Page 24 of Dirty Pucker

“Yeah. The most I’ve ever seen out of you is a smirk when you’re taunting someone on the ice,” Xander says.

I shake my head. It feels kind of weird laughing and joking with my new teammates…but it’s also nice. I feel a little less on edge now.

We all laugh. The server drops the basket of fries at the table, and I slide them to Ingrid. She grabs the nearby bottle of ketchup and douses her fries, then chows down.

She swallows and elbows me gently. “Look at you getting along with your new teammates. And all it took was a pitcher of beer and you flashing that handsome smile.”

I glance at her. “Handsome, huh?”

Her cheeks flush as she bites back a smile.

I shouldn’t be teasing Ingrid like this, but I can’t help it. I like her a lot. And even though things between us need to stay friendly, I can’t resist the opportunity to tease and flirt with her a little.

I grab my beer glass and notice Theo looking between Ingrid and me. His expression turns hard as he stares at me.

I get his silent message loud and clear.

Quit flirting with my cousin, asshole.

I clear my throat and frown at my beer glass. Theo and I are starting to get along, but I’m certain that won’t last if I keep up this banter with her.

“Hey, you.”

I look up and see Sophie, the team doctor, walk up to Xander. He beams, then stands up and kisses her before pulling out the chair next to him for her to sit. He flags down the server and orders a non-alcoholic drink for Sophie. She smiles at him and he rests his arm along the back of her chair.

She smiles at me. “Hey, Del. Well done on your first game.”

“Thanks.”

“How’s your shoulder?”

I roll my left shoulder. “A little sore, but good.” After the game, my shoulder was still kind of sore from that check against the boards I took early in the game, so Sophie examined me.

“Thanks again for checking me out,” I say.

She smiles. “Of course. That’s what I’m here for.”

Xander leans over and kisses her temple. She closes her eyes and lets out a soft, satisfied hum.

“Aww, you two. So cute,” Ingrid coos.

Xander and Sophie smile at her.

Theo gently shoves Xander’s shoulder. “Still can’t believe you convinced her to go out with you, man.” He looks at Sophie. “You do realize this guy’s an idiot, right? If you have kids, they’ll probably only have an average level of intelligence. I know you’re a genius, but Xander’s gonna bring them down a few dozen IQ points.”

Xander shoves Theo back, but he’s laughing. Sophie chuckles and shakes her head.

Sophie is my sister Dakota’s best friend, and I remember just how smart she was from a young age. I was busy with hockey most of my life so I didn’t spend a ton of time around her, but I remember Sophie was always attending advanced tutor sessions and finishing every grade in school before everyone else.

“Xander is brilliant.” Sophie gazes up at him. He smiles at her, the look in his eyes adoring as he swipes a chunk of her strawberry blonde hair away from her cheek.

“It’s okay, gorgeous. I’m fully aware that you’re the beautyandthe brains in this relationship.”

Everyone laughs. Just then Dakota walks in. When she walks up to the table, everyone greets her. When she sees me, she looks surprised.

“Del. Hey.” She blinks at me. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” She sits down next to me.

“Ingrid invited me.”

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