Page 67 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“Just heard that part, did you?” Finn chuckles.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Slamming my palm to my forehead, I groan. For the moment, Ava is forgotten. The realization that the guys are going to harass me like nobody’s business has my stomach rolling.

At least they can do it individually since I’m here before everyone.

A knock on the window has me nearly putting my head through the car’s cabin.

“Hey Duncan Donuts.” Cringing at Wallace’s voice, I rub the top of my head. Pulling my brows together I turn and glower only to find him and Phillips with wide grins on their faces. The gleam in their eye does nothing for my current mood.

“That one might be better than ‘Uncle Dunky’,” Philips singsongs and Finn’s laugh bursts through the speakers before it’s muffled. I hit the end button without saying goodbye and throw the car door open.

“Alright, you two, get it all out,” I grumble, grabbing my duffle from the back seat and tossing it over my shoulder. Slamming the door, I start marching toward the arena. “What are you two doing here so early?”

“No changing the subject…Dunky.” The glare I shoot Wallace’s way has them both throwing their hands up, but I can see them pressing their lips together. I turn forward and pull the players’ entrance door when Phillips drops in. “‘Duncan Donuts’ it is then.”

I close the door behind me and sending them a death glare through the glass, only to find the two of them in the parking lot, holding their stomachs and slapping their thighs.

To my surprise, I feel the corner of my lip pull up watching them. Running my hand through my hair, I walk through the empty hallways, turning on lights as I make my way to the locker room.

Once there, I throw the duffle bag on the bench and blow out a slow breath.

“Denier,” Davidson’s voice calls from the locker room entrance. Humor dancing in his eyes and dread grips me at what will come from his mouth. “Didn’t expect you here so early.”

“Same,” I gripe, dropping down on the bench. “You want to get some punches in too?”

Davidson looks at me pointedly, pinning me with his gaze. “Nope.”

My brow furrows trying to figure out what game he’s playing.

“No game,” he says as if reading my mind. He turns toward his locker and drops his bag on the bench. “I called a team meeting to talk aboutTea Timeand their umm…recent update.”

Quirking an eyebrow, I can see him biting his lip to keep from laughing. Collapsing on the bench I lean against the locker and squeeze the bridge of my nose. Outside I hear Wallace and Phillips making their way down the hall and I groan.

“Duncan, I did this because I want you to know we’re here for you.” Davidson slaps me on the shoulder. “This team needs you, but we need you with your head on straight.”

“You may be alone in front of the net,” Wallace says as he walks through the locker room door.

“But you’re not alone on the ice,” Phillips adds as the door closes behind him.

Rolling my eyes, I mutter and look away from them all. Shaking my head. “Did you script that?”

Laughter fills the room. I hate being the center of attention; this is way too much for me. “I can handle it,” I grumble.

“That’s the thing though,” Davidson’s voice takes on a firm tone. “You don’t have to. And in all seriousness, you’re better when you let the rest of us support you.”

Meeting each one of their gazes individually, I don’t find an ounce of humor in them. What I see is a frankness and sincerity that shocks me. A tension I didn’t know was in my gut unfurls and I nod stiffly.

“So let’s get to the most recent news thatTea Timespilled…” Davidson pauses and my chest tightens waiting for him to bring up Ava spending the night, but I nearly fall off the bench at his next words. “So do you bake for humans, or just dogs?”

Laughter fills the room and instead of my usual frown, the corner of my lip pulls up.

“A smile! Quick get a picture before it goes away!” Phillips grabs his phone, just in time to catch the scowl I hurl at him.

“Just wait until he sees Ava,” Cavill shouts as he enters the locker room. “Did you bring anything freshly baked….‘Duncan Donuts’?”

My brows shoot up to my hairline and a small laugh falls from my lips to my surprise. The room immediately gets quiet and I look around to see faces with wide eyes and mouths hanging open. “What? I laugh sometimes.”

“That girl has been good for you,” Philips says as he walks to his locker and starts unpacking his duffle.

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