Page 13 of The Stud

Teammates aren’t just the ones who lace up with you to hit the ice.

They’re also the ones that have your back on dryland.

The boys – self excluded – pile up in the distant area as instructed while Audrey submissively follows her sister’s instructions regarding which way to shift her figure, the best angles to capture the product as well as the company’s logo, and the best phrasing for keeping the boys relaxed rather than tightened up – a habit most of them fall victim to when speaking on camera versus playing.

Again.

Self-excluded.

Why?

Because unlike most of them, I pracky that shit.

I was raised to believe pracky makespresentable, not perfect.

And presentable is achievable unlike perfection.

Stick taps to my professor father.

“I didn’t sleep with her,” offhandedly leaves me the instant there’s an open opportunity for it to. “I don’t even know her name.”

“Yeah, like you’ve never banged a broadskie whose name you didn’t know.”

“I haven’t.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Well, you’re not telling the truth.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I knowhockey players,” she sourly argues, “I’vedateda hockey player, and I know your infamous for doing both things.”

“Wait…” curiosity carves itself into my glare, convincing me to lean in a bit closer, “you said the other night you donotdate hockey players.”

“I don’t.” She cuts me an unhappy glare. “Because I did.”

“Shouldn’t you join the rest of theteam?” the cinnamon skinned male on the other side of Hoss grunts at me, severing our conversation. “You know.Over there.” He kicks his goatee covered chin in the direction of my team. “Wayyyyy over there.”

I cockily lean against my stick. “Nope.”

Khurana less than quietly grumbles his displeasure, an action that simply encourages me to grin wider.

Yes.

I’m full fishbowl aware that he wants Hoss like I do.

That he’salwayswanted her like I do.

Too bad for him she’s basically The Cup.

Something he’ll never even get to compete for.

Hoss returns her attention forward, flips away one of the dangling strands that’s near her eyes and motions to Khurana to begin filming. Once she gets confirmation, he’s begun, she waves over Cap with two fingers, who awkwardly clomps across the distance.

God,it’s like watching a drunk horse blooper fromSpartacus.

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