The Pucking Wrong Guy (Pucking Wrong, #2)

by C.R. Jane

“I have a boyfriend,” I whispered as he pulled out, and I flinched because of how fucking empty I felt. “I’m a cheater. A whore⁠—” “Don’t you dare fucking call yourself that,” he snapped, grabbing my chin and forcing my eyes to his. ‘What if I told you, you were always supposed to be with me? What if I told you that we were always meant to be together? What if I told you he was in the wrong for taking you from me!” “Then I would try not to call you a liar,” I muttered, dark self loathing hitting me when he winced like I’d slapped him.

"I'm scared,” I finally murmured. His smile was heartbreaking…life saving…everything. "I know, sunshine. But I knew what you were the moment I met you." “Oh yeah, and what is that?” “Mine,” he said softly, without a trace of indecision. He held out his hand, silently begging me to accept his offer. I stared at it for a few more seconds. And then I took it and I followed him out of the closet. Because what else could I do?

"Forgot to tell you," he began, his voice low and seductive, "I’ve always been a dog person, but all of a sudden, I'm really liking cats." I rolled my eyes at him, a small, fond smile tugging at the corners of my lips as he exaggeratedly dragged his gaze over my costume. His teasing was a welcome contrast to the intensity of the night.

I looked over the menu, ready for a caffeine fix. Oh good, they had pumpkin cream chai tea lattes. My favorite. I was a basic bitch when it came to my fall drinks.

To divert my attention, I decided to scroll through social media some more. Lincoln's latest photos caught my eye. There he was, happily munching on a taco with Monroe. My eyes narrowed as I recognized the very familiar-looking tacos. HOW DARE HE! I immediately pulled up Lincoln’s number.

But nothing like that lasts forever. One of the other boys tried to pickpocket a federal agent. After being caught, he told them all about us, and they raided our place. Amidst the chaos, Logan was shot, and I was forcibly torn away from the makeshift family I had come to love, and taken to a different group home than the one before.

My heart seemed to have already memorized the cadence of his laughter, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled…the warmth of his touch. We were two souls inexplicably drawn together, like magnets pulled by a force greater than ourselves. It was as if my soul recognized him. As if we'd met before in another life, in another time. I couldn't explain it, but there was an unshakable feeling that our destinies were intertwined, that our connection went far beyond now.

Ari made my plate, walking me through the correct way to make a perfect taco, and then we walked to his kitchen table to eat. I was about to sit down when he slid under me and pulled me into his lap, setting his plate down in front of us. “My house. My rules. And my rules say we have to eat just like this,” he purred into my ear. I bit my lip and then found myself nuzzling against him. I craved this kind of closeness. I was desperate for it. He wasn’t going to have to fight me on this kind of thing at all.

He hummed against my hair before grabbing a steak taco off his plate and taking a big bite. Ari’s moan of delight was…erotic. He really loved tacos.

I was suddenly overcome with gratitude. It was enough to make me fall forward and just lay my head on her stomach. I’d actually found her. All those years of feeling lonely, like I’d lost the one person meant for me. And I’d found her.

My eyes widened, because golly gee willikers, I’d died and gone to heaven. Blake had a dirty mouth.

“What are you thinking about?” she murmured, her hand reaching out to stroke down my face. That I’m crazy about you. Mad about you. Obsessed. “That I’ll never let you go,” I answered with a soft, amused smile. Because that was the truth. “I’d like that,” she answered. And I considered it a vow.

“I didn’t have parents, sunshine,” he finally murmured, turning to watch me with his verdant green gaze. “I was dropped off at a group home when I was a toddler.” I gaped at him, mind racing but…no. Things like that didn’t happen. Not in real life. “A group home?” I whispered. “Yes,” he said gently, his eyes urging me on…

"I'll make you happy," he finally said, his voice tender and resolute. "It might take a while, but someday I'll make you happy for the rest of your life." Someday. The word hung in the air, a fragile promise in the darkness. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope, a glimmer of light in the shadows of my sadness. But forever sounded like such a daunting expanse of time, an eternity I couldn't quite grasp at ten years old.

“Ari?” I finally whispered, staring up at him through tear strung eyes. There was a newfound significance behind his name. “I made a promise after all, Layla,” he murmured with a soft smile. “The universe just finally decided to help me with it.”

“I’ve been so lonely without you,” I finally admitted. He brushed a soft kiss across my hair. “Lonely doesn’t exist for us anymore, baby,” he soothed. And as he made love to me under the sunrise, whispering his devotion over and over… I believed him.

