Vaughn made a face and then shook his head. “Fucking hell,” he muttered before getting up and heading to the door.

In his underwear.

“You don’t want to put on pants?” Markus asked as he hurried to catch up with him.

“Nope,” he said simply as he walked down the hall with Markus on his heels. As much as he wanted to give the guy shit for walking around in just tight white boxers and his cup, he soon couldn’t speak. The lights of the media area blinded him, and when he saw the camera crew, his stomach flipped. Where was his excitement? Because now he was just nervous. What if he fucked up?

When he heard the intake of a female breath, he glanced past Vaughn, who looked more and more like he wanted to off himself, to a very hot chick who was maybe five foot. She was itty bitty with big blue eyes and short blond hair. She wore a dress like Mekena would wear, long-sleeved and to her knees, with high heels. She was the size Mekena used to be too, thick, almost like Elli. And boy, was she pretty. Strong jawline and long, lush eyelashes.

But she looked like she had been punched in the gut and wanted to be anywhere but there when her eyes settled on Vaughn. Markus swore he heard her mumble, “Fuck.”

“Let’s get this shit over with,” Vaughn muttered, crossing his arms as he towered over who Markus assumed was the broadcaster. He hadn’t met her yet, but she was holding a mic, and when she held it to her mouth, he figured he was right.

“Where are your pants? He has no pants on.”

“What, sweetheart? My cock distracting?”

She glared as some of the guys sputtered with laughter. “Considering half of that is the cup, I’m not the least bit distracted.”

Vaughn’s eyes narrowed, but Markus’s eyes were as big as saucers as they glared at each other.

Looking to the camera, the reporter grinned widely and said, “I’m Brie Soledad, here with Vaughn Johansson, who scored two goals tonight in the four to zero win over the Devils.” She spoke brightly and happily, unlike a few seconds before when she looked as if she wanted to gouge her eyeballs out. “Vaughn, great game. Sick shot over the goalie’s shoulder in the first. Can you walk us through the play?”

With a dry look, he bent down even more to make sure she didn’t have to reach and said, “I was in the right place at the right time, Reeves passed one hell of a pass, and I shot it in. Like I’m paid to do. Because I’m a hockey player, and that’s what we do.”

Markus pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. Brie, though, he could see that she wanted to smack Vaughn with the mic. “Yes, so, ugh…can you…walk us through the second goal?”

“I shot it really hard. It went in.”

Markus nearly snorted with laughter, but he held it in as he shook his head. Brie kept on trudging. “Yes, and what a great shot. You are really an asset to this team, and the crowd was rocking tonight.”

“Because they’re the best fucking crowd in the NHL.”

When Markus heard the gasp, not from Brie but the staff, Markus sputtered with laughter. Taking the mental note not to cuss, Markus watched as Brie glared and said, “Wow, thanks so much. That’s all I’ve got with Vaughn Johansson. Stay tuned for star rookie, Markus Reeves.”

“We’re done? You don’t want to ask me anything else?”

“No.”

“Oh, darn, I enjoy this so much,” Vaughn said before walking away like he hadn’t just ruined that interview.

Bursting at the seams, Brie whipped around to another person in a suit. “Doesn’t he know that was live? He can’t do that! He ruins it every single time. I refuse to interview him anymore. He wasn’t even wearing pants!”

“You couldn’t see, it’s okay. We’ll talk to him. Get ready, we go back in two minutes.”

“He sexually harassed me!”

The guy gave her a level look. “And you sexually harassed him with the shot about his dick. Come on, Brie, just let it go. He’s the star of the team.”

“He’s a monster douche,” she muttered, shaking her head. Letting out a long breath, Brie looked to Markus, and he smiled as he waved.

“Hey! How’s it going?”

“Hi, ugh, sorry,” she said, holding her hand out. “I’m Brie Soledad. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

“So are you ready for this?”

“Yes, and I promise I’ll do better than he did.”

“Thank God,” she muttered before the guy with the camera started counting down. “Okay, this will be easy and painless.”

“Bring it on.”

Markus Reeves was ready for anything.

Markus told Mekena to meet him in Baylor’s box that was up in the club suites on the second floor of the arena. After looking for it for almost thirty minutes, she finally found it, and by the time she got there, she was annoyed. But when she knocked on the door and Baylor answered, a grin on her face, Mekena’s annoyance evaporated, especially when Baylor said, “What a game, right? Markus did great!”

That was her boyfriend Baylor was talking about, and the feeling of overwhelming pride was suffocating her.

“He did,” she gushed with a huge grin as she entered, Baylor shutting the door behind her. “I’m superproud and got some great shots.”

“Awesome. I can’t wait to see them. Did you get any of my man?”

“I did. I got his goal,” she said proudly since it was an awesome shot. Jayden had swung back, hitting the puck so hard that he shattered the blade of his stick, yet it had deflected off a Devils player and went in. It was a shit goal, lucky as all get-out, but he scored nonetheless. She got him shooting, which was awesome since all the debris from his stick was around him. Holding up her camera, she turned it on and found the picture, showing it to Baylor.

Baylor beamed. “Wow, that is awesome. Can you email me that? I want to frame it.”

“Of course,” Mekena said, but then she paused. “I have to make sure that’s allowed.”

Baylor laughed as she nodded. “Please do!”

When a hand came onto her shoulder, she looked over to see Jayden’s mom grinning at her. “Hey, Mekena, how was your first night?”

“It was great,” she gushed, smiling so hard her face hurt. “It was so awesome, except that little trolley thing they gave me to sit on. One wheel was busted, so when I tried to turn, it would go wonky, and I almost fell like three times.” She was answered with laughter as she rolled her eyes. “Finally, I kicked the thing to the side and went on my knees. They hurt,” she said, rubbing her knees in aggravation.