Page 21 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“Whoa,” he cries, reaching out to cover Bea’s mouth before she can say anything else.

I chuckle along with them as they bicker, and just like always, jealousy rises within me. I want that. That connection with your person. I’ve never experienced it, and I’m dying to know how it feels.

I follow them to Rett’s car and climb into the back once he unlocks it.

“So, safe to say that Garrett enjoyed his night, then?” Rett asks as he pulls out of the parking lot and heads across town.

“Yeah, and depending on how it ends for him, it could be the best night of his life. I think the only thing that would top it would be if he discovered which player on the team is gay and getting the night with him.”

“What?” Rett splutters, glancing back at me when he pulls to a stop at a stop sign.

“Oh, Garrett’s got a theory that every team has at least one gay player. He’s yet to tell me who he thinks it is on the Vipers, though.”

“Huh,” Rett says thoughtfully, I assume as he runs through the roster. “There aren’t many that aren’t active with either their girls or the bunnies.”

“Maybe the girls are a cover,” I point out.

“Shit. I need to figure this out.”

“I never said he was right. Interesting theory though.”

“It fucking sucks that guys in professional sports are too scared to come out and be who they really are. If I were gay, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops and still getting my rocks off.”

The lack of response from Bea confirms what I suspected: she’s asleep.

“Of course you would.”

“Hell yeah. I couldn’t give a fuck if people don’t like me. And if they judge me for who I enjoy spending time with, then fuck them.”

“If only it were that easy,” I muse, aware of how hard Garrett worked when he was a teenager to embrace who he was. And that was without the entire world watching his every step.

“Well, whoever it is, they’ve got my full support if they ever decide to come out. I know the others will have his back, too.”

“You’re a good man, Rett,” I say, turning my eyes out of the window.

“I have my moments,” he mutters.

“I do love a modest hockey player.”

He snorts. “Our egos are the second-best thing about us.”

“What’s the fir—” At seeing his smirk in the rearview mirror, I instantly backtrack. “No, don’t tell me. I can guess.”

“As if Bea hasn’t told you all about it.”

“I know she’s happier than she’s ever been, and that’s all I need,” I say, lying through my back teeth. Of course Bea and I have discussed in detail what Everett Donnelly is like in bed and if all the hype around him over the years is valid.

One hundred percent is, just in case there was any doubt.

My girl is one lucky, lucky bitch.

A sigh rips past my lips as Rett pulls toward my new building.

“Oh shit, I didn’t think to mention that I moved.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not about to forget that you’re here now.”

I’m about to ask him what he means, but Bea lets out the most unladylike snore, and we both fall apart laughing as he pulls into the parking lot.