tonight, I was walking on air. Riding out a high that no drug could ever compare to. But when girls did shit like this – only wanting an autograph instead of just fun – I walked away.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I retrieve it, I sigh as I see Topher's name on the screen. Reluctantly, I answer.

"Hey."

"Logan, you"ve seen the video, right?" came the terse voice on the other end, brimming with the kind of disappointment you couldn"t sugarcoat. Topher wasn't just disappointed, he was pissed.

"Hard to miss," I replied, the words sandpaper against my throat. I had to hold the phone close to my ear to hear Topher over the roar of the bar.

"Look, I"ll cut to the chase. The sponsors are bailing—every single one of them. Coach Carl was ready to bench you for this. They can"t have their brands tied to...to this," he explained, each word landing like a puck to the chest. "I thought you had learned from Tripp that the media can ruin your career if they want. We have worked really hard to get you to the point where you can ignore the taunts from other players. I don't know what happened tonight, but it's not good."

"Okay, I get it. I'm sorry. I tried to ignore him. I just lost it," I admitted, hating how awful I felt.

"Logan, I'm doing what I can, but you need to lay low. Show Coach Carl this was a one-time mistake. If he benches you, just accept it and learn from this mistake."

Winching, I felt like an idiot. Being benched would be an epic failure, literally the end of everything for me. Maybe that sounds dramatic, but it's true.

"I can do that. I've kept my nose clean. I will do whatever it takes to prove to Coach and the team that I won't let this happen again," I swear.

"I will see you tomorrow," Topher said and then hung up.

When I get to the table, Tripp and Jace have wide grins plastered over their faces. I sit in an empty chair and grab Tripp's beer. Topher's words hung heavy in my mind.

"Hey, get your own drink," Tripp growls.

Shaking my head, I slam the glass back onto the table. "I need to get laid."

Jace laughs and places a hand on Skye's thigh. "Me, too."

This elicits a giggle from Skye, and my stomach rolls. These guys being madly in love makes me sick sometimes. Sure, their girlfriends are cool, but they have sex all the time and rub it in my face.

"I really fucked up tonight," I said to the guys.

We have been close forever. They never lied to me, and I loved them for it. They all nodded, knowing that.

We played a game of darts and drank while fans continuously came up to us and congratulated us on the win. Even the rookies were having the time of their lives as they strutted around with puck bunnies. As the hours passed, I saw the guys with girlfriends all start to leave the bar. Once my friends started to head out, I decided to leave, too.

Only, I'm not ready to go home just yet. Tripp and Jace are my roommates and will be up all night with their girls. Topher is probably reviewing footage of the game with Coach, so I don't even bother calling him. The bars that line the street are all roaring with voices and music. I pull my ball cap lower on my head. Right now, I just want to sit and enjoy a drink, not talk about the game with fans. Don't get me wrong; I adore my fans. Their voices and energy boost my own adrenaline when I'm on the ice, but sometimes, I just want to crash in a bar and just hang like a typical college student.

Though, I would never admit that out loud. If I lost hockey or my small claim to fame, I don't know what I would do.

I wander into another bar that doesn't look as crowded as the rest. Old ESPN highlights play on the screens, and I smile as I walk inside from the sidewalk. This is where I need to be tonight. Heading to the bar, I find an empty seat and double-check to ensure no one has recognized me. Sunnyvale is a small town, but it's dark in here and most of the people seem drunk. I ordered a beer and watched the highlight reels. Relaxing, I allow myself to enjoy the beer and atmosphere as I realize I finally managed to get what I wanted tonight.