Page 30 of Netting the Goalie

Shane

“Seriously?You’re going to a wedding with a girl you just met?Are you insane or just stupid?”

I showed off my dexterity by giving Lad the finger without losing my grip on the game controller or getting my character killed.

“Leave the guy alone.”Jake knocked his controller against mine in a show of solidarity as we sat on the floor, backs against the couch.“He’s obviously taken too many shots to the head.Addled his brain.”

With the press of a button, I killed off Jake’s character.“Yeah, fuck you, too, Jake.”

With a burst of Czech that probably called my parentage into question, Jake tossed his controller over his shoulder to Lad.Jake had no doubt Lad would catch it.The guys were more in sync than an old married couple.It made them a great defensive team on the ice.

“So I take it the sex was amazing.”Joey Constantino sat on the couch beside Lad.“Why else would you subject yourself to a wedding, especially when you won’t know anybody there?”

I elbowed Joey’s thigh, hard enough for the guy to flinch.“I didn’t say anything about sex.And…what the fuck, man?I thought you were on my side.”

Joey smirked as he got his character up and running.The wiry forward skated with a blinding speed that totally contradicted his laidback personality.

“Iamon your side.But not if you’re gonna be a total dickhead.You haven’t stopped talking about her since you got here.You only met her last night.You got laid.The sex was obviously great or you wouldn’t have agreed to go to a wedding with her because, yeah, who goes to a wedding with a girl they just met unless they’re expecting more awesome sex?”

Okay, Joey might have a point but still… “Fuck that.I haven’t talk about her that much.”

Had he?

When the other three guys exchanged a look then started laughing, I wanted to grab the nearest stick and slash the hell out of all of them.

“Yeah, fuck you, assholes.Just because you aren’t getting any—”

“Who says we’re not getting laid?”Lad punched him on the arm.

I snorted.“You spend most of the time we’re not on the ice here playing videogames like twelve year olds.”

Jake stuck his elbow in my side.“And aren’t you sitting here, right now?”

“Visual acuity exercise.”

Joey burst out laughing.“You’re so full of shit.You don’t have anything better to do than sit around with us.Why didn’t you go home anyway?”

I shrugged.Didn’t want to admit that I was avoiding my Hallmark parents.

Lad and Jake wouldn’t understand.They would’ve been on the first plane out if they’d had enough time to fly home and get back in time for the next game.

Joey… Well, Joey’s parents were a living nightmare so he didn’t go home.Ever.He wouldn’t understand why I wanted to avoid my perfect family.

“I needed to work on some things and Cary said he’d help.So I stayed.I need the practice.”

“Don’t sweat the past few games, man.”Jake shrugged.“This shit will work itself out.”

Jesus, I hoped so.Otherwise… “I just want to stay focused on the game and not get caught up in all the family stuff.”

Jake snorted.“And nothing says focus like screwing around with some girl you don’t know.”

“It’s not like that.She’s…” Amazing.Sexy.Smart.“Nice.”

Silence.

I looked over my shoulder to see Joey staring at me with wide eyes.When I looked at the other guys, they had identical expressions of what-the-fuck.

“What?”

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