Free Breakaway (Pro-U #1) by Ali Parker Page B

me, all right? People expect shit in my family and if you don't-"
    "Shut the fuck up. You don't know nothing. Wash your face and get out there in ten minutes looking like you're ready to announce the Miss America Pageant. I better see smiles and waves galore, or consider yourself no longer a Friar." I poked him in the chest hard. The chance to let him have some playing time was out the window completely. We'd be lucky if coach didn't notice just how fucked up he was and kicking him out of the rink in front of everyone. There were far too many politics in college sports to let anything slide.
    "Fuck you," he mumbled as I jogged from the room to catch up with my team.
    The Ice Queens stood beside the players’ bench, giving out high fives and kisses as we made our way through. Aubrey was right beside Layla with a smile on her pretty face. Her dark hair was down and rested on her shoulders, framing her perfect face in a way that had my body aching for her.
    "Do good and behave." She spoke the same words she had every game for the last three years. I was up last and gave her a tight smile as she looked up at me. "Do good and have fun."
    "No behaving?" I paused and let my eyes run down her face, quite aware that Layla was watching us like a hawk.
    "I highly doubt you're going to behave, Lucas White. It's the final home game of your senior year." She pushed softly at my chest. "Move along, please."
    "I don't get a kiss for good luck?" I had to have a little bit of fun. The girl was whittling me down without even trying. Payback should be hell.
    "Nope. Get out of here with that." She turned and started to gather forms and information as Layla shrugged.
    "I'd offer, but she'd kill me in my sleep later." Layla laughed as Aubrey jerked back around with a loud gasp.
    "Good to know." I winked at them both and moved to sit by Jayce, who had a hard look on his face.
    "What's going on with you and my sister?" He pressed his shoulder against mine.
    "Nothing." I glanced over at him. "Yet. I keep telling myself that we're cool just being friends, but I don't know. I can't shake her."
    "What was that bullshit line you fed me yesterday that she was like a sister to you too?" He sat back and let out a long sigh. I felt for the guy. He cared a lot for Aubrey and would never find any of us good enough to date her. Hell, none of us were good enough.
    "It was me trying to talk myself out of asking her out. I don't want a woman in my life. You know how I feel about them." I stood as the announcer started to call names and pulled my mask over my head.
    "Yeah, so leave her alone then. She's not someone you're going to be able to take advantage of and walk away from, and if you do... I'll be waiting with a big fucking bat to beat your head in." Jayce's eyes shifted toward the ice. "What's Will doing? He's not up first is he?"
    I turned to see William skating across the ice with a big, cheesy-ass grin on his face. He waved as he moved toward us like he was in an old country parade and happened to be the main event.
    "He's doing what I told him to. That kid’s going to be the death of me, but at least he's still trying." I reached out and pushed at his shoulder as he moved into the players’ area. "Sit down and behave."
    "I did as you told me. Give me some playing time tonight. Let me make everything up to you." His dark blue eyes moved across my face, pleading with me to give him one more shot.
    "No. Sit down and shut the fuck up." I turned and moved to the opening. "Let's go guys. No fighting unless they start it."
    "What if they play clean tonight?" Jessie asked after moving up on my left.
    "Then you need to start praying to the god of your choice, cause the apocalypse is headed our way. Clean isn't in their vocab." I moved out on the ice and caught the eyes of their star player. Hans Luden was a beast of a guy and one of the best hockey players in our division, but I would take his ass out like I did everyone else I played against.
    One puck at a