Page 17 of Slapped Into Love

ChapterNine

Ryan

Watchingmy girlfriend on the ice never got old. Hell, neither did calling her my girlfriend. Not even after a month of dating her. I got the same kick out of thinking of her that way as I did saying it aloud to the guys and rubbing in their faces how wrong they’d been about my chanceswithher.

The morning after we got together again, we’d headed to the rink to set up a short track on the ice so she could use it for her morning training—after she’d sucked me off to show her appreciation for me getting permission for her to use the team’s rink. And then I’d gone down on her to return the favor, which led to us finally fucking in my bed...and almost being late to the arena because I’d been thoroughly enjoying having agirlfriend.

It wasn’t the last time we barely made it to the rink in time because we could barely tear ourselves away from each other. This morning was nodifferent.

“Judging by that shit eating grin on your face, things are still going well for you and Tamara,” Jason murmured as he joined me where I leaned with my elbows on the low wall in front of thebench.

“They sure as hell are,” I admitted, my grin only gettingbigger.

“A whole month,” he chuckled. “I never thought I’d see the day where you’d be with the same woman for more than a nightortwo.”

“Look at her out there.” We both turned and watched Tamara move on the ice. She was almost a blur as she skated past us, bending so low her hand brushed the ice as she took a turn around the short track I’d helped her set up a monthearlier.

“I still can’t believe they let you mark the ice up.” Jason shookhishead.

I glanced down at the dark purple spots in the ice which were already barely visible. “You should have seen the look on the facilities manager’s face when I told him we’d need to drill the ice and pour colored waterintoit.”

“It probably matched most of ours as we watched you desecrate the ice for awoman.”

“Like you wouldn’t have done the same damn thing if Cee-Cee asked you,” I grumbled as I bumped my elbowagainsthis.

“There’s no denying that I’d do just about anything my woman asked of me,” he agreed. “But you’d only been with her for a night before you started acting as crazy as me. That’s got to be a record ofsomekind.”

“Ahem,” Icoughed.

“Dude. I was right there”—he pointed to the far end of the ice—“when you met her. I saw it with my own damn eyes when you shoved that big foot of yours in your mouth and almost lost any chance in hell of getting in there with her. Are you telling me it was all an act and you guys already knew eachother?”

“No, that was real. I was too damn close to fucking it all up with her.” I glanced over my shoulder to make sure nobody was behind us listening in. “It just wasn’t the first timewemet.”

“What the hell? When did you meet her? What happened? And why didn’t you ever say anything about her?” he fired off hisquestions.

“About four months ago, when we were in Anaheim for a game. I met her in a club, one thing led to another, but she disappeared in the morning and I didn’t know how to track her down,” I rattled off before punching him in the shoulder. “And it’s not like you can give me shit for keeping my mouth shut about my mystery woman when you did the same damn thing withCee-Cee.”

“Yeah, and you guys ran your mouths off about it for-fucking-ever once you found out about her,” heremindedme.

“Exactly,” I chuckled. “Why do you think I never planned to say anything? I learned from yourexample.”

“Only you did better than me and channeled your frustration into the game. We’ll owe it to her in more ways than one if we winthecup.”

I dragged my attention away from Tamara and turned to look at Jason. “Youthinkso?”

“Yeah, she’s made all of us betterplayers.”

“She sure as fuck has,” I agreed, my gaze sliding back to her on the ice. “And with the help of Cee-Cee’s magic, Tamara has brought more fans to thegames,too.”

Jason stepped back and dropped down onto the bench. “I don’t think even Cee-Cee guessed the national media was going to be so fascinated by thestory.”

“I don’t know; I wouldn’t put much past your woman. She’s damn good atherjob.”

“Mmm-hmm,” he hummed, his attention on the ice. “We’re lucky men when it comes to our women. Only we’re not the only ones whoknowit.”

My gaze scanned the ice and landed on the guy holding a stopwatch in the center. He was tall, with wavy, sandy-blond hair and green eyes. His dark-blue athletic pants were just snug enough to show how muscular his legs were, and his light-blue Cavaliers shirt with matching, unzipped hoodie were stretched taut across hisbiceps.

“Fucking Mike,” I growled. I normally got along well with the team’s trainer but ever since he’d volunteered to lend Tamara a hand with timing her laps, he’d been on my last nerve. I didn’t begrudge her the help; not when I knew she needed it. I just wished it didn’t come from a guy who checked out her ass every opportunityhegot.

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