Page 25 of Hockey Boy

Sara: What?

Me: I JUST TOLD MY EX-BOYFRIEND I WAS THINKING ABOUT ORGASMS WHILE I’M PLANNING HIS WEDDING TO SOMEONE ELSE. CAN YOU NOT TALK ABOUT YOUR AMAZING SEX LIFE FOR ONE MINUTE?

Sara: Wow, all caps. That takes a lot of work. Aiden probably thinks you’re having a lactose reaction to all that chocolate.

Me: I hate you.

Sara: Love you. Don’t forget the carrot cake!

Breathing deep, working to steady my pulse, I survey the bathroom door, then study the tiny window. I’m pretty positive my ass wouldnotfit through it, but it may be worth trying if it means avoiding Aiden. Then again, if I get stuck in the window, that would only ratchet up the humiliation.

Dammit. I pull my shoulders back and don myI don’t give a shitface, then head back to the table, letting my hips sway the whole way.

Aiden’s got his face buried in his phone, so I make a quick stop by the counter to place an order for Josie’s cake. Once the pink musical perfection is ordered, I force myself back to the table so that we can place the order for his wedding cake and get the hell out of here before I make a bigger ass of myself.

“You almost ready?” Rather than sit, I collect my things, making it clear it’s time to go.

“Sara told me to remind you to get the carrot cake.” Aiden holds up his phone, shaking the screen a little, wearing an eager grin like he knows there’s a hidden message there.

I groan. “I ordered her stupid carrot cake. And don’t ask unless you want to know the kinky shit she and your brother get into.”

Aiden presses his lips together and looks off to one side, thoughtful. “What kind of kinky things involve carrot cake?” Then he shakes his head. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

“Which flavor did you choose?” I ask as I follow him to the counter.

“Vanilla with peach filling.”

I have to hold in my resigned sigh. I was certain he would choose the chocolate. Clearly, I don’t know the adult version of Aiden even half as well as I thought.

He chose a venue I never would have imagined he’d like, and now he’s ordering a cake that I’m pretty sure he’s allergic to. Let’s not forget he’s marrying a woman who isn’t me.

And somehow, I’ll have to be okay with it.

As the owner boxes up Sara’s carrot cake, I lean over the counter and whisper, “Can you throw in a slice of chocolate cake too?”

“To the window,”I shout.

“To the wall,” Daniel replies as the biscuit flies in his direction.

“To the left, to the left,” War sings, but Daniel is already rushing forward.

“Wrong song,” I holler as he slaps the puck into the empty net.

“If you’d stop changing what the songs mean, then I’d know where to be,” War grumbles, skating past me to get the puck so we can line it up again.

“If we don’t change it up, then people will figure out what we’re saying,” I point out.

“Not even I can figure out what you’re saying half the time,” War groans, shaking his head. “Believe me, no one is going to remember the lyrics you make up and know what play to expect.”

“Except you. You need to.” I swipe the puck from him. Then, in my best Lizzo voice, I start the next play. “I do my puck toss, check my stick.” I aim for Daniel, who is already on the move. “Playboy, how you feeling?”

He grunts, ready with a slap-shot. “Feeling good as hell!”

“Not sure why you’re feeling so good taking shots at an empty net,” Brooks booms from behindus.

War spins to face him. “By all means, give us something to hit.”

Propped up against the boards, Brooks shakes his head. “We’ve still got a month before preseason starts. Let’s grab lunch instead.”

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