Page 37 of Goalie Interference

I was ready to drag Hanny out of there by his hair. Beast was growling again as we headed up the stairs.

Once inside the door, I took Beast’s collar off and waited to see if he considered Hanny a threat. I was irritable, but I couldn’tlet Beast really hurt someone. I rested my weight on one foot, ready to block him if he headed toward my teammate, but the dog went straight for his food bowl.

I toed off my shoes. Hanny did the same, looking around the place.

Wherever he was living in Austin, it was more impressive than this. I had no complaints, but this place was kind of small and I hadn’t done anything to make it personal beyond setting out Beast’s things. It was like a hotel suite for long-term stays. But Beast was allowed, and I was in the middle of a secure estate. I wanted to stay here for the season, assuming the team kept me around and Otts didn’t flip out about it.

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” Hanny said with a grin.

“Oh fuck off,” I answered. “Have a seat. I can give you water. With ice.” Because that was in the fridge door. The grocery order should be here soon, but I hadn’t been expecting to entertain.

“Sounds good.” He poked his head into the bedroom and bathroom and came back to take a glass of ice water from me.

I poured some water for myself and joined him in the living room, settling on the couch since he’d taken the chair. Beast trundled over with the remains of the towel Sophie had given him. I needed to replace that for her.

“You are the very definition of low maintenance, Rem. How long have you had the mutt?”

Beast grumbled but settled in the corner and began to chew up more of the towel.

“A few months. We weren’t in the playoffs, so a bunch of guys from the team went to the Caribbean after the regular season was over.”

“And you went with them?”

The cottage hadn’t been ready—there was still ice on the lake, so I’d needed to fill time. “I’m not a hermit.”

Hanny scoffed. “Right.”

I ignored that and continued the story. “I found Beast. He’d had a rough time.” I shrugged. “The vet there was going to put him down. Not enough money, too many other dogs to deal with. So I paid to get him fixed up and brought him home.”

More grumbles from Beast.

“Obviously you didn’t fall for his looks.”

We both looked at Beast. Fair comment.

We talked about the team chances, what other teams were expected to be doing this season, until I got word that the grocery delivery truck was at the gate. Once the food was brought up, Hanny helped me put things away then drank one of the beers I’d ordered, before insisting we go out to O’Malley’s Irish Pub. He messaged in the team chat I’d mostly ignored for the past couple of days to say we were headed there and dragged me to the door.

“Don’t forget I’ve got the dog.”

“Take him out to do his business, then he should be good for a few hours. That’s what people do. Or does he have some kind of condition?”

Beast was now snoring on the remains of the towel.

“Last time I left him alone here he was barking. I don’t want to disturb anyone.”

Hanny frowned at the sleeping dog. “You got a camera or something for him?”

“Ordered but not here yet.”

“Why don’t you ask Sophie to let you know if he’s causing problems. And if he does, you can come home.”

I hadn’t messaged her after the text she sent me about Beast barking last time, but the idea made sense. I pulled out my phone.

I was going to go out, but don’t want Beast to bother you. Let me know if he barks?

Maybe she hadn’t added me as a contact.

This is Remy.

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