Puck Off!

Chapter 34

I rubbed the back of my neck and lowered my eyes, feigning embarrassment. "Believe it or not, I'm here to ask a favor."

               He let out a giant guffaw, startling his friends, and then snorted. "Why the hell would I do you a favor? I should kick your ass!"

               "You've done that quite a few times already, haven't you?" I pointed out. "You don't think I was entitled to a little revenge?"

               "You cost me a whole year!" Cullen snarled as his hands curled up into fists.

               "I did, yes, and you and your friends beat and bullied me for four years. Do we really need to rehash all of that?"

               Cullen grunted and then shook his head. "What was the favor you needed?"

               "Well, I noticed your brother Nathan is playing hockey for the Spartans, and they're playing the Eagles in the next game."

               "Yeah, but you better not be asking him to throw the game!"

               "No, of course not. I expect the Spartans to crush them, the Eagles are lucky to be here."

               "Damn right they are!" he agreed with another high five to his friends.

               "But I have a ummm... An associate... On the Eagles team, and it could be his last chance to show scouts how good he is."

               "An associate, eh?" He smirked to himself.

               "Right. And I was thinking, if maybe Nathan could have his team take it easy on him, maybe even let him score a goal if the Spartans are crushing them, it might help him out a lot."

               Cullen looked at me for a moment, his eyes narrowed. "You must really like this guy, huh?"

               I hesitated for a moment, trying to decide how to say this. "It's been a long time since anyone made me feel like he does."

               He just shook his head. "Well, which player is it?"

               "Fisher Dawson, the captain, number one."

               He laughed out loud at that. "The captain. Of course. Well, I guess I could make sure he has a memorable game. For a price."

               I pretended to think about it, but obviously that was why I'd visited the ATMs earlier. "Would $50 be enough?"

               "No way! Make it $100!" Cullen demanded.

               I got off cheap, I was expecting $200. Not that I minded. "Fine, $100." I pulled out one of the stacks of 20 dollar bills and handed it over. "Thanks Cullen. I owe you."

               "Yeah, we'll see after the game. Let me go talk to my brother." With a chuckle he turned and headed in the direction that I hoped the locker rooms were.

               I was pretty sure I could count on his anger and bigotry to do what I wanted, but all I could do at this point was hope. With a shrug, I headed back towards my seat. I got there just in time for the teams to come back out on the ice, and I waved at Ryn again as she joined the team on the bench. She, Elske and Bobbie would be joining me after their game to watch the men's team from the stands, and I could only hope that the outcome was what I wanted.

               In other outcomes, the women's' team game was never really in doubt. They did give up another goal, but also scored three more times to win 5-2, and they were onto the next round that would be in three days. Hopefully that gave Ryn enough time to get her strength back!