Page 144 of Offside Rules

"Yeah. You should’ve."

She turns toward me, eyes shining.

"But that doesn’t give him the right to speak to you like that," I add.

She nods, wiping beneath one eye.

A staff member appears at the far end of the corridor and gestures toward the room.

I look back at Baylor.

"I have to go."

"I know."

"We’re not done talking."

"I know," she says again, taking my hand.

I kiss her once more.

She holds on until I have to step away.

Hunter is waiting beside my stall.

"What happened?"

"Beau saw us."

His expression changes.

"How much of ‘us’?"

"Enough."

"Fuck."

"Leave it alone if anything happens out on the ice, I got it. I have a feeling we’ll be settling something tonight."

He looks at me for a second, then nods.

I pull on my helmet and get my gloves.

There’s a game to finish.

After that, I’m finding Baylor.

Beau doesn’t look at me during the faceoff.

He waits until we’re moving.

"Stay the fuck away from my sister."

I keep my eyes on the puck.

"That’s her decision."

He cuts across behind me, close enough that his shoulder clips mine.