Page 69 of The Stud

I mean…they gotta, right?

It’s like ice central.

It’d be stupid not to.

Curious if I’ve already seen the bunny that I know will be hopping on his stick tonight, I lean slightly further back to side-eye his choice only to spot Peck instead.

Huh.

That’s…weird.

Since when do they hangout?

Since when do they hangoutunmandated?

Concern causes me to cross from where I am to the sectioned off bar area where they seem to be sharing one of the boys’ collective favorite dishes up north.

“Fancy poutine,” I playfully coo from the space between them before snagging a gravy covered fry off of Frosky’s plate. “There’s some shit you don’t see every day.”

“Itfeels betterafter a garbage game,” Snowman nonchalantly announces at the same time he reaches for his glass.

My eyebrow helplessly quirks. “Is that a glass of vodka?”

“Water,” he sighs between sips. “Pecks doesn’t drink.”

I toss the young, black hair and blue-eyed player a skeptical stare.

“I really don’t!” He innocently croaks.

“Not even brewskies?”

The shaking of his head precedes him grabbing a gravy-soaked fry off his own plate. “Fiancéecan’tdrink. And I don’tliketo drink.” He chomps on the very edge of the piece. “Unless hot chocolate counts. Does that count?!”

“Is there Bailey’s in it?” mirthfully leaves me.

“Kahlua?” playfully inquires Snowman.

We hit each other with a brief look prior to asking in tandem, “Schnapps?”

Peck shakes his head a second time.

“Then no,” we retort in unison once more, small snickers leaving us both.

Ugh.

Sometimes I forget how Maximus and Juba we can be.

“How’s the face?” I sincerely investigate after finishing my initial fry and snagging a second. “Hurt or injured?”

“Hurt?” he replies, obviously uncertain himself. “Minor pain. No bruiseskies yet. Med said to let ‘em know if that shit changes.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t.”

“Should probably be able to sleep it off,” Peck informs on a boyishly shy grin.

Seeing the easy segue as well as an open opportunity to possibly not sleep in the lobby like a homeless person leads me to singsonging, “Soooooo about sleeping…”

Both men instantly halt all movements.

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