Page 40 of Pucking the Grump

“Yeah, no problem. That’s fine.” I give her a polite nod, like we didn’t spend all weekend tangled up in my sheets. “See you then.”

She moves on to another table, and I return to my lunch, very aware of Tank’s knowing look. The look that says I’m getting sloppy, lazy, and that, if I’m not careful, I’m going to get caught red-handed with the coach’s daughter.

He’s right.

Remy and I are playing way too fast and loose lately. This is the kind of risky behavior that leads to a man being separated from his balls and hung on a meat hook in Lauder’s basement.

The smart thing to do would be to take a step back. Insist on caution from here on out. Remember all the reasons why getting caught would be a disaster.

But as I watch Remy leave the cafeteria, her hips swaying in that damn pencil skirt, I’m not sure I care about any of that anymore.

Not when every moment with her feels better than the last. Not when I’m falling so hard, I’m not sure I could walk away, even if I wanted to.

Which I definitely don’t.

I just hope she feels the same way. Because after this weekend, after feeling so at home with her in every sense of the word… After the way she opened up and let me in, making me want to protect the little girl she once was as much as the woman she is now, I can’t go back to pretending this is casual.

The only question that remains is—where do we go from here?

I hope it’s forward.

Together.

Chapter 11

Remy

From the texts of Artemis “Remy” Lauder

and Florio “Flo” Barone

Flo: Hello, my darling, so…a little birdie at the arena tells me both you AND a certain NHL forward were mysteriously late to work this morning... Is this why you missed disco night with Cecelia and the team last night? Too busy riding that golden stallion “friend” of yours into the sunset?

Remy: How do you already know about what happened this morning?!

Flo: A queen never reveals his sources But just FYI, you should be aware that the members of the Badger maintenance staff are the biggest gossips in the industry. Not to mention superstitious as shit. I heard something about a haunted storage room and a potential curse on your firstborn? But don’t worry, the simple folk seem to think you and Stone were actually trapped in there. Innocently, and completely by accident. They have no clue you two were fornicating amongst the Bucky the Badger merch like a pair of kinky little freaks.

Remy: We were not! We were actually innocently trapped! Mostly innocently, anyway. Though the fact that we were wrecking each other in Stone’s walk-in closet until after midnight last night MIGHT have contributed to our mutual tardiness this morning…

Flo: Bitch, yes! Girl, I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear this! Hurray for you and your pussy! You and Big Guy are together. Now, tell me EVERYTHING. And don't leave out any steamy details because your favorite skating coach is PARCHED for smutty gossip. My love life is a tragic wasteland of shattered hopes and dreams, and Billy and I are in a fight, so I’m missing out on all the drama amongst the Portland gays over thirty.

Remy: I’m sorry about that. But I really can’t dish right now. I’m supposed to be working.

Flo: It’s twelve-thirty! It’s lunch break time, woman, and if you don’t give me more than that, I’m going to cry. Right now. Right in the middle of Frederick’s Fine Furnishings, where I am surrounded by tragic couches that are no one’s idea of fine.

Remy: All right, all right. But only because I could use some advice. I normally don’t kiss and tell, but Stone's coming by after practice to “talk.” And I think it's going to be a big talk. Maybe even THE talk.

Flo: Woah. Really? I didn’t think you ever had THE talk. Casual is the name of the game, right?

Remy: Usually, yes, but things are different with Stone. Good different. Really good, but also a little scary.

Flo: Scary how?

Remy: It’s very…close, you know? When he looks at me sometimes, it’s like he sees every hidden piece. Everything I’ve tried to hide, everything I’m scared to try, everything I’ve secretly longed for, but have been too afraid to admit that I want, even to myself. But none of that seems to scare him. He sees all of it and keeps looking at me like I’m his favorite. Like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but with me, warts and all.

Flo: Ew. So gross.

Remy: What?! Why? What’s gross about that? Come on, I was being vulnerable with you, Flo, don’t make me regret it.

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