Page 56 of Ice Me Baby

We’re a month away from the season opener, and I can tell the guys are getting jittery. Nerves are running high, and I can tell in practice that they’ve been running themselves into the ground to make sure the first game goes well. They may only be exhibition games, but those games set the tone for the season.

Maybe we should have a fun, chill night instead of going out and getting into trouble since it’s the weekend. I’m still staying at the common house most nights, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

We’re sitting in the living room as the guys discuss plans for the night to blow off steam. I clear my throat as I throw out the idea. “Would you guys mind staying in for the night, and we can do movies and popcorn?”

Vicy tilts his head in question. “You want to stay in?”

I shrug. “I think it’s better than going out and causing trouble. The media is going to be focused on you guys for the next few weeks since the season is about to start. They are going to look for anything and everything they can post about you guys.”

Taz groans. “She has a point. We don’t want a repeat of what happened last year.”

Consider my interest officially peaked. “Last year?”

Ozzy face-palms and groans. “Did you seriously have to bring that up?”

A grin spreads across my face. “What happened last year? Now you have to tell me.”

There’s a chuckle behind me as Mac leans over the back of the couch. He smirks and points at Ozzy. “Our defenseman over there drank a bit too much at a club one night.”

“We told him going clubbing was a bad idea,” Dean adds before shrugging. “But he didn’t listen.”

Ozzy winces. “It wasn’t my fault.”

Mac hops over the couch to sit beside me. “You were the one who kept taking shots.”

Ozzy throws up his arms and grunts. “How was I supposed to say no to a bunch of pretty ladies buying me shots?”

I snort a laugh. “Um... you say ‘no thank you’.”

“They were puck bunnies. He wouldn’t have said no,” Tuck adds.

“Would you have said no, Bobby?” I ask, smirking.

He grins and replies, “I would have if you gave me that look and said my name like that.” He shivers. “It’s like my sister scolding me.”

I hold up my hands in a placating gesture. “Alright. Alright. No going out and taking shots. So... movie night?”

Vicy jumps up from the floor and heads toward the kitchen. “I’ll get the popcorn.”

Taz rolls onto his stomach to push himself off the floor. “I’ll get the beer.”

I grin as I look at the others. “What movie do you want to watch?”

Tuck shrugs. “I don’t care. As long as it’s not one of those sappy romantic movies.”

I snort. “Fine no sappy romance. Any other requests?”

Dean and Mac shrug as Ozzy says, “You pick.”

“Me? You want me to pick?”

Tuck hums. “Why not?”

I tap my lip as I try to come up with a movie everyone will enjoy. Dean bumps my shoulder and whispers, “We could watchHowl’s Moving Castle.”

I arch a brow. “Really?”

He shrugs. “We could have a Hayao Miyazaki marathon.”

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