“You’ll be the first to know if it is, bud,” Colt said, running a hand over his damp hair.
Kappy was constantly trying to get the inside scoop from us.
“What about you, Lightning McQuaid?” Kappy asked me, using the nickname given to me after winning an All-Star race a couple years ago.
“It probably should be,” I admitted, shifting his arm off my right shoulder.
Kappy stopped walking. “Your shoulder hurting again?”
I let out a bitter chuckle as I rotated my arm. It neverstoppedhurting. It’d been tweaked ever since the playoffs. But I couldn’t tell anyone unless I wanted to risk my spot on the roster. “You really think I’d tellyouof all people if it did?”
“That’s right, keep your mouth shut around the press.” Colt coughed into his hand the words, “Sell out.”
Kappy’s forehead creased. “That’s mean. I’m not a sell out.”
“Ha, says the guy wearing loafers with no socks and a flowerysuit on air,” Hans jabbed as he shuffled out of the pro shop holding a mop.
Kappy’s mouth dropped open. “Hey, that’s the style, old man!”
“Not a good style,” Hans mumbled.
I rubbed a hand over my mouth to hide my laugh, Colt didn’t hide his at all.
“Piper said I looked good,” Kappy argued.
The door to Rink 2 popped open revealing Piper in her coaching attire with her ice blonde hair pulled back by fluffy, black earmuffs. Seeing her pouting boyfriend, concern registered on her face. “What’s wrong, Richard?”
“They’re being mean to me.” Kappy frowned.
“No, we’re not.” Colt laughed.
“Yeah, they are. They’re treating me like the press.”
Piper rolled her lips together, trying her best to smother her laugh. “But youarethe press now, honey.” She walked up and patted his cheek.
“But I’m a friend first,” Kappy argued. “I can keep a secret.”
All four of us busted up laughing. Kappy’s mouth gaped open in shock at Piper’s reaction.
“You have many talents, Richard. Secret-keeping is not amongst them,” Hans added, making us laugh even more.
“That’s not fair, stop laughing,” Kappy argued, throwing his arms up. “I can, I swear.”
“I’m sorry, baby, you’re right,” Piper chided, still trying to squelch her laughing as she smoothed a gloved hand down his chest. “You can keep secrets, I know you can.” She rose to her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek.
“Yeah, I can,” Kappy grumbled, puffing out his chest. “No one even knows we’re married, so how’s that for secret-keeping.”
Piper froze.
“You’remarried?” Colt burst out.
“Oh.” Kappy’s forehead scrunched. His eyes fell closed as he dropped his head back. “Fuck.”
Mer walked into the lobby holding Lucy’s hand. Taking in the tense scene, she came to a halt, making Lucy bump into her legs. Mer’s eyes darted from person to person. “What? What happened?”
“Those two got married without telling anyone,” Colt said, pointing an accusing finger at Kappy and Piper. “What the heck, guys?”
“Oh, I knew,” Mer said with a bright smile.
