Page 30 of Finn

“Aww, but those shots are so good,” he says, mock pouting. “And the bed thing… Well…” He waggles his brows.

“Finn,” I warn. “This is not going to work if you’re going to say shit like that.”

“Okay, okay.” He holds up his hands. “I give in, Sammie. You win. We’ll be friends, nothing more, nothing less.”

I raise a brow. “Shake on it?”

I hold out my hand, and he takes it. And together, we shake on being just friends.

Ugh!

With how good his hand feels wrapped around mine, and the undeniable chemistry we share, this is not going to be easy.

Finn

“So, I have a question for you, man,” I say to my linemate and friend, Easton Sonden, as we skate around the rink. “Do you think it’s possible to be just friends with a woman?”

An hour ago, we finished our first official practice following the All-Star break. My other teammates were quick to head off to the locker room, shower, and get the hell out of the arena.

Hey, I understand. These early practices after some time off can be rough.

I feel good, though, as does Easton, so we opted to stay out on the ice to get in some extra work. We’ve already practiced a few speed drills and played around with some new passes, but now we’re cooling down and skating around the perimeter of the ice.

Nodding, Easton replies, “Yeah, sure, I think so.”

Quietly, I amend, “Uh, what if you’re really fucking attracted to the girl?”

He chuckles, looks over at me, and shakes his head. “That would definitely make it more difficult. Still, it’s possible.”

We’re quiet, all but for the sound of our skates on the ice.

And then Easton, peering over at me with his steely blue gaze, asks, “What are you leaving out here, Finn? Are we talking about a real woman, or is this a hypothetical question?”

“No.” I blow out a breath. “She’s all too real.”

“And you’re attracted to her?”

“Very much so.”

We reach the players’ bench and slow to a stop.

Leaning over to grab a water bottle, Easton points it at me and says, “Why do I have the feeling you’re leaving something out of this can-we-be-friends scenario?”

Shit, time to come clean.

Slipping off my helmet and running my fingers through my sweaty hair, I admit, “I am leaving something out. I slept with her already. But now she just wants to be friends.”

“Fuck, dude, was it that bad for her?” he says, chuckling.

I know he’s teasing, but I still shoot him the finger. “Fuck off, man.”

He tosses the water bottle back onto the bench and holds up his hands like I might deck him. “Just kidding, just kidding.”

“I know,” I say quietly as I slip my helmet back on but leave the strap undone and dangling.

In a much more serious tone, Easton asks, “What’s her deal? It sounds like you’d like to pursue something more.”

I scoff, “Yeah, I would.”

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