“Seriously where’d you lose ‘em?” another voice asked—one I didn’t recognize.

Ryan put a hand on my chest to step in for me and I stiffened.

Don’t fucking touch me.

I held my tongue and put up a hand instead, giving him an easy grin. “Let me. Truth is guys, I had ‘em in that first round—you saw that. I had a great set up.” That got me a few nods of agreement. “Then I lost it up at the board, trying to get that puck in defense…” I cringed remembering the attack, “I just couldn’t get it back fast enough. They planned that move in advance, I tell ya, if I’d just turned to my right a second earlier, I’d have seen him coming and swerved. Still learning guys, but bottom line, they didn’t play fair tonight.”

Ryan stared at me in utter bewilderment.

A few guys shook their heads in disgust. “Aww, but what a way to start.”

I winked. “I’ll get ‘em next time. You can count on it.”

“We’re with you all the way, Troy.” Someone slapped my back and I turned with a glare sure to make him second guess touching me again.

“Thanks for coming out tonight. All of you, really, you don’t know what this means to me—your support, now and back in Coach Rosinski’s late practices. All those laps he used to make do,” I chuckled.

“All the cheerleaders who stayed to watch,” Gina chimed in with firm hands on my bicep.

“Yeah. Them too.” I didn’t bother looking down at her when I spoke. Instead, I looked around. “Although I don’t see too many of my favorites around tonight.”

A few of the guys around me laughed.

Gina slapped my chest playfully. “You’re such an ass.”

Ryan shook his head with a slight grin. “Okay round of shots for my boy Troy here for being…earnest tonight…despite all else.” He winked at me before walking over to Finn.

Ryan was one of the few players on the Blades I admired. As alternate captain, he was a good player. And kept my brother in check for most of his rookie year.

After a quick shot with the crew, I managed to slip away to see if I could find her. Was she hiding? Had she left?

I turned to head back to my spot at the end of the bar to slip another whiskey before dealing with anyone else and stopped dead in my tracks.

Harper Maxwell was in my seat. And staring right at me. A slow, confident grin formed her lips.

Nope. Not a chance, I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.