Page 31 of Playing to Win

“I talked to Megan, but there were issues.”

“Issues like not dating hockey players?”

Jeez, how big a deal was this hockey player thing? Because Faith wasn’t letting it go.

“Exactly. I work for the Blaze. Players aren’t supposed to get involved with staff, but obviously players can date players. I was both, so we weren’t sure what the rules would be, and we didn’t want to talk to HR until we knew this was going somewhere.”

There was a buzz, and Cooper broke in. He’d moved quickly and hadn’t missed any of the story. “Food’s here. We can continue grilling Tempo while we eat. I want to hear more about Jaydon.”

Chapter10

It’s like Canada Lite

Braydon

Cooper disappearedaround the corner when the elevator pinged, and the rest of the crowd, more familiar with the process, moved to a dining area next to the kitchen.

I whispered in Jayna’s ear. “Does Cooper know about us?”

She shrugged. “If so, they didn’t tell me.”

There was a long table, a stack of plates and chopsticks and glasses, and soon trays of sushi were spread out as well. I stood back, waiting for the others to go first. There was a pecking order on any team, and I was on the bottom.

Jayna and I sat down beside each other, and the best sushi I’d ever eaten was passed around, along with bottles of water and Japanese beer. So different than pizza and Labatt’s with the Inferno.

Conversation centered on hockey. De Vries was out, and Petrov back to start the game we were playing tomorrow. I didn’t say much. There was a lot to learn, and I was determined to pick up everything I could.

Jayna started a conversation with Crash, on her other side, and Ducky, next to me, gave me the update on my new teammates. “Petrov is a bit of a strange one. Goalie, you know…” His eyes widened. “I mean, um…”

I grinned. “It’s okay. I’m weird too. Donotinterrupt my game-day routine.” Pretty sure it would be easy to get along with Ducky. He was like an overeager puppy.

He held up two fingers. “I won’t, Scout’s honor.”

I looked at his fingers. “Is that really a Scout salute?”

“I dunno. Never was one. Anyway, we all kind of think Petey is a cyborg. Not quite human. Me, I’m the dummy on the team.”

I frowned. “But you’re one of the top scorers, right?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t do that great in high school and didn’t do college.”

“College doesn’t mean you’re smart.”

He grinned at me. “I do okay on the ice, so it doesn’t bother me. You know Cooper, of course, because everyone does.”

In Toronto, yes. Actually, back in Montana I’d heard of Cooper.

“The other guys—across the table Bongo, Royster and Barnes are our shut-down line. This is their second year playing together, and they hang out off the ice too. If you play poker with them, prepare to lose. I don’t know how they do it, but one of them always wins.”

If they ever asked me, I’d remember that.

“Don’t ask Crash what it’s like to be the only POC player on the team ’cause he gets asked that all the time and he hates it.”

“I won’t.” Not hard to promise, because I’d never have thought to ask him.

“And JJ—you heard about him, right?”

I frowned. There was something…

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