Page 28 of Twin Babies for the Pucking Billionaires

The worn cotton smells faintly of her perfume and I can’t help but smile. The night was wild, which is evident by the scrapes and bruises scattered across my body.

I trace the small tattoo on my waist with my finger, a tiny reminder of a spontaneous decision. It still makes me laugh.

I hop into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of last night. I take my time, enjoying the steam and the solitude. Afterward, I throw on a pair of boxers and set an alarm for two hours.

I need to catch up on sleep. I crash onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep almost instantly.

***

My phone rings, jerking me awake. I groan, squinting at the screen. It’s Declan.

“Where the fuck are you? I’m in the parking lot.”

“Shit!” I scramble out of bed, nearly tripping over my skates. I grab my phone, uniform, and skates, pulling on some clothes haphazardly. My apartment is a whirlwind as I get ready, my heart racing.

I dash out the door, nearly forgetting to lock it. Declan’s waiting by his car, arms crossed, looking impatient.

“Dude, you look like you just rolled out of bed,” he says.

“That’s because I did. Let’s go,” I mutter, throwing my stuff in the backseat and hopping in.

We get to the rink, and the familiar scent of ice and sweat hits me. The locker room is bustling, guys gearing up and chatting. I shove my bag into a locker and start changing.

Coach storms in, already looking pissed. He spots Axel chewing gum.

“Axel, spit out the damn gum!”

“Sorry, Coach,” Axel mumbles, spitting it into the trash.

Coach doesn’t mention anything about the conversation he had with me and Declan this morning. He’s probably keeping it under wraps for now. He clears his throat, getting everyone’s attention.

“Listen up! We’re working on speed today. I’m splitting you into two teams. One led by Declan, the other by Finn. Let’s go!”

We head out to the rink. It’s a closed rink, so the stands are empty. The only sounds are our skates slicing the ice and the puck clattering against sticks.

Declan and I pick our teams quickly. I get Axel, Jamie, and a few of the newer guys. Declan takes Troy, Marcus, and some others.

“All right, boys, let’s show them what we got,” I say, clapping Axel on the back.

We line up, and the puck drops. The game starts fast. I’m dodging between players, the ice a blur under my skates. Axel’s on fire, weaving through defenders like they’re standing still.

“Axel, pass!” I shout.

He sends the puck my way and I catch it with my stick, barreling down the ice. Troy’s coming at me hard, but I fake left and cut right, slipping past him. I shoot and the puck sails past the goalie into the net.

“Yeah! That’s how you do it!” I yell, fist-pumping.

Declan skates over, shaking his head. “Lucky shot, Finn. Won’t happen again.”

“Bring it on, old man,” I tease, grinning.

The game goes on, fast and furious. Jamie’s a beast on defense, blocking every shot that comes his way. Marcus is giving him hell, but Jamie’s not letting anything through.

“Come on, Jamie! Show them who’s the boss!” I shout.

Coach watches from the sidelines, eyes narrowed, arms crossed. He’s not saying much, just observing.

Declan steals the puck from one of our guys and charges down the ice. I race after him, closing the gap. He winds up for a shot, but I dive, knocking the puck away with my stick.

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