Page 138 of Hat Trick

“And maybe we can…” Lexi folds her hands over each other, and I swear I see a blush on her cheeks. “Do other things that aren’t in the bedroom or a treatment table?”

I can’t fight back my grin. I want to jump up and down and pump my fist in the air because that’s promising.Things outside the bedroomis something I can work with, and holy hell does my heart gallop at the thought of hanging out with her wherever I want.

“Are you asking me on a date, Armstrong?” I tease, and she hits me in the face with a pillow. “Here I was thinking no one was ever going to want to date me again.”

“No. It’s not a date. It would just be… not in the bedroom,” she says. “And plenty of people are going to want to date you. You’re a catch, Mitchy.”

“Ah. I love not bedrooms.”

“I’m ignoring you.” She tries to climb off the bed, but I grab her around her waist and pull her back to me. She squeals and tries to shove me off of her, but I don’t budge. “Let me go!”

“Never, you stubborn woman,” I murmur in her ear, dropping a kiss to her neck. “Where are we hanging out first?”

“I have a plan, but it’s a surprise. You’ll have to wait until our away game in New York to find out.”

“Please don’t tell me it’s a tour of the hot dog carts in Manhattan. I promised Ethan if I ever had the chance to do that, I’d do it with him.”

“It’s not hot dog carts.” She laughs and relaxes into me, her back flush against my chest. “It’s something else. Better than hot dogs.”

“That’s a bold statement.”

“Most of the things I say are bold statements.”

“You’re going to make me wait a week and a half to find out? You’re cruel.”

“You like it,” Lexi says.

“Maybe I do,” I answer, and some flutter of hope I’ve never had before springs to life in my chest at the possibilities.

THIRTY-EIGHT

LEXI

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN(DAMENTAL RIGHTS) AND GOOD SEX

Piper

New York, baby! And for multiple nights because we’re doing a back-to-back with both NYC teams.

Madeline

I think I need a job with the Stars. You all go to these amazing cities all the time, and I’m watching the rain in DC.

Me

Our equipment manager is retiring at the end of the season. Do you have any NHL experience?

Madeline

I couldn’t even tell you what equipment hockey players wear, Lex.

A jersey? And… socks?

Emmy

Close enough if you ask me.

Maven

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