And, Christ, I’ve just scented the water with blood.
Sure enough, it takes all of ten seconds for the first comment to come.
“Is the nanny hot?” Wilder asks.
King smacks him on the back of the head, sighs. “Fucking rookies, man. Show some respect.” But his lips are twitching. “So, is she hot?”
I roll my eyes. “She’s professional and capable, that’s all that matters.”
“That means she’s hot,” Cam stage whispers.
I throw my T-shirt at him, swap it for the team-branded undershirt. It’s moisture-wicking and tight enough that it doesn’t slip around beneath my gear, but I mostly change into it so I don’t have to do any extra laundry.
Needs must, am I right?
And with a daughter who has a budding fashion sense, those laundry needs are great.
I think I have a basket full of clean clothes in every corner of my house at this point.
The guys laugh and I fix them with a glare. “Her name is Finn,” I tell them sternly. “And she’s nice and great with Chloe. So, you fucks be cool about her. I don’t need you to mess this up for me, okay?”
The room goes quiet for a second.
Then Rome asks, “Chloe likes her?”
My mouth turns up. “I’m starting to think she likes Finn more than me.” She was positively bouncing with glee while helping me get the spare bedroom ready for Finn to move in—which really means that she added lots andlotsof pink to the space.
“Then the guys will be cool,” our captain says.
I shoot him a look and he shrugs.
“I’ll just make them run extra if they give you too much grief,” he says to the sound of much groaning before he plunks his helmet on and strides from the room.
“Notice how he didn’t saynogrief,” King deadpans.
Right on cue, because Cam smirks and asks, “So exactly how hotisthis nanny?”
I pull on my socks, my hockey pants. “I think I’m going to text Attie about your sudden interest in my nanny.”
To his credit, he pales.
First smart thing he’s done today—because his FBI agent wife, Athena, can definitely kick his ass.
“You know I’m just fucking with you,” he says.
“I know,” I tell him, shoving my feet into my skates and pulling them tight. “But I also know that Finn is professional and nice and we’re not doing this shit. No locker room talk, no innuendos. No bullshit about the woman who’s making it so I can do my job out there.”
My teammates and friends are quiet for a moment.
Then Huddy nods, says “Fair enough.”
“Yeah.” Cam claps a hand on my shoulder, inclines his head at me. “Sorry, man, you’re right.” Then he strides from the room.
Wilder looks between us all, his eyes wide and full of concern.
I smirk. “It’s fine, Rook. I just need you all to be cool.”
“Exactly.” King turns down the music as the guys finish getting dressed and start trickling out. “Plus, he won’t hurt you during practice.” A nod to the rink. “Notmuch, anyway.”
