Page 38 of Home Ice

"Um, sorry Coach. I wasn't born in America, so I think I might not understand this as well as you want me to." When Milo glances back at me, I give him a head nod. Code for "good job, playing the 'English isn't my native language' angle."

Coach makes it seem like lifting his head to look at us is the most arduous thing he's had to do in a week. "You understand me just fine, right Morrison?" Thankfully, he doesn't pause long enough to force an answer from me. "We're splitting the playing time. Half and half. Both of you guys are the number one goalie. At least for now. Like the baby." He makes a slow slash with his hand, and now we both finally know what he's talking about.

"Of course. I knew that. Good decision. Thanks Coach." I clap Milo on the shoulder as we walk out of the office. "Just like the baby."

"The baby. Right."

As soon as we're out of Coach's earshot, I look over my shoulder at Milo, who's trailing behind me in the hallway. "So, what do you think?"

"I think I should be the starter. What do you think?"

"I think I should be."

He slaps me on the back. "But I think you should be the starter too. So sharing with you is a good thing."

"Agreed." I pivot to smile at him, walking backward for the last few feet to the dressing room. And that's exactly why I don't see the person coming out. I just feel them bounce off my back. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" I turn back around and see Lily taking a couple of awkward steps to the side to catch herself before she falls.

"Are you trying to injure me before the Charity Bee this afternoon, Morrison?"

She regains her balance quickly, but that doesn't stop me from taking advantage of the opportunity to reach for her. "Sorry. Kayden paid me to throw the event this year and make it look like an accident. Be sure you don't check your brake line before you leave here today. That way, it'll be a surprise when you crash on your way home."

Even though we’re the only ones who will understand it, her cheeks still turn pink at my reference to her accident. It's the new most adorable thing I've ever seen. But I think that every time I see her do anything. She's the other reason this week has been insane.

Spending that day on the sofa, just being there for her, was incredible. Her body fit perfectly into mine, like we were designed for each other. And the way she felt pressed up against me? The desire that rolled through me every time she shifted her weight? I've thought of that several times while lying in bed at night. Plus, two times in the shower. But that's fantasy. The reality is that we have to work together, and as much as I care about her—as much as I want more—we're friends. That's all she wants.

In the times I'm not around her, I can almost talk myself into settling for that. But then she texts me some silly meme. Or my attention drifts to her at the side of the ice during a practice, and she turns toward me at just that moment, like she can somehow sense my stare. There are even a couple of times when she starts to give me that pretty smile of hers before she catches herself. Those times make being only friends seem impossible.

"You give the word, Lily, and I'll take this guy out," Milo says and reminds me that he's still right here. "I have connections in the Swedish mafia."

"Milo, I doubt if Sweden has a mafia."

"That's what they want you to think." He jabs a finger playfully into my chest. "Say the word, Lily. I could be the starting goalie if you do."

Her eyes go wide as she looks at me for just a second before turning to Milo. "Thanks, Milo. I kinda need this one around. At least for the afternoon. After that, though…" Her words trail off. Milo chuckles and walks to his stall. Lily and I watch him as he slings his bag over his shoulder and walks out with a wave to both of us. "Brant? Brant! Oh my god, you did it?" Her volume goes up with each word.

I hold out my hand to stop her before she starts screaming in celebration. I would love to hear her screaming my name, though. Fuck, I need to keep this under control. I can't do that if I stay alone with her in this dressing room for much longer. "Coach is Salomoning us."

"Oh, like King Solomon. Co-starters."

"How did you get that?" I ask. She just rolls her shoulder like it wasn't difficult. "Maybe his east coast accent made it hard to understand when he said it. Anyway, yeah, we're splitting the starting role."

I'd never understood what people meant when they say a person's face lights up, but now, looking at her, I get it. "That's so great, Brant! Way to go!"

"I'm kind of—you're right. It is good." It feels wrong to tell her I'm disappointed when she's so excited for me. And honestly, she's not wrong. I'm coming back from a major injury, and Milo had the best season of his career last year. This is a good outcome. For both of us.

"Teams are going to be scared to face you and the Spider."

"The Spider?" I ask. "Is that what people are calling Milo?" I've never heard anyone call him that, but Lily is always talking to people around the arena when she's not busy working. Maybe it's something new.

"Not yet. Just me. You've seen the way he blocks shots, right? He looks like he has eight arms out there."

Oh. Not sure how I feel about her being the one to start this nickname for him. Actually, I know exactly how I feel about it, but I have no right to feel that way. "So what's mine?"

She waits beside me as I take up my bag. It would feel so natural to put my other arm around her and walk her out to the parking lot. So natural and so wrong. "Your what?" she asks.

"Nickname. What nickname did you give me? The Wall? The Big Stop? The Credits, because there's nothing past me?"

"The Credits?" She tries her best to hold back her laugh, but it finally bursts out. "You're really, really bad at nicknames, you know that? But I don't have one for you. You're Brant."

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