Page 58 of Hat Trick Daddies

The younger guys are pushing hard, and even us veterans have found new fire.

As I skate off the ice, my mind drifts to Ally. It’s been a couple of days since we hooked up, and I’ve been trying not to let it mess with my focus. But damn, it’s been hard. Every time I see her in the hallways or catching glimpses of her during practice, I feel that same pull.

I’ve told myself it’s just a casual thing, no strings, but the truth is, I want to see her again. Spend time with her outside of this rink. But between training and my own overthinking, I’ve been holding back.

“Good hustle today, Bailey!” Coach calls as I head toward the locker room. I nod in acknowledgment, my skates clicking against the rubber mats.

The truth is, I’ve felt great on the ice.

My body’s holding up, and the team’s starting to gel.

But off the ice? My mind’s all over the place.

I close my eyes, letting the shower run down my face as memories of Ally flood my thoughts.

That night at her place…the way she looked at me, the way she moved under me, it was like nothing I’ve felt in years. It wasn’t just the physical connection; it was something more.

I run a hand through my wet hair, frustrated with myself.

I shouldn’t be thinking about her like this. But damn it, I can’t stop.

And then there’s the twins. They’ve been orbiting her constantly, their teasing and flirting even more obvious than usual.

I can’t tell if it’s just their personalities or if there’s something more going on.

I slam my palm against the shower wall, letting out a quiet growl. Am I jealous? Do I even have a right to be?

Dripping wet I grab a towel, wrapping it around my waist as I step out of the shower. My reflection stares back at me in the fogged-up mirror, my expression hard to read.

Why does this bother me so much? Ally and I aren’t official. We’re not even really a thing. So what if she’s…exploring her options?

The thought sends an uncomfortable pang through me.

My mind drifts back to my marriage, the slow unraveling of what I once thought was forever.

Those first few years had been good, even great. But then it got stale, predictable. She wanted excitement, something I couldn’t give her, apparently.

When I found out she’d cheated, it wasn’t just betrayal; it was like something fundamental inside me broke. Since then, I’ve kept my relationships casual. No expectations, no commitments, no pain.

But with Ally…it feels different.

And that scares the hell out of me.

I sigh, running a hand over my jaw as I head back to my locker.

Maybe I’m just overthinking it.

Or maybe I need to figure out what the hell I really want.

The locker room door swings shut behind me as I scroll through my phone, my mind half on the texts I’m reading and half on getting out of here. The hallways are quiet now, the buzz of practice fading into silence.

I’m so focused on my phone that I don’t see her until we collide.

“Oof,” Ally says, stumbling slightly as her shoulder bumps into mine.

“Shit, sorry,” I mutter, steadying her with a hand on her arm. My heart skips a beat when I realize it’s her.

She’s holding her phone, her cheeks flushed as she looks up at me. “No, it’s my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”

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