One Pucking Destiny (Crane Hockey #4)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER

FIVE

BASH

I n the final moments of the preseason game against Chicago, our hometown arena is electric with anticipation. I live for this feeling. The fans’ excitement is palpable, creating a tangible buzz in the air. The score is knotted at two-two.

The puck is in my possession. Beckett and Cade are tied up by the opposing defenders, making our planned plays impossible. I pull in a breath, and my skates slide across the ice with calm precision as if on autopilot. The movements are automatic. Every cell in my body wants this win and knows what to do to get it.

I lock eyes with the goalie, taking in his movements, hoping for a tell to gain an opening to the net for the puck. Sidestepping a lunging defender, I rush forward, lifting my stick. The goalie shifts, anticipating my shot as I slap the puck toward the goal. It rockets through the small space between his legs, hitting the back of the net.

The buzzer sounds, signifying the end of the game, and I smile wide as the crowd erupts with a roar of celebration. Raising my fist, I pump the air as my teammates skate over to celebrate with me. While fleeting, this moment is utter perfection. It fills me with unsaturated joy that will sustain me until the next time. In hockey, there’s always the push for the next time, the next win, the next moment of euphoria. There’s nothing like it.

As a team, we skate around the arena, cheering along with the fans. The thunderous applause is worthy of a championship match more than a single preseason game, but that’s why I love this game and our fans so much. There’s no shortage of heart or passion for the sport.

Cade Richards, one of our starting forwards, claps me on the back. “Fuck yeah, Cookie. Now that’s how you finish the first game of the season.” He smiles as we skate off the ice.

“Thanks,” I say.

The celebratory cheers ring throughout the tunnel that leads to our locker room .

“We are partying tonight!” Jaden, one of our starting defensemen, nudges me with his shoulder.

“Facts!” Max, our other defenseman, collides with my other shoulder. “Barbados style.”

I huff out a laugh. “It’s hard to replicate Barbados in Michigan.”

“Just need a little creativity, my man,” Jaden states.

The team spent a week in Barbados during our bye week last season, and we had an amazing time. It was only my second bye week spent with the guys, but it will be hard to top. Per Cranes tradition, a new location is chosen each year. The off week in January marks the halfway point of the season and was put into place to give the NHL players some downtime during our lengthy season. Though restful and relaxing, it is not. After a week of nonstop partying, we return to the season exhausted. But when the moment is that good—and bye week provides epic moments—consequences be damned.

I get along with all the guys on the team, but I’m closest with Jaden and Max. All of us were recruited in the past couple of years and are three of the youngest guys on the team. I’m officially the youngest by a couple of months, which is something the guys like to tease me about. I mean, given that our starting forward just turned twenty-seven, three years is hardly a lot. But I’ve found this group of guys loves to harp on one another for just about anything…hence all of our ridiculous nicknames. Though it’s all in good fun, and I definitely hit the team lottery when I was drafted to the Cranes. These guys are my family.

We shower, change, and wrap up the post-game press interviews before heading out.

One of our favorite local bars, The Station, is the destination. It’s not Barbados, but it’s a chill place to hang. The building was a working firehouse decades ago, though all that remains of its glory days is the tall silver pole that stands in the center. The decor is otherwise pretty generic. But it’s clean and comfortable. The winning attribute is Betty, the bartender who pours the best drinks in Michigan. I don’t know what it is about her drinks, but they taste better than all the rest. We all think so.

“Another?” Betty squeezes my wrist, lightly scratching my skin with her long, black-painted nails.

I take a final swig of my beer and nod. “Let’s switch it up, though. Can you make me a mojito?”

A few beers in, I’m feeling nostalgic. Hattie tries to make our home games but couldn’t attend this one because of her study group tonight. Mojitos are her absolute favorite, and Betty makes the best.

“Are we sure about that?” She tilts her head to the side and raises her brow and her silver brow ring with it. “You know what they say, liquor before beer—all in the clear, beer before liquor—never been sicker. You should’ve started with the rum drink.”

“Nah, I’ll be good.”

“Okay,” she says, her voice skeptical. She starts preparing my beverage. “I hear you were the star of the game tonight.”

I shake my head. “It was a team effort.”

She shoots me a flirtatious smile, and the corners of my mouth turn up. Betty flirts with the whole team, and though I deny it when the guys mention it, she flirts with me the most. I’ve kept things friendly, however. There’s no doubt she’s hot, but I don’t want to make things awkward since we frequent this place.

Betty has a killer body—a tiny waist and a huge chest. Colorful sleeve tattoos cover both arms. She wears a black corset top that shows off her ample cleavage and a short black miniskirt that barely covers her ass cheeks. Her full lips sport a deep red lipstick. She has a slew of piercings on her ears, lip, brows, and tongue, and I’d bet she also has some beneath her clothing.

