Page 5 of Tough Score

Within seconds, Lake Powers slams into me first and engulfs me in a bear hug. "What the fuck was that?" he yells, a giant smile stretched across his face.

Then Brent, Briggs, Slade, and Kaenan all join in. Soon, Seven and the rest of the team surround us, cheering and slapping me on the shoulder, back, and helmet… However, they can reach me.

We won another game.

But we still have a long way to go before the championships.

After exiting the showers, I head for the locker room.

Lake, Brent, and Seven are already pulling on slacks and buttoning up dress shirts for the press waiting for after game interviews.

"That was some impressive shit out there tonight, Reeve," Seven says.

I've looked up to Seven since before I ever made it to the NHL. He's not one to say much to anyone, let alone praise, unless it was an exceptional show of talent. But he's different ever since he started dating his new girlfriend, Brynn.

He seems happy.

"Yeah, when were you going to tell me that you could sink a puck into the net from across the rink? That would be some useful information for your captain to know," Lake teases.

"Not all of us spend our summers frolicking in Aspen with our hot girlfriends while volunteering at animal shelters. Reeve's been working on that shot on his off time," Brent jabs with a smirk.

I chuckle at Brent's comment.

Not because I found it comical, but because Brent isn't coming to my defense. He just likes to flick shit at whoever gives him the chance.

Locker room shit-talking isn't anything new. Most of the guys on the team are exhibitionists… looking for attention. It comes with the territory of playing game after game in front of large crowds of people.

After all, we're in the business of entertainment when it really comes down to it.

And being noticed doesn't hurt when it comes to jersey sales, contract negotiations, media attention and sponsorship offers.

I get it.

But I'm more of a spectator.

"I'm not apologizing for spending the summer locked up with Tessa in our Colorado house. We have a no-clothes rule the minute we walk through the front door. And have you seen that woman's ass?" he asks and then puts his fingers to his lips and gives a chef's kiss, and then sends me a wink.

"I'll have to take your word for it. As a rule of ethics, I avoid checking out any player's wives or girlfriends," I say.

"Good," Seven growls under his breath.

Yep, Brynn's a big change.

"Tessa's a workaholic. Between my away games and her work schedule, I'd never see her if I didn't ship her perfect backside off to Aspen to spend the summer with me."

"We get it. You've got a hard-on for your fiancé. Save it for the honeymoon," Brent says, throwing a towel at Lake's head.

Lake catches it just in time.

I pull my own suit out of my locker and start with boxers, then the slacks.

"Our schedules don't make relationships easy to navigate," I say, buttoning up my shirt.

This is why being single can be easier to manage, though it's lonelier when you don't have someone to call at the end of a game.

There's no one special waiting outside of the locker room for you to come out and jump your bones. No one waiting to pick you up with the team bus drops us back off in front of the stadium after away games.

Lake turns to me. "You're right, it doesn't. And though I appreciate your work ethic, probably more than most, you need something outside of hockey. Finding a partner like Tessa changed things for me."

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