Dump and Chase: Nashville Assassins: Next Generation Read online

  I push my ass into the guy to give myself some room as I fight for the puck against two defensemen. Thankfully, Wes has skated up and is fighting also. Somehow, he gets the puck and sends it up the boards. I push off the Igor fucker and crash the net just as Boon shoots. He misses the net completely, but in his defense, it was redirected. The puck stumbles over the line, and we all rush for a change so the next line can get on the ice. I fall into my spot between Boon and Wes before grabbing my water bottle and cheering the boys on.

  “Pressure! Pressure!”

  From beside me, Wes lowers his bottle. “What kind of dogs will be there?”

  “Where?”

  “The calendar thing.”

  “Puppies?” I answer before squirting the water into my mouth. I then grab the Gatorade, doing the same.

  “You think there will be Boxers? I love Boxers.”

  I shrug, not the least bit worried about dogs and more worried about tying this game. “I don’t know. Ask Shelli.”

  “Maybe there will be German shepherds,” Boon says from beside me. “We’re meeting at the Adlers’ house, right? Man, that’s gonna be awesome. Will there be food?”

  I blink, unsure what the hell is happening here. “I don’t know. Ask Shelli.”

  Wes gives me a look. “We all know you know, dude.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Means we know,” Wes says, waggling his brows, and praise God, our line is called. We all three go over the boards, and thankfully, the guys are in game mode once their skates hit the ice. I go to center ice, waiting for Tampa to carry the puck in. I have my stick out, ready to block the pass, but they go the other way, wanting to hit their forward. But Wes is there, breaking the pass and passing it toward me. I rush after it into the zone, and I realize I’m on a breakaway.

  Awesome.

  I corral the puck and rush toward the net. The goalie sets, his eyes on me, and mine are on the back of the net. I deke left, but he doesn’t follow, so I cross quickly, but I feel the defense coming up on me. I drop the puck behind me, skating over it before moving my stick between my legs back to the puck, where I wrist it up and over the goalie’s shoulder.

  Goal.

  The red light goes off, and I swear, even Tampa fans are cheering. I turn, throwing my hands up as my teammates skate toward me, yelling and hollering as we wrap up in a tight hug. That was probably the sickest goal of my career, and damn, I hope Shelli saw it.

  She’ll be so damn proud.

  We end up going into overtime and winning twenty-seven seconds in with a crazy slapper from Paxton. It was amazing and a great win. It feels good to be going home on a high note, especially when we only have nineteen games until the play-offs start. The three-week-long road trip was successful, only losing three games, but one thing is for sure… I’m ready to go home. I’m tired of living out of a suitcase, and I miss Shelli. So damn much.

  While things have been great for me on the ice and even on the phone with Shelli, I haven’t spoken to Asher in weeks. I’m still livid with him, and I can’t bring myself to call him. I had to swear my family to secrecy, which means my mom is hardly talking to Elli. I told Shelli it was under control, and they promised they wouldn’t tell. I feel like we need to tell Shelli’s family, but at the same time, I like how we are right now. I don’t know what to do. All I know is that Asher caused some shit for me. He’s texted and even called a few times, but I have nothing to say. Even if he was trying to push me to feel things, he did it in a shitty, crybaby way. I’m not ready to forgive him. I will because I love the idiot, but not right now. Right now, I want to play hockey and spend time with Shelli. That’s all. Everything and everyone else just need to leave me the hell alone.

  “Yes, I saw it, you big dork. That was the best part of the game.”

  I lean back in my seat on my phone with a shit-eating grin on my face as Wes plays on his phone beside me. “It was a pretty badass shot.”

  “It was, but my favorite part was your face. You couldn’t believe it went in.”

  “I’ve legit been practicing that for months. I’m stoked.”

  “You should be. It was awesome.”

  “Thanks. Too bad you weren’t here to see it live.”

  “Right? Can you please do cool shit like that in our arena?”

  “Will do.”

  “Thank you,” she says, and I can hear the grin in her voice. “When will y’all be in?”

  “I think around midnight. Wanna meet me at my place?”

  “I can’t. I have to sleep and be ready for tomorrow morning. The crew is coming at seven to be ready for y’all at ten. I have to make sure nothing gets fucked up.”

  “My little lady boss,” I tease, and she scoffs.

  “There is nothing little about me.”

  “Eh, you’re short.”

  “And I could still kick your ass.”

  I grin as my heart soars in my chest. “What are you wearing?”

  “Footie Harry Potter PJs.”

  I choke on my laughter. “No way.”

  When my phone rings with a FaceTime call, I switch over to see her, in fact, wearing what she said she was. As I put my earbuds in, I say, “I’m so jealous.”

  She grins. “Don’t worry. I got you a pair too.”

  I fist-pump, much to her pleasure. “Yes, you’ve made my day!”

  “I figured,” she says, and then she falls onto her bed. “Thought we could have a marathon once y’all bring the Cup home.”

  “I love the sound of that.”

  “But we’ll need to keep the air on. It’s hot in these things.”

  I smile. “Take it off. I command it.”

  She laughs out. “No way. I’ll leave that to you.”

  I groan softly. “How about you leave your window unlocked?”

  She snorts. “So Shea Adler can murder you? No thanks.”

  “Cockblocker, that man.”

  Now she’s laughing hard. “I never thought cockblocker and my dad would be in the same sentence.”

  I can’t help it, I laugh too. She’s so pretty when she laughs. “I miss you.”

  Her lips curve before she moves a piece of hair out of her face. “Well, it’s been nine years since I saw you last, so believe me, I miss you too.”

  “You better.”

  “You better!” she calls back at me, and my heart, it yearns for her.

  “We just got to the airport. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  She nods. “Yeah. Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t, not when I get to see you.”

  Her cheeks redden. “Bye, Aiden.”

  “Bye.”

  I hang up, a wide smile on my face, but then one of my earbuds is yanked out of my ear.

  “Told ya.”

  I look over at Wes. “Told ya what?”

  His voice drops. “You’re dating Shelli.”

  I blink. “How do you know?”

  He points to my phone. “I seriously just saw her on your phone.”

  “That was my sister.”

  He blinks. “I know I play hockey, but I’m not dumb.” I look away as he moves his elbow into mine. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. I think it’s cool. She’s great.”

  “She’s perfect,” I find myself saying, and Wes just grins back at me.

  I want to be embarrassed that I just said that, but I’m not. I’m good with it because Shelli is perfect, and she’s all mine.

  WHILE MOST GUYS wouldn’t mind waking up to someone kissing them—hopefully a girl, if they’re into them—I do mind. My girlfriend made it clear she couldn’t come over, so that must mean it’s someone else. I pull back jerkily and blink a few times, trying to focus. It only takes seconds to realize whose eyes are staring into mine.

  Shelli.

  My lips curve as I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her on top of me before rolling us deep into the covers. Her laughter is music to my ears. She hooks her leg over my hip as our lips meet once more. God, she tas