His lips pressed tenderly against my forehead, leaving a trail of soft, lingering kisses. “I love your eyes,” he murmured, his voice a velvety whisper that made me ache. “The first time I saw them as a kid, I knew I’d found magic. I’ve spent every moment since then searching for them in every crowd.”

“I’m hard for you every fucking second of every fucking day. I’m obsessed with you, crazy over you in fact. I can’t stand to be apart from you for any length of time. So when you tell me you hate this perfect fucking body that I worship with every part of my fucking soul…well, we can’t have that, sunshine.”

“Now say you’re perfect,” he commanded softly, his movements slowing so that every ridge of his piercing rubbed against my skin. My mouth opened, but it was hard for those words to come out. His hand squeezed my neck a little more and I gasped. “Say it, baby. Tell yourself the fucking truth.”

“Yes! Just like that. Blake, that’s perfect,” she shouted at one point, and Ari gave me a knowing, “I told you so” look. For the rest of the shoot, I was more relaxed than I’d ever been. And for the rest of the day, I managed to feel something I hadn’t on every other day of my life. I felt perfect.

“Ari?” Blake said gently, and I sighed, because being away from her was making me feel sick. “I miss you,” I murmured sullenly, and she blushed, like it was unexpected I would say that. Fuck, I must not be doing a good enough job of proving to this girl, I’m gone for her. Destroyed. Forever changed.

"Walker, it’s time to shake it off.” Mr. Prince Charming shook his head stubbornly, his expression unwavering. "Not happening. That’s not even a real thing. I’m not falling for it this time." I raised an eyebrow, and solemnly threatened, "I'll call Lincoln and have you kicked out of the circle of trust." Walker's eyes widened, giving me his best puppy-dog eyes. "What’s the “circle of trust”? Am I in it right now?” He squinted at me. “Wait, is that from Meet the Parents?” “Get your ass up and dance me with me, Disney,” I snapped, flicking my hips around as I got myself ready.

“There is no circle of trust,” I told him, and he groaned as the whole team burst into laughter. We headed towards the hallway that led to the ice and I slapped him on the ass as I passed him by. “But if we had one, you’d be in it, Walker!” I yelled to him. He flipped me off, as one does in the presence of greatness, and we got ready to kick ass.

He looked fucking pathetic. People had better be seeing pictures of this because I wanted Lincoln to see my work. He’d be so proud of me.

“Fuck, Ari, you have a little bit of crazy in you,” mused Walker, elbowing me as we watched the refs argue back and forth. “Disney, you have no idea,” I drawled.

Me: Aww, and now you're jealous. Best Day Ever. Lincoln:.. Me: Don't worry. I still love you the mostest. Lincoln: ... Me: Say it back. Lincoln: ... Me: Come on. I know you want to. Lincoln: Sigh. Fine...ILY. Me: VICTORY IS MINE!

I’d painted my number, #24 on her cheeks. She thought it was cute, but I was just trying to be over the top possessive.

"I think I’ve established a new pregame ritual,” I said happily as I nodded my head to one of Olivia Rodrigo’s new songs. Everything on the album was a winner. “Sex in your backseat?” she mused. “Yes.” I nodded my head. “It’s necessary for me to even be able to skate, I think.” “Oh really? That sounds like pretty good sex.”

“Say it, sunshine…I will stay out here all day.” “You’re my favorite hockey player, you idiot.” I brushed a soft kiss against her lips, savoring the taste of her. "That's all I needed to hear, sweetheart. We will work on the “idiot” part. Now let's go before I get benched."

“You have anyone special out there, Disney? A “princess” for “Prince Charming”?” He scoffed at the nickname, but there was nothing he could do about it. It was his name now. He should ask Disney for royalties. “It hasn’t happened yet.”

“Cheer up, Walker. I believe in soulmates too. So does Lincoln.” “Really?” he asked, his eyes excited. “Yep. And since you’re in the circle of trust⁠—” “I thought you said there wasn’t a circle of trust.” I shrugged. “It’s a new thing. ANYWAYS…before you so rudely interrupted me, I was about to tell you that I bet you’ll find your girl.” He whined. “Can we stop talking about this now?” I chuckled and shot Blake another look. “Never.”

employee, dressed in team gear, took their place. She held up a massive sign, large enough to rival a billboard, and my eyes widened in disbelief as I read the words written on it. "Property of Ari Lancaster," the sign declared boldly, an arrow pointing downward directly at me. I blinked, stunned into silence for a moment, before a surprised burst of laughter bubbled up from my chest. People around us were staring, and I shrunk into my seat, my face on fire with embarrassment. But also pride…because I wanted to belong to Ari. I was well aware I was the luckiest girl in the world to have him like I did.

