Page 142 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

“Have youmetmy teammates?” She hasn’t—but she will. “They’re great on the ice, but off? Half of them think microwaving ramen counts as cooking. Nova deserves better than a guy who forgets his laundry in the washer for three days and walks around smelling like mold.”

Austin laughs, leaning into the couch. “So, you’ve never even considered it? Not once?”

“No.”

She seems to give this some thought. “Question: if you had to choose one guy to set her up with, who would it be?”

I shake my head. “No one.”

“This is a game—you have to play.”

I shake my head again. “Don’t want to. The last thing I want to do is visualize her banging Jank or Tyler or whatever dipshit she dates.”

Not happening.

She pretends to think this over, tapping her chin. “What about your captain, Wes? He’s got that whole ‘strong and silent leader’ thing going on. Girls love a broody guy.”

I glare at her. “Wes? He drinks pickle juice straight from the jar.”

“So? I drink pickle juice straight from the jar.” She tilts her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Ooh, I’ve got it! The manager, Fitz. He’s tall. Cute.”

“He’s allergic to peanut butter,” I deadpan.

“Oh my God, so?”

“So.Nova loves peanut butter. That’s a deal breaker.”

Austin stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You are seriously a cock blocker. These are the dumbest reasons not to date someone I’ve ever heard.” Pause. “Give me one guy.”

I have to think long and hard about this.

Austin stops petting Gio to nudge me. “Well? I’m waiting. One guy. Give meone.”

I exhale slowly, racking my brain. “Fine. If Ihadto pick someone…” I pause for dramatic effect. “Luca.”

“Luca?” Austin’s eyes widen. “The backup goalie?”

“Sure, why not?” I shrug, trying to sound casual. “He’s decent.”

She bursts out laughing so hard she startles Gio into jumping off her lap and onto the floor.

“Decent? Luca is a human golden retriever. Your sister would eat him alive.”

Fun Fact: I love that Austin knows so much about hockey…until she knows too much about the players and who may or may not make a good match for my sister.

“At least he’s polite,” I argue. “He says thank you to his elders, aka, me. Which is more than I can say for half the idiots she’s dated.”

Austin calls the dog back up to her lap. “Do we honestly think Nova would get a lady boner for a guy who apologizes every time someone bumps intohim?”

I roll my eyes. “You asked for a name—I gave you one. Take it or leave it.”

“You’re right. This is great,” she says, grinning like she’s justfigured something out. “However, I personally think you picked Luca because he’s harmless. Nova would never, in a million years, go for him.”

“That’s not true,” I lie.

He’s not her type.

My sister enjoys an Alpha male—like me, kind of—and Luca Babineaux is not one.

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