Page 78 of Trade Deadline

The rest of the team joins us, congratulating Elliot with helmet taps, and when I skate over to Middleton, I roll my lips.

“Good game, but seriously, dude. I think that lip foliage is slowing you down.” I grin.

He rolls his eyes, but I can see the corners of his lips twitching. “Thanks for the advice, Olsen; I’ll take it into consideration.”

I place my hand over my heart, “I’m so happy to have such a positive impact.”

He scoffs as we shake hands.

Before I step off of the ice, I glance up to my seats. Alex’s smile is wide and proud, and when our eyes lock, I blow him a kiss. He catches it and holds it over his heart.

Back in the locker room, Elliot is swinging his jersey around his head like a lasso while he tries to ride one of his leg pads like a horse.

“Watch out, broski, I’m gonna be in contention for the Maurice Richard Trophy soon. Better watch ya back!” He suddenly stops, and his face drops. “I don’t have a goal song… I’m gonna need a goal song. Reid, find me a goal song! It’s gotta be iconic! Think like ABBA or Taylor Swift…”

I laugh as he rambles on to a terrified-looking Zach.

Who knew one goal would make him this cocky?

Placing both hands on my hips, I watch my twin bundle his jersey up into a ball and shoot it into the laundry hamper. “If you beat me, El, I’ll be more ecstatic than if I win it myself.”

And I mean it.

Just playing my favorite sport with my brother is the biggest award for me; everything else is a bonus.

And playing my favorite sport with my favorite guy watching me in the crowd makes me feel like the king of the fucking universe.

* * *

“Areyou sure they won’t mind me coming?” Alex twists his hands in his lap, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“Of course not.” I shake my head.

We’re on our way to Gino’s to meet up with a few of the guys to play pool and enjoy some wings, and because Alex finished work earlier than expected, I asked him to tag along. It’ll be the first time they’ll meet him outside of the arena.

“If anything, they’ll probably give me shit to try to embarrass me in front of you.”

He grins. “Now that I’d like to see. I can’t imagine you get embarrassed easily.”

“When your ass has been plastered online, it’s hard to be embarrassed about anything. I own everything I do, but maybe I’ll remind my mom that baby photos are strictly forbidden.”

“What?!” He playfully slaps my bicep with the back of his hand. “You can’t take away baby photos from me, it’s like… mandatory at Christmas!”

I shake my head, laughing under my breath, but honestly…

I’d do anything for Alex.

He wants to see my embarrassing baby photos? He can see every single one if he wants.

I park my Range Rover in the lot behind Gino’s and we head inside, weaving through the crowd, to find the boys at the back by a pool table.

“Here he is, mister lover boy!” Elliot wolf whistles, then picks Alex up, swinging him around in a circle. “Welcome to the best boys’ clubever.We eat wings and drink beer and play pool and it’s great fun.”

Once he’s back on his feet, Alex looks over at me, the apples of his cheeks turning a deep shade of pink.

“Twinny, go get the drinks in; Alex is going to be on my team.” Elliot wraps his arm around Alex’s shoulders and guides him over to the high table where Zach and Ethan are sitting, sipping on a beer.

I do as instructed, placing our food order and return with beers, handing one to Alex, who’s looking at Ethan with a somewhat stunned expression.

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