As the seconds ticked away, it became clear

that the Cobras were going to win. The final buzzer sounded, and the crowd erupted in jubilation. And Ari had one more sign for me…”Ari’s Lucky Charm.”

"Deep breath, angel, and then exhale slowly. You're doing great,” he murmured soothingly. And I was transported to another time, another place, when he’d said those same exact words… His heart seemed to beat against my back, and somehow, my breaths were able to slow. Ari slowly turned me in his arms, and then grabbed my chin so I had no choice but to look at him.

A hiccuped sob burst from my mouth, and he gave me a gentle smile, his thumb tracing delicate patterns on my cheek. "Blake," he whispered, "you're the love of my fucking life." Tears were streaming down my face, my heart beating erratically as his words flowed through me…and remade me. “You love me?” I whispered. Because I’d heard those words before from a man, but somehow they’d never felt like this. They’d never felt real.

Through my assistant, I’d hired Charlotte to “force” Blake out. It was a little scary that she hadn’t even asked questions like why…but debt and drug dealers breathing down your neck could do that to you. She was supposed to be channeling her inner wrecking ball, creating enough destruction for Blake to want to move out…immediately. I could have burned down the whole building or had it condemned, but there was a cute gray haired lady who lived across from Blake. And I just couldn’t do that to her. I was a simp for grandmas. Or at least I wasn’t going to attempt one of those until this didn’t work.

I bit my lip and studied him, the voices in my head pointing out how hard it would be to hide all my issues if I was living with him. Only—I didn’t seem to have so many issues anymore since he’d come back into my life. Maybe it could work…

Me: Ok, so you still haven't answered the question. Accessory to murder...or no? Lincoln: Where are we burying him? I set the phone down, staring at Blake’s sleeping form. At least she was in my house now. Safe. I’d just have to spend the rest of my life making it up to her.

Me: Blake and Monroe are going to be best friends. Lincoln: I’m Monroe’s best friend. Me: Calm down, golden boy. I could hear that growl from here. Lincoln: middle finger emoji

As I stepped onto the luxurious plane, my eyes widened in surprise as I took in the lavish interior. Ari had convinced Lincoln to let me fly to Dallas on his private jet. I’d been perfectly fine with a regular airline, but Ari had started muttering something about “crowd control” and “book boyfriend material” and somehow I’d ended up here.

As I stared around though, I noticed something peculiar. Everyone working the flight looked like they were someone’s grandmother. Everyone…even the two pilots. A petite woman with a crown of silver hair, a cheerful demeanor…and a cat sweater, approached my seat. Her name tag read "Edna."

Me: So you don’t have to answer this…but does Lincoln have some kind of fetish…for older women? Ari immediately responded like he’d been waiting for me to text him.

How did he make me fall in love with him more everyday? Did he have some kind of magic in his DNA that made him biologically compatible with me in every way? Or maybe he really was my soulmate, like he’d been saying all along.

stopped every couple of steps by someone else who wanted to talk. His gaze went to me every few seconds though, the look in them… “Ari’s so in love with you,” murmured Monroe from next to me. I blushed and nodded. “I’m definitely in love with him too.” “Good,” she said, softly patting my hand. “I have a great feeling about the two of you.”

It was obvious with one bite why Ari was obsessed with this place. It was the best thing I’d ever eaten. He munched on his five tacos happily as Maria herself continued to bring things to the table for the entire meal. I would normally never eat like this, but I did my best to stay in the moment. I would worry about the scale’s retribution when I got back. For now…I was having the perfect taco. With the perfect man. And our perfect friends. Life seemed pretty perfect.

As the music faded out and we caught our breath, I turned to Walker, who was grinning like a maniac. "You, my friend, have officially made it into the circle of trust." Walker's eyes widened in mock surprise. "I'm in the circle of trust?" I nodded with a grin. "Yeah, you're in." He let out a whoop of triumph, and the rest of the team cheered…like the “circle of trust” actually existed. Fools.

I blinked in astonishment. Signs bearing messages like "Ari, we miss you" and "Come home" filled my vision. I was stunned, my heart pounding as the deafening applause surrounded me. It felt like a dream, like some elaborate prank orchestrated by Lincoln. I turned to my friend, an incredulous grin on my face.

But what made the moment even sweeter was the conspicuous absence of our Cobras teammates. None of them made a move to intervene and break up the fight. It was as if they, too, had gotten sick of Soto’s shit and were relishing the opportunity to watch Soto get what was coming to him.

skates. She and Monroe were talking to one of the WAGs behind them, so I could clearly see that at some point since we’d arrived at the arena, she’d put on a motherfucking Daniels jersey.