Page 23 of Puck Shy

He’s right. As identical twins, we share a bond that’s hard to explain. We could probably say we were telling each other our secrets in the womb, but I don’t know. This thing with Stevie feels…unique.

I may have just met her, but something about her lights me up. I don’t know if she feels the same about me, but I’d like to find out. I don’t even care about the good luck thing my team had me riled up about. After what happened these past two nights, I want to know her. I don’t care about the rest of it.

“Does it bother you?” I ask Leo.

“Yes, it bothers me that you’re keeping things like this from me.”

“No. Does me being with Riley’s sister bother you?” I know Leo will never admit it to me, but for our entire life, even though we love the hell out of each other, we’ve always been in a competition. He thinks I don’t know how much it hurts him that I became a hockey star, and he didn’t even have the chance to live up to his full potential because of his injury.

I see the way he watches me on the ice. I see the way he hates how everyone talks about my games and career at holidays. I wish it were different for him. And sometimes, I wish we could trade places, then he would know what it feels like to constantly have the weight of winning and succeeding on my shoulders. Not only for myself but for my peers and fans. It’s a lot for anyone to handle. Let alone doing it by myself day in and day out.

Leo rubs the back of his neck and puffs out a breath. “So you’re with her?”

“Leo, stop fishing. I want to know if it bothers you. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t seek her out or anything. It just happened.”

There’s a knock on the door again followed by Jace’s voice. “Leo, we’re freezing our asses off.”

Leo takes a step forward and puts his hand on my shoulder. “It’ll only bother me if you hurt her. But I know you’re a good man.” He exhales a sigh. “Be careful, okay? This thing with Riley is new, and…”

“So don’t fuck it up for you is what you’re saying?”

He grimaces. “No, that’s not—”

“It’s fine, Leo. I get it. Now let’s get out of here before some weird twincest thing hits the news tomorrow.”

Leo’s face screws up. “Gross, Luke. Just no.”

The fact that he’s using my nickname means he’s lightened up a little. I release some tension from my body and chuckle as I step around him, opening the bathroom door to see Jace standing there with amusement on his face. I pat him on his giant bicep, and he hands me the jacket I dropped on the floor when I dragged Stevie to the bathroom.

“Thanks, Jace.”

“You good, man?” he asks, his voice teasing.

“More than good.” I wink at him.

Chapter eleven

Stevie

I sip my coffee as I wait for Lucas to arrive. At first, I thought I would invite him over to my place, but then I thought a public venue would be more appropriate. Not that it’s stopped us before, but it’s not even ten in the morning, and I know he has hockey practice today.

My phone vibrates, and I see Riley’s name on the screen. After I left the bar last night, she insisted I drive her to her hotel so she could grill me. I tried to avoid it, but I knew she wouldn’t let up. So I laid out what happened, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone more excited. I listened to her go on and on about how we could marry brothers and how cute our kids would be. I can’t help but smile about it even though I had to remind her that dating, marriage, and kids is something I don’t think I want, but she ignored me, too excited about the prospect of our future with twin brothers like I thought she might be.

RILEY: Tell me what happens after it happens.

STEVIE: No.

RILEY: Pleasseeeeeeeeeeee?!?!?!

STEVIE: No.

RILEY: But Stevieeeeeeeee

STEVIE: You really want to know about my sex life?

RILEY: You know about mine.

STEVIE: Fair.

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