Tonight we’re playing Colorado. They’re fighting to make the playoffs this season, while we’re currently one of the top ten teams in the league, but we want to maintain our current position in the rankings.
“How you doing?” Connor asks as we warm up.
“Okay.” I move to a chest stretch. “I’m tight here.”
“I wonder why,” Tristan says dryly from my other side.
“I didn’t overdo the workout yesterday,” I argue.
Connor claps me on the shoulder. “Do you miss Tally?”
“Well yeah, I’m a three-hour flight away.”
“That’s why your chest is tight,” Tristan explains.
“Welcome to the obsessed partners club. You’ve earned your first gold star.” Connor grins.
“Is this what I have to look forward to during away games now?” I grumble.
“Phone sex helps,” Tristan offers.
“Dude.” I give him a look.
“He’s not wrong,” Connor jumps in to defend him.
“Still not things I needed to know.”
Warm-up ends before either of them can add to the overshare moment, and the game gets underway. We score a goal in the first period, but Colorado ties it up at the beginning of the second.
The rest of second period we fight for another goal, butColorado’s goalie is playing tight, and their defensive line is strong.
“I’m going to get dirty so you can make a clean shot.” Grace winks as we take the ice again. He steps into his villain role and needles their defense, taking a right hook to the jaw. I use the distraction to steal the puck and pass it to Palaniappa.
“You two are all over each other’s jocks.” The Colorado player tries to come for Grace again. “You let him fuck your wife, or just you, Grace?”
I get between them before Grace knocks all his teeth out. “You want a piece of me, I’m right here, but leave the wives out of it.”
He shoves me and the refs blow the whistle.
“Dred won’t be happy with you,” I say as Grace and I skate back to the bench.
“I can only hope there are severe consequences.” He smirks, rubbing his jaw.
The dirty move gives us the powerplay advantage we need. Stiles scores a goal with Bright as the assist.
The chippy play escalates in the third period, and I end up bodychecked, giving Colorado another penalty. Then Grace and I score a third goal, kicking Colorado down another spot in the rankings.
The win feels good, but we’re all sore after the game. I take a long shower, sit in the sauna, and rinse off again. I plan to avoid the bar—I don’t need photos showing up online, giving Tally a reason to worry, or Vander Zee motive to trade me. Besides the media is obsessed with my love life. Any time we go to a bar, there’s speculation; about my relationship with Dred, who I’m secretly dating/fucking, and past hookups love to throw in their two cents. I want Tally to learn things about me from me, not media conjecture.
I’ve managed to keep my marriage to Fiona under wraps, but I also haven’t had a single girlfriend in that time. That might notcontinue once my relationship with Tally is public fodder. I don’t want people digging into that unhealed wound. Telling Tally will be hard enough. Being used by the woman I thought I would spend my life with left me in pieces. My biggest fear is falling in love again, only to have my heart shredded all over.
I tuck the worries away for later and finish getting dressed. Once we’re in our suits, the guys and I walk back to the hotel.
“Why don’t you all come to my room?” Connor isn’t much for the bar scene.
I nod. “Be there in half an hour?”
“Sounds good.” His phone is already at his ear as he steps off the elevator. “I’m okay, darling. No concussion.”
