Page 40 of The Grinder

She wanted to have fun and not worry about the consequences.

She wanted to have hot sex with Riley and not think about the fact that one day he’d move on to another team, another city. Another girl.

She wished she didn’t feel like the two nights they’d spent together had been the start of something amazing.

* * * * *

“If that kid skates by me again with that smirk on his face, I’m gonna lay him out on his ass.” Riley glared at CJ. “I get it, he’s young. But he’s a twig and I’m gonna snap him.”

“You can’t hurt our best scorer.” Justin laughed. “We need him. You know, you’d think you’d be in a better mood, considering you got laid last night.”

Justin and Riley skated together Sunday afternoon. Almost the entire team was here, even though today’s practice was optional. They’d had a good game last night and Coach had given them the morning off before the game this afternoon.

Riley hadn’t considered skipping. Apparently most of the guys felt the same.

“Keep your damn mouth shut about that.” Riley slashed his stick across Justin’s shins, almost hard enough to hurt. “The whole damn team doesn’t need to know.”

“Umm, the whole damn team already knows.”

Riley shot him a glare. “What the fuck?”

Justin grinned, completely unrepentant. “Come on, you know hockey players gossip worse than old ladies.”

Yeah, unfortunately he did.

Shaking his head, he sighed and pivoted to skate backward. “Christ almighty. I don’t want Aly to think I’m a douche who told my entire team we slept together.”

“So you gonna see her again?”

“I’m gonna text her after practice to see if she’s coming to the game tonight.”

“Wow, three nights in a row. Must be true love.”

Riley grimaced. “How fucking old are you? Seriously, like, twelve?”

Justin laughed maniacally and skated away, leaving Riley to skate by himself for a few blissfully quiet seconds, thinking about those two little, four-letter words.

True love.

Yes, he believed in love, enough to know he’d loved his ex but not in the way he’d needed to make their marriage work. He also knew what he felt for Aly, even after such a short time, might be something worth fighting for.

And he had the feeling he was going to have to fight for it, if her unwillingness to let him stay the night was anything to go by.

Their personalities were in direct opposition. She was quiet and calm, reserved. He wasn’t. Maybe that was what drew him to her.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw CJ coming up on him again.

Christ, this kid was gonna step on Riley’s last nerve today.

Just keep skating, kid. You don’t wanna mess with me today.

Apparently, CJ couldn’t read minds. He slowed until they were skating together.

“Uh, hey. Hi.”

Riley barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. “What’s up, CJ?”

“Um, yeah, so I was wondering if I could work with you a little today?”

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