Page 7 of Rookie Move

“Come on, Nessie, I’m starved,” Baz said, wrapping his arm around Desmond’s shoulders. “Lanzi’s?” Baz asked Finn.

“Like Sophia would let me go anywhere else,” Finn said, humor in his tone.

“Harty, you coming?” Finn asked.

“Of course,” Harty, one of the top line forwards, said.

“You’re going to love their stuffed shells. You almost can’t believe they’re real—you know, like your namesake,” Baz said with a guffaw, and Desmond shook his head at the man’s antics.

Yep. He was never going to change, and the rest of them would have to go along for the insane ride.

“Italian sounds great. I’m in,” he said as they headed out of the building. He needed to spend time bonding with his teammates off the ice and out of the workout rooms. Hockey was the family he’d always been able to rely on, and he hoped that would continue here in San Francisco. If it worked out, he’d hopefully be here for at least a few years.

After the last few months, this was the fresh start he needed. Not that he’d started out on the right foot with Rylie.

Shit. He shouldn’t even think about her. It was one night, and it was never happening again.

***

Twenty minutes later,they were settled in a large round booth in the corner at Lanzi’s. It was between lunch and dinner, so the restaurant wasn’t too busy. The guys had told him that it was usually packed at dinnertime, but Lanzi’s always found a space for them, even if they ended up jammed around a small table in the back room.

“They saw Baz coming, so they put us away from everyone else,” Finn said, then broke off a piece from his roll and popped it in his mouth. “You’re going to love the food. It’s amazing.”

“We pay him to say that,” an older woman said, pure affection in her eyes as she looked at Desmond’s new linemate.

“Angela Lanzi, meet Desmond Lachley, or Nessie to us. He’s my new linemate. Traded Fishy for him. Nessie, this is Sophia’s mom. She’s pretty amazing in the kitchen,” Finn said, and grinned.

“Laying it on thick for the girlfriend’s mom,” Baz retorted, but Finn ignored him.

“Nice to meet you, Desmond,” she said. “I see they’re keeping up with the aquatic theme. Fishy’s gone, but Nessie is here.”

“I didn’t even think about that,” Baz said.

“You’re slipping, man,” Finn said.

“Nice to meet you,” Desmond said to Sophia’s mom.

“Great to have another player here. So what can I get you guys? Or should I just bring out a few of your favorites?”

“Favorites. Yes. Load us up. Nessie here is in dire need of amazing Italian food,” Baz said.

The woman laughed. “And you’re starving, I’d imagine.”

“You know me so well, Mrs. Lanzi,” Baz said.

Mrs. Lanzi took the rest of their order and headed back toward the kitchen.

“So, Nessie, can I call you Nessie?” Baz started.

Desmond chuckled. “Like I have a choice. What’s up, maniac?”

“It’s good to have you on the team. I bet you missed me, right?”

Desmond shook his head with a laugh. “We haven’t played on the same team in years.”

“A travesty. Everyone should get the chance to be teammates with me,” Baz said, puffing out his chest.

“How do you guys deal with this? You’d think age would’ve matured him by now,” Desmond said.

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