We beat the Miami Sunrise that night, though I did little to help. My head was still stuck in the hotel room with Pack twelve hours earlier. After a day of obsessing over every word of that conversation, I still didn’t understand it any better than when it happened.
The reporters were gentle after the game and didn’t bring up my rough night. When I reached the locker room, most of the boys were already dressed. A few nodded as I headed to the shower.
As I was pulling my pants on, Kai bounded across the room like a Dalmatian on speed. “We’re hitting the hotel bar. You in? Noah’s turn to pay.”
I was in no mood for socializing, but it might keep my brain from overheating. Before I could answer, Kai started play-punching my arm.
“C’mon, Captain. One drink. It’ll be a great time. Just the boys. Well, except Lindholm, who already left with a puck bunny.” Apparently worried that I still wasn’t convinced, Kai started dancing. He looked like a drunk in freefall.
“One drink,” I said. “I?—”
“Have to call your man,” Jace said from across the room. “We know.”
The hotel bar was quiet when we arrived. As soon as we sat down, everyone started talking at once.
Noah leaned toward me. “Everything okay in Romeo Land? I’ve got a feeling your game would’ve been better if Paquette was there.”
“Everything’s fine.”
I ordered a Glenlivet neat, and Noah asked for a vodka tonic.
“Maybe he should’ve been there wearing your jersey,” Noah added. “Boyfriends do that sometimes.”
“They wear other things too,” Jace said. “Like that stuff you squirt on their face. Did you give him some of that this morning?”
“Like you gave Theo some?” I asked. “I saw him leaving your room. Looked like he had way too much gel in his hair.”
The guys cracked up, and Theo flipped me off.
“Warriors played Toronto tonight,” Kai said. “You two sync your pregame naps? Set a romance alarm?”
“Fuck off,” I said, making everyone laugh again. This was typical teammate banter, so I played along. “Packy and I are professionals. We only sext on off days.”
“Man, he’s got your number hard,” Theo said. “I haven’t seen you like this since last year when that Swedish winger showed up at your door unannounced.”
After a round ofoohs, I deadpanned, “He was very persuasive. And Scandinavian men are very good with their hands.”
Kai hooked a hand beside his mouth like he was about to tell a secret and practically shouted, “And dicks.”
While we cackled, I checked my watch. Time to head upstairs.
McKay, one of the rookies, grinned. “Hasn’t Paquette always been straight? You sure he doesn’t have a girlfriend hidden on the side?”
The table went silent so fast my ears rang. McKay tried to laugh, but Jace elbowed him hard.
“Goddammit,” Theo said. “Not cool at all.”
McKay went pale. “Shit. I didn’t… I was kidding. Sorry, Rosco.”
“It’s fine,” I said, finishing my scotch. “I’m wiped, so I’m gonna head up. Big travel day tomorrow.”
Noah caught my arm. “You okay?
I nodded. “Night, boys.”
In my room, I changed into boxers and a T-shirt, then sat on the bed while the day bounced around in my head.
“He’s got your number hard.”
