Page 59 of The Girlfriend Zone

“You’re not wrong. My girlfriend loves shirtless shots of me. I like to make sure she has plentyevery day,” Alexei says, and the Saint Petersburg-born player is definitely not lacking in the confidence department.

Chanda laughs, amused by him. “Great. Leighton will make sure Freya has even more for her collection, and the rest of our fans too.”

Alexei turns to me, pressing his hands together in a mock prayer and giving me an imploring grin. “Also, I went on a special training regimen this summer. Can you let Coach know? Really, I’m in peak form.”

Hugo rolls his eyes at him. “Dude, Mini Mac is not here to curry favor with the coach on your behalf.” Then, the big-hearted, burly defenseman shoots me a grin. Hugo plays for Sweden in international competitions, and has lived in the U.S. since grade school. “But if you were passing on nice words to your pops, just know I lifted every damn day and did sprints. I could throw in a box of my wife’s cookies to sweeten the deal. Big Mac loves those.”

Rowan rolls his eyes their way as he moves onto biceps curls. “Or you could try playing better, assholes.”

“Language, Bishop,” Christian calls out from his spot by the leg-press machine, shaking his blond head like he’s had enough of these guys, and like he thinks I haven’t heard worse. But he’s the captain, so it’s his job, I suppose, to keep these guys in line. He’s also Josie’s big brother. “Ignore these idiots, Leighton. Just like I do. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will,” I say as he strides over and sticks out a hand. I shake it. “And it’s good to meet you, Christian.”

“You too, Leighton,” he replies.

“Welcome aboard, Mini Mac One,” Alexei adds, all serious now.

“Nice to meet you, Mini Mac One,” Hugo calls out, waving.

“Hey,” Rowan grunts.

Now I see why Miles didn’t know my name. My sister must be Mini Mac Two. And it’s clear “Leighton” probably isn’t going to stick with any of these guys. I’m not even sure if Miles is going to acknowledge me. What do our brand-new friendship rules call for? No clue.

But then the man I deliberately looked away from clears his throat and takes a step closer to me. “Welcome to the jungle, Leighton,” he says, meeting my gaze with a steady, no-nonsense look of his own. He turns to the guys. “Let’s let her do her thing.”

And yes, it is a jungle in here. All the man-imals know I’m essentially the boss’s daughter, even if Miles is calling me by my name.

Looks like I’ll have to earn their respect the old-fashioned way—with talent, grit, and by pretending a certain player’s shirtless workouts don’t make me blush.

Oh, and one more thing—throwing a little gasoline on their competitive fire.

“Let’s get some pictures. We can let the fans decide who worked out hardest in the off-season,” I say, and there’s a flurry of activity as the guys instantly snap into focus to prove who’s the strongest, toughest, best among them.

Not only do I survive the first shoot, but I capture one hell of a story—competition. The guys push harder, lift more, and do extra reps. Intensity etches across their faces, muscles strained, beads of sweat trailing down their skin.

Fine, it’s sexy in an eye-candy kind of way. But through my camera lens, it’s more than that. It’s a scene of a team reuniting, training together from day one with a single purpose—to be the last team standing by season’s end.

When the workout winds down, the guys file out one by one, with Miles the last to leave. He’s wearing a shirt now, but it clings to his sweaty chest. He glances over at me. “What’s the story here?”

“Determination,” I say simply.

He nods, approval in his eyes. “Determination,” he repeats, his lips twitching with the hint of a smile. “Fitting.”

It feels that way as he turns and walks down the corridor to the locker room without looking back.

That feels like an act of determination too.

For him.

And for me, as I draw a steadying breath and head in the other direction.

19

ICE VISIONS

Miles

One day down…however many more to go.

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