Page 35 of Goalie Interference

“I had no idea, when the team gave me a place to stay, that these were people you knew.”

“I overreacted. It was a shock, but I’m a reasonable person. Where did you two go, by the way?”

He was using a power play, trying to pressure me into answering, but there wasn’t a good reason to avoid the question. “She drove us to String Theory. She and Diane looked at Hanny’s guitar while I walked the dog, then we came back. I dropped her off and that was it.”

“You two aren’t…”

In theory, it was none of his damned business. But there was no reason to antagonize my coach when the answer he wanted was the truth. “If it wasn’t for the dog and cat, we’d hardly say a word to each other. But she’s been nice about Beast and I appreciate that.”

“Thanks for telling me. Sophie wouldn’t answer my calls or return my messages. I was worried.”

That he was worried about his ex was nice. That he was worried about what had happened to her with me wasnotso nice. But I just nodded.

“How are you getting along with Laplante?”

There were so many bodies on the ice or on the bench while the coaching staff was still making decisions about who would stay that there hadn’t been a chance to do much with him outside of our interactions at practice. Once they started cutting people, I might be able to talk to the guy. “It’s only been a couple of days.”

“It’s a lot of pressure on a young man. Make sure he knows he can talk to you.”

Right.It was that easy. Again, I nodded and headed for the gate to get off the ice. Otts and I would never be close, but it seemed we weren’t getting along any worse, at any rate.

After, in the locker room, Hanny came over. “Things okay with you and Otts?”

The other goalies must be showering or cooling down, because no one was in the immediate area. “He found out where I was staying yesterday, and it was a surprise. No, more of a shock. He wasn’t happy.”

“You gotta move?”

I shrugged. “Sophie told him off, and apparently everyone else did too, so maybe not. We’ll see.”

“I know you two used to be pretty competitive?—”

“Alongtime ago.”

“But I don’t get why he isn’t over it yet.”

“It’s a mystery to me too.”

We headed out of the building. Hanny stopped at his car, key fob in his free hand. “What are you doing this aft, Remy?”

“Gotta pick up Beast. Then I’ve got groceries being delivered later this afternoon. I’ll unpack a bit, watch some video.”

Hanny shook his head. “Sounds exciting but I’ve got a better idea. You need to get to know the team. Including Laplante, which might help things with Otts. You can’t spend the whole season feeding your dog and watching game tape.”

I was pretty sure I could, but I appreciated Hanny looking out for me. I shrugged one shoulder. “You’re not appreciating the joy that is feeding Beast and watching tape. But yeah, you’re right.”

He snorted. “Why don’t I come over to your place and meet this luthier who’s got my guitar and is causing all this trouble. Then after your food arrives, we can go out with some of the guys.”

“You just want to see Sophie, don’t you?”

He grinned. “I’ll follow you.” He chirped the car and opened the door. I gave in and turned to my Ford pickup. I was reluctant to introduce Hanny to Sophie and I didn’t know why. But at least Hanny wasn’t going to ask her out, what with Otts being her ex, and for some reason that was reassuring.

I needed to focus on hockey, not Sophie.

Chapter 16

Only if you want to get bit

Remy

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