My hand flies to my mouth.
Too late.
Coach Avery chuckles and steps away to answer his phone.
“He’s smothering you, huh?” Hayes teases.
I groan. “I know he just wants to take care of me but it’s too much. Yesterday, I tried to walk to Bakes by the Lakes while he showered. Halfway down the street, I hear him screaming my name.”
“Please tell me,” Griff says, hands in prayer, “he ran after you in all his glory?”
“He was wearing my robe.”
Hayes chokes on air. “I don’t believe you.”
I whip out my phone and hand it over. The photo of Chase busting out of my fluffy robe, bare chested, has me sweating all over again. My stomach flips remembering how I couldn’t breathe for a full minute because I was so turned on.
His voice echoes in my head as if he’s standing right behind me.
Like what you see, sweetheart?
I hadn’t moved, hadn’t breathed, just stared. As he escorted me back home, I’m not ashamed to admit I had my eyes on his perky ass the entire way.
Hayes instantly texts the photo to himself.
Great.
I can already see the memes. The group chat is going to explode.
“I need help,” I groan.
“Sorry, Goose,” Rudy says. “Pretty Boy is not going to like you requesting our services. You’re on your own.”
“Traitor!” I yell. He responds by forming a heart over his head and skating away.
And then there were two.
“So, Papa Bear, fancy helping a girl out?”
Hayes smirks. “He’s really that bad?”
“I winced yesterday—for half a second—and he appeared out of nowhere Houdini style.”
“And where exactly doesHoudinithink you are now?”
“I, uh…” I wince. “In the shower. I jumped out the window.”
Hayes barks out a laugh. “Oh, Night Owl. You are in so much trouble.”
He calls out to a player—Logan Lloyd—and the rookie skates over to us.
Logan grins. “You doing okay, Gladiator?”
“Gladiator?” I echo, wondering who he’s referring to.
“That’s what everyone’s calling you. You’re a badass, Callahan.”
Hayes smirks. “Logan, take Erin to the locker room. Suit her up. She’s training with us today.”
