from her and then to the line. Toeing the ice, he took off, but she knew what he was going to do before he did and cut left as he did, spinning the puck away and going back to the line. Glaring at her, he shook his head.
“Bullshit, I’m still healing,” he tried and she laughed, moving the puck between her legs and back out.
“Bullshit, don’t get all pissy ’cause I’m gonna beat you,” she teased and his glare deepened. When she went left, he followed and she sent the puck through his legs, going around him to pick it up. She didn’t have the shot, so she went wide of the net, and when he barreled after her, she watched as it hit off the boards before coming to the slot. Lifting the puck, she hit the side of the post and grinned back at him.
“First to three right?”
He set her with a serious look, breathing hard. “I said five.”
She giggled. “Sure ya did.”
“It isn’t fair. You’re fast as shit, and it isn’t like I can slam you against the boards to stop you,” he complained, and she looked over her shoulder at him as she got in place before he took the puck out.
“Are you crying like a little bitch, Thomas?”
“Did you just call me a bitch?” he asked, shocked, and she nodded.
“I did. Now hush, girlie girl, and let’s do this.”
“Oh no, you didn’t,” he said in the same Valley girl voice that Karson liked to use. Taking off, she thought he was going to go left, so she deked, ready to cut him off. But he threw the puck over her, and then to her surprise, batted the puck into the net. Throwing his hands up, he said, “Boom!”
“Boom, what?” she screeched. “You didn’t even hit the post.”
He looked at the net and then to her. “Yes, I did.”
“You liar! You did not!” she yelled, and she was about to go on when he shot her a big grin.
“Fine, I didn’t. But I should get a point for the awesome batting I did,” he suggested and she shook her head, taking the puck out.
“I don’t give charity goals,” she shot at him and he laughed.
“Such a badass,” he teased and she grinned as she went to the line.
“I score, I win,” she reminded him and he shrugged.
“Won’t happen. I’m gonna stop you and then score three in a row,” he proclaimed and it took everything out of her not to laugh, but he just looked so adorably hot. His brow was furrowed, his breathing hard, and he had sweat dripping from his beard. But the best part was his intense gaze. He wanted to win, and she was so sad to disappoint him, but he was going down. She knew it wasn’t fair. He’d had practice before they hit the ice, but it wasn’t her fault he’d challenged her. She doubted he would ever make that mistake again.
Grinning, she slap shot the puck, whizzing it past him and knocking into the boards.
“What the hell?” he called. And as she knew it would, it caught him off guard, so she rushed, catching the rebound and then lifting it off the ice to hit the crossbar. “Now, that’s not fair! You distracted me!”
Giggling, she shrugged as she pulled off her helmet, shaking out her hair and then taking her mouthguard out. “Told ya I’d win.”
He shook his head. “You already did that move though!”
“There are no rules for repeat moves. It worked the first time, and I figured it’d work the second.”
He glared. “You know I’m worn out from practice too. You wouldn’t have beat me if I was at full strength.”
“Of course not,” she said, trying not to smile.
“Plus, my core hurts. You made me do a billion crunches and seven billion burpees,” he accused and she shrugged.
“Helped with your slap shot though. So in the long run, you’ll be thanking me and you’ll forget about your little bruised ego.”
“You’re being condescending, aren’t you?” he asked, coming toe-to-toe with her, his eyes locked on hers.
“Just a little. I won fair and square.”
His face twisted in shock. “The hell you did! You did some cutesy shit that no one does and caught me off guard.”
“You’re full of it! I’ve seen plenty of people do that in the NHL. You’re just mad that you got beat by Khaotic Kacey!”
Looking up at the roof, he laughed from his gut. “Are you really busting out that wack-ass nickname? You aren’t Khaotic