Page 15 of The Love Trick

“Dude,Igotagirl’s number from the ice skating rink,” Dylan brags as he wipes the sweat from his face. “She’s a figure skater.”

“Wow. Another girl for you to make cry?” I bench press my final six reps and set the bar on the rack.

He huffs, peering down at me with a perplexed expression on his face. “I don’talwaysmake them cry. I just don’t keep them around long if they’re notthe one. I mean, I’m looking to settle down now.”

I explode in laughter as I push myself up into a sitting position on the exercise bench. The sound of clinking weights fills the room as our teammates continue their workouts. “You’re kidding, right? Because the only thing I ever see yousettlingis scores with angry boyfriends.”

“No,” he insists. “Not true. Also, how is it my fault if some girl’s boyfriend gets mad that she flirted with me? It’s not like I can tell if a girl has a boyfriend just by looking at her. You don’t even know the struggle. You don’t date.”

I frown as I grab my towel from where it hangs and wipe the sweat from my face.

“I mean, when’s the last time you even took a girl out?” Dylan hovers as I stand to my feet.

“I don’t know. I haven’t really dated anyone since college.” I hate to admit it, but it’s the truth. I just haven’t had the time, and the few dates I’ve gone on have been total train wrecks.

“Which I don’t even get,” Dylan continues. “Don’t you want a family?”

“I have Addy,” I tell him with a shrug. “I don’t really need anyone else.”

Dylan’s dark brows raise. “You might. Because one of these days, Addy’s going to end up finding someone to settle down with.”

“Nothing—andno one—is going to come between us.”

“Are you sure about that? Because I doubt her significant other will be hunky-dory with a buff NHL player hanging around his woman all the time—and you won’t be running her errands anymore for her, either. There’ll be no more showing up and being her hero.”

I shake my head. “Addy’s been my best friend for over ten years, and she’s the closest thing I have to family. You know how I grew up.”

“Sure.” Dylan places a hand on my shoulder. “But don’t you eventually want a wife and kids of your own and stuff?”

I make a face at him. “No offense, but this seems a little off-kilter coming from you. Talking about marriage and kids and stuff. You’re usually only concerned if a woman is blonde or brunette.”

Dylan lets out a ragged sigh. “Yeah, I know. I don’t know what’s up with me lately. I guess I’m just tired of playing the field.”

“So, then stop?” I head toward the locker room and check my watch. It’s nearly seven o’clock.

“Are Kade and Cam around?” Dylan asks as he follows me.

“I’m not sure. Why?”

“I don’t know. I just need to vent.”

“About wanting to settle down?” I peer back at him.

He shakes his head. “I just … I have someone in my head that I can’t get out—and sheshouldn’tbe there. I hate it.”

“Who is it?”

“Not telling,” he says quickly. “But it’s not good.”

I spin around to face him as I bristle. “It’s not Addy, is it?”

“Woah, calm your jets, bud.” Dylan breaks into a massive, cocky grin. “So what if itisAddy? Huh? What would you do?” He challenges me in his usual way, and I can’t tell if he’s messing with me—or if he’s actually into Addy.

But either way, it’s anofrom me.

“I’ll kill you,” I tell him, my voice growing defensive.

His eyes narrow. “Maybethisis why you can’t find a girl to settle down with. You’re too worried about the one you already have. Why don’t you just wife her up already?”

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