Page 53 of What If I Knew You

“Easy Blackstone. I keep my penis in my pants and out of any kind of hole.”

“That includes glory holes right?” Griffin winks and then leans in and loudly whispers, “You know I had to ask.”

“Bodhi Roche is a goddamn virgin,” August states as if him saying it over and over again will help him believe it. “But you’ve like, done stuff with girls, right? Like, you’ve made out with them and shit.”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

Barrett’s jaw practically unhinges from his face. “Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“At all?”

“Nothing at all,” I say matter-of-factly. “Look long story short, my dad spent all his money on me growing up instead of on the cancer treatments he needed so how could I have ever disappointed him by making a colossal mistake and knocking up a girl and ruining my career? It was just easier to keep my nose to the grindstone and be the best fucking hockey player I could be.”

The expressions around the room change and they all begin to respond with agreeing nods and shrugs of understanding.

Oliver pulls off his shirt and grabs his towel. “So why the change now? Is your dad still alive?”

I shake my head. “Nope.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, man.”

“So yeah, it was at first me not wanting to disappoint my dad. But now, I’ve started to notice all the hockey greats settlingdown and I just think that now a relationship or a family might be something I would like. You and Scarlett seems happy.” I turn and gesture to August. “And you and Ella are good. You guys are great players and you have happy lives. I’m going to want that too one day but I don’t want to be the laughingstock of the hockey league by being bad in bed with the possible love of my life. Especially when the media has categorized me as a walking ladies-man. So, yes. I was with a girl last night.”

Whistles and cheers come from the guys as they each congratulate me. “Well, way to go, Roche!” August exclaims. “Did you stick your dick in her?”

“Yeah,” Ledger smiles. “Did you take her to Pound Town?”

“Whoa, wait.” Olver raises his hand. “Bodhi, forgive me for asking but I have to because you’re young aaaand a virgin therefore making you a little bit stupid, but please for the love of God tell me you didn’t hire a prostitute last night.”

With a roll of my eyes, I shake my head. “I did not hire a prostitute last night.”

He brings a hand to his chest and lets out a sigh of relief. “Good. Don’t do it. Ever. You don’t want that shit all over the tabloids. They will take that news and run crazy with it.”

“I would never do that. And for the record, no, I did not stick my dick in her.”

“So does that mean you asked her?” Griffin asks, plopping down next to me as I pull off my skates.

August’s brow furrows. “Wait, who is her? What girl are we talking about?”

“Okay, okay.” Harrison stands. “Storytime.Roche met some girl who texted the wrong number and accidentally reached him. He texted back and now they’ve been talking and I’m guessing he either asked her for some sex lessons or she offered or maybe they just went out to Chuck E Cheese for all I know.”

The guys chuckle around me.

Har har. Very funny.

“But Griffin and I encouraged him to find a friend to…you know…”

“Practice on?” August asks.

Harrison nods. “Yeah.”

“And?” Oliver prods.

I shrug my shoulder. “And she said yes.”

Griffin folds his arms in front of his chest and cocks his head. “Aaaand?”

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