She hands me my drink. “You know, my offer still stands.”

“Offer?” I clear my throat and push the musings of Betty’s hidden piercings from my mind.

“To come home with me after work.” She licks her lips, giving me a wink. “It would be fun. ”

There is no doubt in my mind that a night with Betty would be off the charts. This woman radiates sex, and I’m certain she’d be amazing, but I just can’t. As sexy as she is, she’s not my type. It would only be a one-night stand, and while I’m all for random hookups now and again, it wouldn’t be random because I see Betty a lot. I get enough shit from the guys for everything else. I’d never live it down if I ruined our drinking spot because I made things awkward with the best bartender in the world.

“Oh, Betty. You know I can’t. We got a good thing going here.” I raise my glass. “Best not ruin it.”

She puckers her lips. “Being ruined by you doesn’t sound too bad.”

I flash her a smile and turn back to the guys.

Max nudges my side. “Did you seriously just turn her down again?”

“You know my reasons,” I say.

“I don’t get it.” Jaden flashes a look over his shoulder to Betty, who is at the other end of the bar helping another patron. “Why is she up your ass? You’re like the boy next door, and she’s like a sex kitten. You don’t line up.” He holds out his arms, drawing attention to his tattoo sleeves. “I’m her type, not you.”

“Because you have tattoos?” I chuckle .

“Well, yeah.” He scoffs. “Among other things. I just fit her vibe more.”

Max leans in. “Oh, it’s because you’re a sex kitten, too? Huh, J-man?”

Jaden’s eyes go wide. “Do not utter those words again. The last thing I need is one of the guys catching wind of that name. I can live with J-man, but”—he lowers his voice to a whisper—“sex kitten would be so embarrassing.”

“Not more embarrassing than Cookie Monster.” Max laughs.

“Shut it.” I sigh. “You know what? Next time I bake cookies, I won’t bring them in. How about that?”

“Aw, Cookie… you know we’re just teasing. We love your baked goods,” Jaden says. “Look, all I’m saying is that Betty has been coming on to you for a year now, quite consistently, and the two of you are nothing alike.” He nods toward my bicep. “The only tattoo you have is a butterfly, for fuck’s sake.”

I take a sip of my drink. “Well, you know what they say? Opposites attract.”

“You kid, bro,” Max scoffs. “If you wanted Betty, you would’ve done something about it by now. I think J-man is suggesting that you make it clear to her that you’ll never be interested so someone else has a chance. ”

I release a small laugh. “Believe me, I have. What can I say? She’s persistent.”

“We need to find you someone else to celebrate your goal-winning victory with,” Jaden states. “Look around at all the options.”

“Nah, I’m not feeling a random hookup tonight.”

“Why not?” Max questions.

“Just not in the mood.” I take a sip of my drink.

Max leans in. “Is this still because of Book Girl?”

I shrug.

“Dude, it’s been a month. Let it go.” Jaden rolls his eyes.

“It’s not that easy,” I admit. “I told you, we had this insane connection. It was unlike anything I’ve felt before.”

“And we told you that she proceeded to sneak out while you were asleep because she didn’t want to exchange information. I’d say she was pretty clear. You need to move on.”

I hold my free hand up and nod. “I know, and I will. I am. Look… I’m just not in the mood for a hookup tonight. Plus, I’m fully capable of finding someone if I am. You two should worry less about me and more about yourselves. Okay?”

Jaden turns and sets his empty beer bottle on the bar, then motions to Betty for another. “I just think it’s weird that you haven’t hooked up with anyone since Book Girl.”

“And I think it’s weird that you care so much about my sex life. I mean, I know we’re close and all, but you two need to be less obsessed with me,” I tease.

“You know what? Screw you, Cookie. We’re just trying to help you out,” Jaden grumbles.

“I told you guys, I’m good.” Betty hands a bottle of beer to Jaden, and I turn to address her. “Hey, gorgeous, you know that offer you made me earlier? I think Jaden here would like to take you up on it.”

Betty laughs and looks at Jaden. “Sorry, babe. You’re just not my type.”

Max and I burst out in laughter as Betty retreats to the other end of the bar.

“Dicks, both of you.” Jaden frowns before he says with a huff, “How am I not her type?”

Max ruffles my hair. “I guess she likes ’em squeaky clean with butterfly tattoos like our Cookie here.”

I smack his hand away. “What can I say? When you got it, you got it?” I kid, plastering a smile on my face. Some of the other guys join us, and the conversation flows.

The night out with the guys is fun, as always, but a beautiful brunette has taken up permanent residence in my mind, filling my head with distractions, and it’s not Betty .

At this point, if I can’t have her, it’d be easier if she would vacate my brain. Yet forgetting her isn’t something I’m ready to do either.