End Game (Bellevue Bullies 4)

Chapter Twelve

Ryan

I’m leaninginto my stick as I stand in line watching as my linemates go. It’s early as fuck, and I’d rather be chasing Sofia around, but here I am. Baylor’s voice fills the rink when Willy, our fourth liner, misses a pass.

“Are we playing peewees? That was a solid pass. You didn’t put your fucking stick down!” Willy makes a face, annoyed, but Baylor isn’t wrong. “Get it together, or I’ll sit you so fast your head spins. Don’t forget, everyone, I have as much pull as Coach. This is nothing to fuck around with! We are here for a reason, and that reason is you guys are letting things happen that don’t happen in college hockey.”

Baylor is in a wonderful mood.

Willy gets in line again while another pair goes. Moon and I already went; we kicked ass, and now we wait again for another go. While I should be watching and learning from my teammates’ mistakes, my head is full of thoughts of Sofia and that little dip between her eyes.

Man, she was hot this morning—and spunky.

While her ass and thighs were on full display—and we all know how I love those thighs and that ass—they weren’t what caused my dry mouth and made me beyond turned on. No, it was her boldness. She wasn’t like most girls around here, compliant and sweet. No, she had this spark in her eyes and was quick-tongued.

She was mighty fun, and man, I wanted so much more.

I wanted to taste that sweet mouth of hers. I wanted to hold her ass in my hands and stare into her dark hazel eyes. I thought my pride would be a little more dented when she turned me down. If anything, all this morning did was ignite a fire within me to have her in my arms and her lips against mine.

Oh, I want it so bad.

Problem is, she is weirdly hesitant, and I will find out why. Ease her concerns. Kiss her and enjoy the shit out of her.

Yup, that’s my plan, and I like that plan.

A. Lot.

“So that was that Sofia girl who scored all tens at the meet, right?”

I lean back toward Moon, though my gaze is where Baylor is ripping into Carter and Meeks. “She got one ten and the rest high nines.”

“Yeah, whatever. Heard she’s a fucking beast. Also heard she’s hot as fuck. Her reputation definitely precedes her.”

“Oh, it does.” I look over to him, a little tilt to my lips. “She’s more than just a beast and total hotness. There is a lot more.”

I’m answered with his soft chuckle. “So, you getting on that?”

I don’t show weakness. Ever. With my family, sure. But my competition, my friends, they don’t ever know I’m not where I want to be. So there’s no way in hell I’m telling Moon I got turned down. “I am.”

“Which means I should tell everyone she’s off-limits.”

The Bullies have an understanding. If a guy calls a girl, we respect him and stay away. I am calling Sofia. If they don’t like it, they know where I am. If Sofia doesn’t like it, she can come tell me too. I’ll enjoy that exchange, for sure. “If they want to continue being cool with me, yeah.”

“And your sister is still off-limits, right?”

When my blood pressure kicks up, I press my lips together before taking in a deep breath. “Who’s asking?”

“Willy. He has a class with her and was talking about how hot she is.”

My gaze falls to where Willy is standing, talking with the other guys, and an irrational anger fills me from the inside out. We’re supposed to be cool. I’m pretty sure everyone knows Amelia is off-limits. “What did you say?”

Moon laughs. “Told him if he wants to die, go for her, but I wouldn’t. We all know I think she’s hot. She’s also feeling me, by the way. She follows me on Snap. Though, she hasn’t snapped me or me her.”

I give him a serious look since I really don’t like him calling my sister hot or that he follows her. She snaps a lot of pictures of herself in a leo, those duck-lip faces, and of course, low-cut shirts. I didn’t realize how pissed I’d get if someone wanted to date her. I didn’t mind her last boyfriend, Drew, mainly because he was weak, and I knew she wouldn’t stay with him. Moon, though, he could break my sister. She’d fall for him; I know she would. Willy, too. Hell, all these assholes. She has a weird thing for hockey players. And ever since Shelli said that thing about Amelia wanting to get laid, it’s been fucking with me. “What did he say?”

“He said she can make her own decisions.”

“Oh, did he?”

Moon looks worried. “I really don’t think you should kill him. Baylor is chewing him out already.”

I ignore him, though. My furious gaze falls on Willy as he skates to our line. He looks annoyed, but I don’t care. “Hey, Will.”

He looks to me, his brows drawn in and his face visibly upset. “What?”

“Amelia Justice, the girl in your…” I look to Moon to supply the class.

“Lit 1,” he says out of the side of the mouth, and when I look to Willy, he knows it’s coming.

“Lit 1,” I repeat. “I don’t know if you have forgotten, but she is my baby sister and not an option for you.”

He wants to argue, I can see it in his eyes, but mine dare him to. Everyone on the team knows how family-oriented I am. They’ve been to my house, they’ve had dinner with my mom, and they’ve been to parties with my whole family. Just because Amelia is older now doesn’t mean she is here for their delight.

Maybe if I scare them enough now, when I’m gone, she’ll be okay.

Thankfully, Willy nods. “Yeah, fine.”

“Good talk.”

“She’s not the hottest one on the team anyway,” I hear him mutter, and within seconds, my blood is boiling.

“Excuse me?”

Everyone falls silent around us. “I just thought she was hot, but there are plenty of other girls on the team.”

I sniff in loudly, like a bull, nodding. “As long as it’s not my sister, we’re good.”

“Or Sofia,” Moon adds, and two of the guys look over at me.

Meeks glances back to me. “You hitting that?

“I’m not.”

“Then she’s up for grabs,” Willy says, but I shake my head.

“No, she isn’t.”

“One of your cousins?”