Page 72 of Playoff

“Thanks, babe.” I type out a quick text to Bodi.

“You still a fan of brownies?” she asks me.

“Of course. Why? Are you making some?”

“Does Bodi like them?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Then yes. I’ll throw them in when we get home. Then I’ll put the lasagna in after.”

“Sounds awesome. You don’t have to go to a lot of trouble. Bodi and I are pretty easygoing. Just the fact that there’s food is plenty.”

“Brownies are super easy, and I don’t get to entertain much, so indulge my girlie side. It doesn’t come out very often.”

“I think you’re very girlie,” I say, running my hand up her thigh until I get to—“Especially here.” I gently cup her mound. Then my fingers travel north. “And here.” I run my hand over her breast before dragging my fingers up and putting them in her mouth. “And when my cock is in here…”

“Stahhhp,” she pleads, groaning. “You’re going to make me have an accident.”

I laugh. “Just making sure you remember that you’reallwoman.”

“I just mean I’m not the most domestic woman in the world. If you’re looking for someone who cooks and cleans and bakes—that’s not me.”

“What makes you think I’m looking for anything other than what you are? And from where I’m sitting, the fact that you make lasagna from scratch sounds like you do cook.”

“Yeah, but the brownies will be from a box. I have a cleaning service that comes because I’m too busy to spend my rare days off cleaning. And I usually only cook a few times a month.”

“There’s no shame in any of that.”

“I know, but a lot of guys are turned off by that. At least, they have been in my experience.”

“Then obviously those weren’t the right guys.” I lace my fingers through hers. “If guys are intimidated by a strong, independent woman, then they’re not real men.”

“That’s nice to hear, because no matter how strong you are, it’s always hard when a guy tells you you’re not what he’s looking for.”

“You’ve had guys tell you that?” I’m surprised but I probably shouldn’t be.

“I guess that’s what happens when men think you’re strong and independent.”

“Well, fuck them. It’s their loss and definitely my gain.”

Dinner with Bodi is fun.

He arrives with a bottle of wine which we’re drinking, and he’s hilarious, full of stories about incidents on road trips, with groupies, even with his family.

“…and then my mom walks in and all she can see is my bare ass, up in the air.”

Rowan dissolves into laughter as Bodi grins.

“Your mom had her hands full with you,” I say.

“And I’ve got four younger brothers that keep her on her toes.”

“Four?” Rowan gapes at him. “That’s a lot.”

“Yeah, but most of us are adults now. Bradley’s twenty-two. Beau is twenty. Benjamin is eighteen, and Bentley is fifteen, so he’s the only one still at home.”

“Do they all play hockey?”

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