Page 90 of Goalie Interference

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

She was happy to give me her opinion on what to eat, and I followed her suggestions. The food wasn’t the reason I was here. Better that the food was good than inedible, but the main draw was Sophie.

Once we’d ordered, I asked her how her guitar was going. The big smile on her face when she repeated that she would play it for me assured me that I was doing okay in this relationship, or whatever this thing was. I was pretty sure we’d now blown past casual.

Otts was gone before we ordered dessert.

When we got back to the house, Sophie came up to my place, and I used my hands and mouth and cock to prove to her that she was special, on February fifteenthandfourteenth.

I left a sleepy Sophie in my bed in the morning before I went to the practice arena for my workout. Since I was the only goalie in town, Otts hadn’t been to practices, which was a relief. There were two games on in the Four Nations Tournament, and Hanny insisted I join him at the pub after our workout to watch with the rest of the guys who were here. I didn’t take much convincing, truthfully. Maybe I wouldn’t be playing next year, but I could enjoy the company of my teammates as long as I had them.

I cheered on the Canadian team but they lost to the United States. Not surprising, since the US was the favorite, but it was just the round robin. I hoped it wasn’t an indication they’d lose in the finals, or that I didn’t have a bright future either.

Chapter 33

The writing was on the wall

Sophie

Once Remy left, I pulled on my clothes and walked back to the house. I didn’t hear Cash, but I wasn’t sure if he was at the studio or sleeping in. I grabbed some breakfast and coffee and headed to the shop. Remy messaged that he was watching hockey with his teammates, but my subconscious kept listening for him.

I replayed that moment in the restaurant, when I’d been sure he was going to pretend there was nothing between us for Ollie’s sake. It was a bigger risk than he understood. Thanks to his dad, Ollie had never gotten over those previous losses. Maybe I needed to talk to Ollie, unless it would only make things worse. I couldn’t decide. Maybe it was too late anyway.

Once I was done for the day, I returned to the house to dig up some food. I looked in the fridge for inspiration for dinner. Cash came through the kitchen, dressed up.

“Are you going out?”

“Yeah. You’re okay with that, right?”

I frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He sighed. “I obviously have missed things with you. So, I’m checking.”

I crossed to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I appreciate it, big brother. But you enjoy your date and I’m fine on my own.”

“How did you know it was a date?”

I stepped back, rolling my eyes. “Because I haven’t missed things with you.” He reached out to pinch me and I jumped back.

“When are you going over to Diane’s again?”

“Monday.”

“Can I come with? I want to see how your guitar is going.”

My first reaction wasno. I didn’t want him to try to be polite about my work when it was shitty. A little voice inside popped up to say what I was doing was good. And if Cash didn’t appreciate it, too bad for him.

“You can. But”—I held up my hand—“I want you to be honest.”

“I’m not going to be mean.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not asking you to be mean. I do want your honest opinion.”

“But—”

“You’re already expecting that my guitar isn’t going to be good.”