“Good.” Noah is grinning like an idiot. “I can’t wait to give her so much shit about this.”
“Really, Strawberry?”
Noah groans at his nickname. The first day of practice, he walked in with a strawberry smoothie and somehow managed to drop the whole thing all over him. The name has stuck ever since.
“Yes. What good is having a little sister if you can’t give her crap about who she’s dating?”
Troy laughs. “My sister would kick my ass if I did that.”
“Because she plays for the national team.”
I don’t know how Troy and his stepsister are both so gifted with hockey, but they are. It’s one badass family.
“Cut the chitchat, gentlemen. It’s time to get started,” Coach Cooper barks at us.
“What’s crawled up his ass lately?” I mutter.
“Don’t get me started,” Nick tells me. “He’s been all over Piper and PT. Thinks she doesn’t know a thing.”
“Piper? She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t,” I defend her.
“Hey, you don’t have to tell me.”
Coach Barney calls everyone’s attention to him as we get ready for the game. About as easy of a win as they come by.
A 3-1 win over Detroit. The best way to head into the long holiday weekend.
“Thanksgiving before Thanksgiving?”Piper asks me as we head into the arena.
“We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning to play Arizona. We have to celebrate sometime.”
“I think it’s nice the team does this.”
Piper is looking as gorgeous as ever in a nice pair ofblack pants and a light-blue turtleneck sweater. Representing the Black Diamonds in a small way.
“I’ve never come.”
“You haven’t?”
“I’ve never wanted to leave Puck alone.”
It’s the lie I always tell, rather than that I don’t have a family to bring with me. It’s not something I want to tell people.
“I’m sure he could manage for a few hours.”
I hold the door open for Piper as she brushes by me.
“You tell his cute little face no. It’s harder than it looks.”
Piper shakes her head. “That will not be me. He loves me.”
“See? Not so easy.”
By the time we get to the family suite, the place is packed. Most of the team is already here. Kids are running around, shouting as balloons are given to each of them. A paper turkey decorating station is set up in one corner and a bartender in another.
“Wow. They pull out all the stops.”
Chafing dishes are set out with every kind of Thanksgiving food you could ask for. Turkey. Mashed potatoes. All different kinds of corn. Rolls. Vegetables. Pies. Cookies.
