Page 29 of Home Ice

A couple of people on the other side of the room look up at us, but everyone else minds their own business. That's why we like this bar. The bartender knows who we are, but he's never said one word about it. In exchange, I started giving him season tickets to the games a couple of years back. Pretty sure this is a one-man-shop. It would be easy for him to let slip that the Salt Lake City Sting like to come here on their off days. Word would get out, and he'd have one of the most popular bars in the city before long. But it's almost always the same crowd in here when we come. Especially on a weeknight like tonight. But with no practice tomorrow, this is our weekend.

"Look what just sat at the bar." Drunk Poppy's Russian accent is even thicker than usual, but you don't play hockey at the highest levels for long without learning to understand lots of different accents. "Some of that delicious pussy, am I right, men?"

Kayden and the Princeling look over their shoulders. I hold even tighter to Kayden's arm while he does. Milo just looks at me and shakes his head. He's had just as much to drink as the others, but no matter how much he drinks, I've never seen him drunk. Sure, he'll slur his words, but he'll never act a fool like?—

"Yerr married! And to a fuckin' man because yer gay, dude." Kayden's words come out in slips and starts. "What're you talking 'bout pussy like that?"

Poppy smiles and gives Kayden a wink so big he could be on the stage at Eccles Theater and the people in the top row would still see it. "I'm helping you, yes?" He holds his hand up. Kayden stares at it like he's never seen a hand before and is wondering why it needs to have so many pointy things sticking out of it. The Princeling, to his credit, knows a high five when he sees one, so he rears back. And ends up missing completely. His hand slaps the table in its downward arc. "Hell yeah, three of them there and three single men here." Poppy slaps his hand down on top of the Princeling's like it was what they intended all along. "It's destiny, my brothers."

One of the women looks over at our table. She's hot as hell and wearing a short red dress that is cut so low her breasts might as well be hanging out. I watch as she nudges her friend. A brunette in a mini skirt turns our way, and I think she might be more gorgeous than the first.

"See?" Poppy all but shouts as he stands up and holds his arms out. Christ, why did they have to be here tonight? This is going to make my job as designated saint even more difficult.

Now the third woman's attention is on our table and after that quick, silent conversation that girls can somehow do, they all walk our way.

"You boys look like you want some company," Number One says. She traces a fingernail across Princeling's shoulder, and his face turns as red as her dress. The upcoming season will be his first year in the league, so he's not used to all the attention he's about to get. College girls just aren't a match for the big leagues. I make a mental note to sit him down and explain how important it is to stay safe and stay clean. As long as he does that, he can bang as many chicks as he wants. It makes everyone happy, so why the hell not? It works for Kayden.

Princeling's jaw moves up and down, but no sound comes out. I'm just about to put him out of his misery when Kayden looks at the second girl. Even in her black stiletto heels, she's short. Her head is only a few inches higher than his while he's sitting down. "We could fuck," he tells her.

"Whoa!" I stand up and hold my arms out like a ref trying to break up a scrum. "Absolutely not!"

Kayden points at me, or tries to. "Asshole man is right. First, are you sober?" he asks the girl. "Because I don't care how hot you are, and you are so hot my balls are sweating right now. But... fuck, I hope that's actually ball sweat." He reaches for his crotch, and somehow the woman takes this as an invitation instead of the turnoff that anybody in their right mind would consider it, and she sits on his lap. "How many dranks have you drank? Because consent is so super important, and if you're drinked, then no! No, no, no. No way, Miss Jose. Oh hey, here's Branny. He can tell me if you're sober."

I walk over to them and hold my hand out for Number Two. "There won't be any fun tonight. Sorry, ladies." I announce it loudly so the other two can hear. Number One is running a finger through Princeling's hair, while the third woman is trying her best to flirt with Milo. He's just holding up his wedding ring and shaking his head.

"Whatever, man," Kayden says. "Just 'cause Branny's got a girl, he thinks the rest of us can't got a girls too?"

I stare at him for a second, hoping he'll clarify whatever the hell he's trying to say, but he just sits there with a smirk on his face like he just destroyed me with some deep wisdom. "Tell you what, ladies, if you want to give these idiots your numbers so they can get ahold of you once they sober up, you go right ahead. But I'm afraid my friends really need to be going." Fuck, I don't even want to think about the logistics of getting them all home or about how much I'll have to tip the ride share drivers to cover anything these guys might do in their cars. Number One and Number Two give Princeling and Kayden their numbers. Number Three tries to give her number to Milo, but he just waves her off like she's a server asking if he wants a refill.

When they're gone, Kayden leans across the table. "You never did thank me for Lily, by the way."

"What?"

"I hooked you two up. Me! I did that! For you because we're brothers, you and me, and I love you so fucking much." He looks like he could tip over at any second. Normally, I would do my best to keep him from falling. Now, though, I hope he does so he'll shut up.

I look around the table. Everyone's eyes are on me. Fuck. My cheeks are burning, and I hope the others can't see that. "You're drunk. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Who's this Lily?" Poppy asks.

"No one."

"Our new trainer. The pretty one with the raven-feathered heart." Kayden points to his head. "Heart. This stuff."

"Black hair?" Milo helps.

"Yes!" Kayden tries to snap. "She has the raven's black hair. And Branny's in loooove."

"No, no, no." I flail my hands in front of me as everyone's eyes go wide. "Kayden, you need to stop this right now. There's nothing going on with me and Lily. Nothing. We're friends. Maybe friends. Nothing else." Shit, would she even consider me a friend?

He grins and his head wobbles from side to side. "Don't be shy. Branny here is totally going to bang our new—Ow! The fuck?"

I'm not proud of kicking him under the table, but I don't know what else to do. This isn't something to joke around with, especially not in front of others. "Everyone up. I ordered our cars." I didn't, but I usher them from their seats anyway. Right now, I need to do anything to change this subject.

When we're all headed towards the door, Kayden leans his head on my shoulder. "You like her, Branny boy. I know you do."

"I love you, but you need to shut the fuck up right now. I'm serious, Kay."

He mimics zipping his mouth shut and then moves up to Princeling and Milo. He works his way between them, puts his arms on their shoulders, and starts singing some song that I've never heard before. And I blow out a breath. Hopefully, they're all too drunk to remember anything he said.

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