Rush the Edge: A Brother’s Best Friend Hockey Romance (Blue Devils Hockey Book 3)

I have nine text messages waiting for me on my phone when the game is over. Luckily, with my new costume, courtesy of Reese, the zipper doesn’t get stuck, and I’m able to slip out of it and head home before anyone can corner me.

By anyone, I mean Kane.

Or Wes.

For a second, I had the thought of bringing Wes home just to piss Kane off, because there is clearly some tension between them. I caught the implied threat from Kane when he told Wes that he shouldn’t steal things that aren’t his.

As if Kane owns me? The nerve.

But the second Wes started to terrorize Kane during the game, sending him to the sin bin a few times for unnecessary penalties, I decided against that plan.

I found myself fuming from the side. For one, I am not a toy, and for two, stop bullying my bully.

I scoff and toss my bag to the floor of my apartment.

How ridiculous of a thought.

Sinking onto the couch that I don’t even think my brother has spent a single day on, I open my phone and start answering messages.

Reese

You looked so good! Did you make it home okay? I wish you would’ve let me give you a ride.

Reese, who I demanded take credit for the idea of my new costume, was paid by the Blue Devils, courtesy of Cindy, which meant she could afford to take a few days off here and there. I refused to have her pick me up tonight.

The other Uber driver grunted at me a few times, but I made it home just fine.

After texting her back, I move on to my next message.

Natalia

I never thought I’d say this, but I kind of want to be a mascot now.

Natalia

Omg. You’re literally going viral. LMAO

Am I?

I pull up social media and start to scroll.

My stomach ties with knots the more I look at the videos and photos.

A roll of nausea goes through me, and I’m not sure if it’s from the sudden attention I’m receiving, the lingering thoughts of Kane glaring at me, or from the extra labs that Dr. Gibson wanted to take as a precaution.

My other labs were still within normal range, though more elevated than normal.

I’ve been more fatigued too, but given my new job, I think that’s to be expected.

I move to my brother’s text.

River

WTF

River

Please tell me you were the mascot before the outfit change.

River

Is this the job that Kane got you? I hate that I didn’t see this in person.

River

I need photos.

River

Never mind. I know Kane has a stash. I’ll text him.

I roll my eyes. I’m sure Kane does.

Me

You’re annoying

River

The fucking mascot

Me

BYE

River

Jokes aside, are you feeling okay? That’s gotta be tiring.

I am tired.

Me

I’m fine. Being active is good for me.

I click my phone off and lie in silence.

My body is tired, and my head is pounding. Instead of making my way to bed, I stay on the couch and go over the game in my head. There was one little girl who looked at me like I was a queen instead of a mascot, and I’ll admit, it was sort of sweet. The job isn’t all that bad, and it really is good for me to be active. It keeps my muscles loose, and it’s supposed to improve my fatigue.

The only con is Kane.

The scathing looks he continued to give me most of the night were hard to ignore, and the more I think about it, the more nauseated I become. To think I gave up flirting with the cute referee because I felt protective over Kane is absurd. It’s like a slap to my own face.

With a huff, I sit up and glance at the Devil’s mascot head laying near the door. The wheels start turning as I glance to the ceiling, knowing that Kane is just one floor above me. I swing my legs off the couch and head toward the devil’s head and trident propped in the corner.

My immaturity rises to a whole new level, but Kane brings something out in me that has my thoughts spiraling. My blood boils when I think about him tearing my costume and threatening any guy who dares to look at me. Then I boil in other places with the recent memory of his hands on me inside my dressing room.

Ugh.

The new and improved mascot costume doesn’t seem like enough to gain the upper hand.

This probably won’t either, but at least it’ll make me feel better.

I hold my breath as I wait for the elevator to open. When it shows up empty, I exhale and step onto it with the devil’s head and trident trapped in my arm. The last-minute note I wrote is clutched tightly in my fingers when the elevator whooshes upward, pulling my stomach to the floor.

I bend over and clutch it as sweat starts to pool along my spine.

A wave of nausea hits me again, and I realize pretty quickly that I’m not nauseated from thoughts of Kane but because my body is tired.noveldrama

The elevator door slides open to reveal Kane’s door—the only one in the hall. I swallow my thick spit and drag myself over to it.

I bend at my knees and place the mascot head on the floor. I take the torn piece of paper with my quick-witted note written on it and stab it onto one of the trident prongs.

You don’t own me, Kane. But maybe this will suffice.

Xo

Feeling proud of my handiwork, I stand up on shaky legs and dust my hands off. The floor moves beneath my feet, and I sway. My palm slaps against Kane’s door to save my face from colliding with it before I abruptly back away and jam my finger against the elevator button.

Shit, hurry up.

Heat prickles my hairline, and my stomach twists. The hallway begins to close in on me.

No, no, no.

This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve fainted, but no matter how many times I’ve done it in the past, there is no preparing for it.

I’m seconds from collapsing.

The elevator opens, and I dart inside. I turn and rest my back against the cool wall.

My breaths are ragged as I try to breathe in and out of my nose.

I need to lie down.

Before I’m safely tucked away in the empty elevator, Kane’s door swings wide open.

He’s standing there in nothing but low-hanging sweats and damp hair. After seeing my gift, he angles his sturdy chin toward me inside the elevator, and his blue eyes darken. I attempt to smile, but he disappears altogether when my vision blurs, and I collapse against the floor.