“Fearful you’ll catch feelings?”
“Still no.”
“God forbid you feel something,” he says solemnly.
Gabriel Shelly glides past us, helmet tucked under his arm, dad-energy calm even in full gear. “Ignore him. Worst case, you smile for cameras and raise money. Best case, you remember you’re human.”
“I am human.”
Gabriel chuckles. “You date like it’s a penalty kill.”
“That’s not true,” I say automatically.
Dex skids to a stop nearby, snow spraying up like he planned the dramatic entrance. “Oh, it’s absolutely true. You approach women like you’re protecting a one-goal lead with thirty seconds left.”
“I do not,” I argue.
Mason glances over. “You brought flashcards on your last date.”
“That was one time,” I say. “And they were talking points.”
Gregory nods. “You labeled them.”
“They were color-coded!” Dex adds helpfully. “Red flags. Yellow flags. Green flags. He had a whole system.”
I point my stick at him. “You’re one to talk. You once dated three women in the same week and called it ‘crowdsourcing compatibility.’”
Dex beams. “Science demands sacrifice.”
Gabriel chuckles, skating backward with ease. “Colby’s not bad at dating. He’s just… selective.”
“That’s a nice word for emotionally unavailable,” Dex says.
“I am available,” I snap. “I just don’t enjoy mayhem.”
Dex raises a brow. “You literally led a chant on live television to expose a cheating musician.”
“That wastargetedand purposeful,” I say. “Different category.”
Mason smirks. “Shelly isn’t wrong, though. Colby doesn’t do casual.”
I stiffen. “That’s not…”
Gregory cuts in, earnest as ever. “Statistically speaking, Colby has the lowest number of romantic partners on the team over the past three seasons.”
Dex gasps. “You’re keeping stats now?”
Gregory shrugs. “I noticed a pattern.”
I groan. “Can we not psychoanalyze me while I’m in skates?”
Dex taps his chin. “You don’t date fans. You don’t date within the league. You don’t date anyone who wants publicity. Or who doesn’t want publicity. Or who has a pulse during the playoffs.”
“That’s called standards,” I say.
“That’s called a witness protection program,” Dex counters.
Gabriel bumps my shoulder lightly. “You’re careful. That’s not a flaw.”
