Brooke shrugs her shoulders as if she didn't just perfectly explain why I fill my head with the lyrics I do, despite the shit I constantly get from my teammates. "So, anything else to see besides the drains you all piss in?"
My brain is caught so off guard by her words—and my sudden rewiring—that I stand there motionless, my mouth open and eyes wide like a goddamn idiot. Brooke waits, searching my face for an answer—or maybe any sign of life—before I finally shake my head of her sadly accurate statement. And my heart of her perfectly sculpted words.
"Uh, yeah, you weirdo," I finally manage to push out, acting unfazed despite feeling the opposite. "No sinks though… if that's what you're looking for." Her guard instantly flies back up, her lips pressed into a flat line. I sigh, dropping it before she completely disappears again. "Out this way."
I spin around toward where we entered the showers—a few minutes and one life-changing conversation earlier—and walk ahead of her. When I step back into the hallway, I turn toward the only other door in this direction.
"Next stop," I say, pressing my thumb into the sensor by the frame.
When it unlatches, I push it open, and Brooke walks up from behind me, stepping into the space. "Holy shit," she says, the view in front of her bringing her back to me. "This is like a five-star resort."
She glances around, taking in the grey and white marbled steam room, top of the line sauna, and glistening cold and hot tubs that fill the space. There are TVs in front of every amenity and every luxury you couldpossibly imagine—heated flooring, a stocked mini fridge, towel warmers. It's all newly renovated and pristinely polished, showing off every cent put into it.
"Yeah, we're pretty lucky. I probably don't use it all as much as I should, but a lot of the guys hang out here at night and watch games while they chill in the hot tub and stuff."
"That's adorable," she says, her eyes still full of wonder. "I can't believe you don't take advantage of this."
"Eh, I usually kill time in the bay." Brooke stops to dip her hand into the pool. "The shooting bay," I clarify, unsure of why I'm even telling her this.
"Where's that?"
"On the other side of the facilities."
"Can I see it?"
I lean against the doorframe as Brooke stands and brushes her wet hand on the back of her jeans. I'm definitely the jealous type, but I'm not sure I've ever been envious of a woman's own limb until right now.
"Oh, it's not much to see. Nothing like this."
She shrugs. "That's okay. I want to see everything."
I nod, pushing off of the wall, surprised at how at ease I feel. "Alright then," I say. "Back this way."
I lead Brooke back down the hall to the locker room where more guys are slowly piling in. Petrov catches my attention as he observes me with an unreadable expression. I tip my chin up to him, and he tilts his forehead down in response as Brooke catches up behind me.
I let her pass, ignoring Storm's weird reaction, and instinctively setting my hand on her lower back to guide her in front of me. She continues walking despite my touch, but my fingertips don't miss the initial jolt she had when they landed on her. Electric, like any other time we've touched, which might throw her off, but doesn't surprise me at all.
I nudge her toward the locker room door and let her lead this time, ignoring Ward's wink and Brett's fucking pelvis thrusts after they're out of Brooke's sight. Flipping them off over my head as we enter the hall, I grab her wrist, then tug her in the right direction.
"The gym's over there with basically any equipment you could possibly imagine." I point towards a glass wall where you can see a line of dumbbells and a few treadmills, which doesn't even scratch the surface of what's inside.
"You use that a lot." She doesn't ask it as a question, and I can't pass up the opportunity to mess with her.
"What makes you say that?"
She glares at me. "You know."
A chuckle escapes my lips. "I lift often, yes, Brooke."
"No cardio?"
I glance at her side-eyed. "Oh, I do plenty of cardio."
I purposely increase my speed so that I'm a half a step ahead of her. "Through there is the trainer's room," I say, pointing to another door and changing the subject. "There's a taping station and an ice bath. Some stretching machines and massage tables." I look over at her quickly, a lazy grin creeping onto my face.
"I'm not saying a word this time," she says, holding her hands up in surrender.
"You know, you don't have to be afraid to flirt with me, Mystery Girl," I say, stopping at our destination. Now that I'm here, with her, I'm oddly anxious about entering the one spot I frequent so often.
