Page 18 of The Love Penalty
It’s not like I can kick Casey out. He’s one of my best friends.
I don’t know what I’d do without the Hockey House bros. Sure, I rub them up the wrong way sometimes. They think I’m an arrogant, rich asshole when I say oblivious shit. I don’t know what it was like to grow up without everything at my fingertips. That’s not actually my fault. I try to understand where they’re coming from, but sometimes shit slips out… and I always hate myself when it does. I don’t want them seeing me this way, but part of me wonders if it wasn’t for Hockey House whether any of them would truly be my friends. Do they just put up with me because I provide free accommodation?
The thought blackens my mood even further, and I skate a little harder until one of the assistant coaches wanders into the arena and barks at me to call it quits.
“Don’t go killing yourself during the offseason, man.” He leans against the boards and gives me a grin.
I skate over to him and run a hand through my sweaty hair.
“What’s eating you?” He lightly nudges my shoulder. “You only skate this hard when you’re pissed about something.”
“Nothin’,” I mutter.
“Well, if you need to chat, you know where my office is.” His backhand slap on my arm is friendly, and I force a smile before he walks away, obviously content with his little check-in.
Jumping over the boards, I slump down on the seat and start unlacing my skates. I’m the only guy here at the moment. Mr. Zamboni will start smoothing out the ice soon, and unlacing here gives me a few extra minutes to avoid the guys.
They’re all showering up in the locker room, no doubt making plans for tonight, talking about their girlfriends and shit. Connor and Riley will be jumping in with their latest hot dates, and I’ll be standing there seething, because the hottest date I had recently hates my guts.
I don’t want to admit that to anyone.
What I really want to do is freeze her out of my brain and move the fuck on, but do you think I can forget that kiss? Her smile? How smart she is? The fact that she’s a Ravenclaw goddess who’s put a fucking spell on me?
Kicking off my boots with a growl, I snatch them up and pad back to the locker room.
Steam is billowing out of the shower stalls as I walk past and dump my stuff next to my locker.
“What took you so long?” Casey asks once his head’s popped through his shirt.
“Doing some extra skating,” I mutter.
“Why?”
“Because I felt like it!”
He gives me an odd look, then narrows his eyes at me. “Is this about the puppy? You’re still pissed, aren’t you? Dude, seriously, get over it. I’m gonna train that thing until he’s the best-behaved dog on the block, I swear.”
I close my eyes, shaking my head and wishing it was just about the puppy.
“I had a dog growing up,” Baxter interjects. “I can help train the little guy.”
“Thank you.” Casey points at him but keeps his eyes on me. “See? It’s all gonna be good.”
“It takes a while, though. You’re gonna have to be consistent and firm. Dogs thrive on routine.” Baxter keeps going, droning on about all he knows and making Casey squirm when the man-child idiot starts to realize how much work this is gonna be.
“It’ll be great to get your help, Bax. Thanks!” Casey cuts him off, probably putting himself in a bad mood as he thinks about how this is gonna change his life.
That idiot never looks beyond the next fucking hour.
“I’ve got your back, bro.” Baxter gives him a rare grin, then goes quiet. He’s spoken more words in the last three minutes than he probably has all day. I’m guessing he’s now exhausted.
I roll my eyes and turn back to my locker, stripping off my sweaty gear and heading for the showers.
Taking my time, I soak under the hot spray until I’m just starting to relax.
“Come on, rich boy! Hurry it up!” Casey shouts from the doorway.
I close my eyes, gritting my teeth against any kind of comeback. I hate it when they call me rich boy. They only do it when they think I’m acting rich. I didn’t realize taking a long shower after a shitty day was a rich thing to do, but Casey obviously does.