Page 91 of Trade Deadline

The three of us look at him, dumbfounded as Ethan crouches down to where Mitch is still sitting cross-legged in the tunnel. “Is it five letters?”

“Yeah.”

“Try ‘clear’.”

We wait as Mitch disappears back inside the tunnel to try the lock, then we hear a cheer.

“We’re out! We’re out!” He shouts.

“Puppy dog time!” Elliot pumps his fist in the air.

After a quick clap of excitement, we make our way through the tunnel one by one, only to find we’re not out.

We’re in another fucking room.

“For fuck’s sake! We’re never gonna get out of here. If we don’t get to choose the puppy, I'm gonna be really sad, guys.” Elliot crosses his arms over his chest and pouts.

I head to the computer in the corner and read the clue on the screen while I notice the login screen photo is the Loch Ness monster.

A place you would go on vacation.

Easy. I type in Scotland, andvoila, the computer unlocks to reveal another clue.

Zach’s shocked voice comes from behind. “How the fuck did you know that?”

“Dude, the monster!”

He laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. “What’s the next clue?”

“It says, ‘Take the time on the clock in twenty-four-hour time format, divide by the cell number, and multiply it by three.’”

It’s signed by Coach Harris, so we know this has to be the last one.

Right?

We enter the number and the last door unlocks. We all cheer in celebration.

“Fuck yeah!”

We run out of the room and back to the waiting lobby, and standing there waiting is Coach. He’s wearing a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Well, holy shit. I should have thought it would have been you boys to escape first, eh?” He chuckles, then looks at Elliot, his eyes widening in alarm. “I thought you were gonna cry at one point.”

“I nearly did, Coach.” Elliot sniffs dramatically. “I nearly did.”

I can’t stop smiling because we’re finally getting a dog, but I’m even happier that I can finally go home and spend time losing myself in Alex in more ways than one before I have to leave him again.

Twenty-Nine

Blaine

“Tequila me, por favor!”Elliot holds his shot glass high in the air.

Coach has given us the green light to celebrate tonight after our spectacular win in North Carolina, which saw Elliot get his sixth career shutout and Mitch get his first NHL hat trick.

The rookie’s been bouncing off the walls ever since, his energy levels rivaling those of a golden retriever puppy. I feel sorry for Peyton, who’s rooming with him tonight.

Kendrick pours the amber liquid into Elliot’s glass, then tops up the rest of our glasses, purposely skipping Mitch—the kid really can’t handle his liquor.

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