Page 198 of Off Limits: The Firsts

“Speech. Speech. Speech,” the guys begin chanting.

I motion with my hands to quiet down as I look at my teammates looking up at me. I looked at this team not very long ago and saw limitations and incompetence. Just like my dad sees in me. But when did I last congratulate them for a job well done? When did I last praise them for kicking ass? When did I last lead them off the ice like I do on the ice? The pressure to do right by them isn’t as great as my own drive to do this for Jonah, but it’s still there. In their smiles. In the excitement mixed with anticipation in their eyes.

“Way to kick ass and take names, guys. One more win and one more game down.” I let them cheer, some fists going in the air. “I just wanted to give a shout out to the defense tonight. Killer job, guys. To the fresh legs off the bench, we needed you more than you know. To the guys up top—shit, you made it easy to do our jobs tonight. In short, keep it up.”

“Great job, Cap,” Katzen yells out from the back of the room, and I nod in response, because this isn’t about me.

This is about them. It needs to be about them.

“One more thing,” I say and hold my finger up to quiet them down. “I know I’ve been shit to deal with, play with—unpredictable as fuck. I’m sorry for that, but I promise you, my head’s back in the game. My priorities are straight. And fuck if they’re not fixed on winning the Holy Grail.”

The small room explodes with noise and a palpable excitement as I climb down from the bench to finish getting my gear off.

“Glad to see you back, Cap,” Jünger says just above the fray, then pats me on the back as he walks past me.

And each one of my teammates follow his footsteps.

A punch to my shoulder. A push to my chest. A bump of fists.

Each one stops and tells me in their own way that they’re in it with me.

That they’re ready to win it all.

And fuck, so am I.

Hunter

16 years earlier

I jolt when Terry stands at the front door of the house, her dark-blue fancy dress with sparkles and her hair up in some flashy way that makes her look as old as you should be to do the things she did to me earlier.

Swallowing over the sudden panic mixed with immediate lust that hits me, I walk toward the screen and thank God I took a shower and changed.

At least she’ll know I’m Hunter.

At least she won’t realize I tricked her earlier.

On my best day ever.

Terry. Losing my virginity. The euphoric bliss over it feeling so much better than jerking off. Soap and warm water have nothing on what a girl feels like.

On my worst day ever.

How I’ve been beating myself up the past few hours over it. I know Jonah’s going to find out what I did somehow—how I betrayed him—and shit’s going to hit the fan.

I already know my parents are going to rail. Jonah’s going to throw punches. I’m going to be dead. Absolutely fucking dead.

I’m guilty as hell. I feel like shit, but I also wonder why out of the two of us who are identical, why he’s the one who gets everything while I’m left to pick up the scraps?

“What are you doing here?” I ask as I lean my hip against the jamb and stare at her. “I thought you were with Jonah at the dance.”

She shrugs. “We were all supposed to go as a group. Gannon called though and said Jonah had to leave to do something. Pick someone up or something.” She looks over my shoulder. “He’s not here?”

“No one is,” I say, ignoring the pang of guilt over making him get our mom.

“I’m all dressed up and nowhere to go.” She smiles and fiddles with the hem of her skirt with one hand showing me more of her thigh.

I look behind me and debate asking her to come in. I know I should, but Jesus, isn’t that inviting a disaster to happen? “I can call him. See where he is.”