Page 19 of Playoff

Everyone laughs.

“It could have been worse. Sometimes I do it without the numbing cream.”

A bunch of the guys all cringe.

“She’s a little scary,” Chandler says solemnly. “We don’t mess with Ro.”

“Especially not now that she’s the boss,” Gabe says. “Besides, she has all these magic potions with her oils—I’m not ever doing anything to piss her off. If she can use her powers for good, she might also use them for evil.”

That makes me laugh.

This is one of the many things I love about my job. The camaraderie in this room is at the top of the list, and I refuse to let Blake’s presence take that from me.

He’s going to have to work to become my friend, just like the others.

Until then, I’m going to live my life just like I was before he showed back up in it.

That’s the plan anyway.

Everything else is one day, and one game, at a time.

SIX

Blake

My face is throbbingbut we beat the Blizzard 3-2, with me putting in the game-winning goal. It’s not a good feeling—it’s fucking great. This is what I’m here to do, and despite the injury in the first period, I managed to put myself on the proverbial map. Coach Vanek seemed inordinately pleased, and my teammates were effusive in their congratulations.

But now that the game is over, I’ve showered, and we’re on the bus heading back to the hotel, I realize I’m starving.

“Who wants to go eat?” I call out. “I’m freakin’ hungry.”

“I could eat,” Connor says, sitting up straighter.

“We’re in Anchorage,” Gabe points out. “I don’t know what’s open this late.”

“It’s Anchorage, not the Arctic Circle,” Coach Vanek says. “I’m sure you boys can find food.”

“I’m in,” Chandler calls out.

A few voices join him, and I glance in Rowan’s direction. She’s doing something on her phone, completely ignoring us.

Bodi seems to be watching me and arches one brow curiously. I don’t dare say or do anything overt—he’ll never let it go—so I turn away as if I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“You coming with us, Rowan?” he yells out. “I owe you a beer for how well you took care of Blakey.”

She glances up. “Oh…I don’t know. It’s late.”

“But we have to eat.” I’m surprised when Bristol chimes in. “I’ll go if you go.”

“All right.” Rowan nods and goes back to whatever she was doing.

But why do I care?

She can do whatever she wants.

It has nothing to do with me.

Except I can’t help but note the delightful curve of her ass as she gets up when the bus pulls to a stop. Or the way her ponytail bobs back and forth as she walks.

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