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“West told me he hasn’t seen Colby with a woman in a year,” Mel tells us with raised eyebrows.

“Mitch said the same,” Andie nods her head so fast her hair gets in her eyes then looks at Mel. “I’d say between his recent celibacy and taking her to Pancake Palace, Colby must be pretty serious about our girl.”

“Totally agree!” Mel says back.

“I’m sitting right here, guys.”

Their heads snap over to stare at me. “Are you hearing the words coming out of our mouths, though? Are you going to stop doubting yourself and keep listening to random, bitter women on the internet?” Andie asks.

“Or are you going to go get your man?” Mel says, both of them staring me down.

A smile tugs at my lips. “Maybe it’s time for one more practice date.”

Mel’s shoulders slump, thinking they didn’t get their point across. “Practice date?”

“Yeah. I need practice kissing. Not sure I’m any good at it.” I roll my lips together to keep from smiling.

Grinning, they nod their heads conspiratorially. Andie takes her thumb and forefinger and rubs her chin with an evil glint in her eye. “Great plan,” she says. “I’m sure Colby would be happy to teach you.”

CHAPTER 25

COLBY

I’m at the rink on Sunday for a long training day. First, we’re working with our power play coach, then we’ll work with our trainers in the gym. Last, we’ll have massages and visit the team’s physical therapists if needed. Then tomorrow we leave at the ass-crack of dawn for an away game and won’t get back home until like three o’clock in the morning.

And that leaves very little time for me to see Noel.

Which is annoying, because she texted me last night wanting to do one more practice date. I’ll take any date with her I can, even if it’s practice for stupid Dexter. I was disappointed when she asked for another practice date, because that means she must still be into Dexter. Which means their date must’ve gone better than she let on.

And I hate that.

I should’ve never let her think me blowing her a kiss at the game was for his benefit. I should’ve been honest and told her I’m crazy about her. Told her to pick me. Love me. Kiss me.

I get through practice somehow, barely remembering any of my movements or what our power play coach said to us.

I walk into the team’s cafeteria for lunch before our next workout. Cafeteria makes it sound plain and juvenile, but it’s a gourmet set up. It looks like a casual restaurant with rectangular tables and sturdy chairs. Everything is navy and red and embedded with the Eagles’ logo. A buffet that smells amazing lines one whole wall of the room. I can smell the meal our nutritionist prepped for us, and it makes my mouth water. Our meals are always prepared for us when we have long training days like today, and also before evening games. And as much as I love my mother’s Italian cooking, I always look forward to what Suzie makes for us. It’s always healthy, with lots of protein and veggies to encourage our best performance. I get my food, filling two plates. I see Mitch and West already seated at a table, they’re huddled together whispering, and when I come up behind them and take a seat, they both jump.

“Oh, hey Colby,” West says, rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding eye contact.

Mitch is smirking. At least for him it’s a smirk. The corner of his mouth twitching subtly. “Good practice,” he grunts out.

“Uh, right,” I say, looking between the two of them. “What were you guys talking about?”

“Nothing,” they both say a little too quickly.

“You two are being weird,” Remy says from behind me. None of us realized he’d walked up to us. Remy quirks a brow, then turns and stalks off toward the food.

I poke several pieces of lettuce with my fork and take a bite. “You’re going to start keeping secrets from me now?” I ask with my mouth full, directing the question to West. “I thought we were besties.”

West sighs. “I’m afraid we’re honor bound to secrecy on this. Husband stuff.”

“And fiancé.” Mitch nods. “But it’s nothing bad, it’s good actually. And that’s all I’m saying.”

West chuckles under his breath. It’s almost a giggle. Mitch must kick him under the table because he flinches and levels Mitch with a glare.

Remy comes back to the table with a plate of food and sits down across from us. “Is this about the infamous kiss-blowing thing?”

West motions with a hand across his mouth like he’s zipping it.