I can almost feel the way my teammates lean in across the counter to watch me more closely.
I pick up one of the thighs and lay it on the cutting board. The knife Andre gave me is small but really sharp so I exhale and just make a slice.
It cuts through pretty easily and before I know it I've gotten through one piece.
I slide it into the bowl we're going to use to coat the chicken in the mix of spices and reach for the other.
"This is a lot of work, you cook like this every day?" I ask Andre.
"Food can be your medicine, and for me, it is also meditative. I get into a zen state when I'm prepping and cooking."
"Kind of like when I'm riding my bike." Aiden says.
"Or when I'm in bed with Jo." Bryson says and Crosby throws a grape from their charcuterie board at him.
"That's like me when I hit the ice." Felix says. "Or maybe the locker room. Or the moment I get to the arena, it's like I get another level of depth to pull from."
"That's beautiful, Cap." E.T. says.
"Yeah," I add halfheartedly. I'm not sure there's ever a time I'm that zoned out. Or in. My mind always has a song playing or a scene unfolding.
Like right now. I’m handling cold, slimy, raw chicken but my mind is already picturing feeding Rhys a bite and watching his mouth chew and swallow the food I made him.
I think I get the point of cooking now.
"Have you and Rhys talked about how you’re going to work on your relationship when he leaves?" Felix asks after I successfully get all the chicken into the bowl with the spices.
I’m glad he waited so I could concentrate.
"Not yet, I think we’ll get into it tonight."
"You’ll have to, we leave for Arizona, Texas, and Florida tomorrow." E.T. reminds us.
"As the foremost expert in long distance relationships, I have one word for you." Bryson points his fork at me. "Toys."
"Toys?" I like the sound of this.
"Oh yeah, I sent Jo a new toy every month, I found this subscription box. She’d call me when she was opening it and I’d get to watch her enjoy it."
"Are you canceling the subscription now that she lives with you? I mean, how many sex toys can one person really need?" E.T. asks.
If you’ve never seen six hockey players fall absolutely silent let me tell you, it’s unsettling.
Even Andre stops what he’s doing.
"Dude." Aiden says.
"The limit does not exist." Bryson says.
"But like, there can’t bethatmany variations though." Emmett defends weakly.
"What do you mean?" I ask, as a list of at least fifteen different toys runs through my mind.
"Well, I know about vibrators. And I guess butt plugs." E.T. shrugs. "What else is there?"
"Handcuffs." Aiden says.
"Clit suckers." Bryson adds.
