Page 15 of Unrivaled

That moment of distraction was all it took. Max worked the puck off Grady’s stick and took off down the ice. It was in the back of the US net two seconds later.

Fuck.

Max clipped Grady’s shoulder as they skated back toward their respective benches, and winked when Grady glowered at him.

Grady couldn’t let that slide. He brooded a little in the locker room when the period was over, which prompted Baller to tap his shins. “Eyes on the prize, Ace. Where’s your head?”

In the arena hookup basement, also known as his own personal hell.

Grady shook himself. “Sorry. I let Lockhart get to me.”

“Well, stop it.” Baller flicked him between the eyes. “You need some earplugs?”

Grady batted his hand. “No. I got it.”

“Attaboy.”

Baller’s actual pep talk was a little more dramatic, and involved standing in his stall and quoting something that might have been fromThe Mighty Ducks. Grady didn’t watch a lot of movies, even about hockey. Eventually someone threw a ball of sock tape at Baller, and he interrupted himself mid monologue. “Fine, you ungrateful fucks.” He threw the tape back, grinning. “Go beat Canada so I can lord it over my husband.”

Gabe Martin was retired now. Would retirement make beating your international hockey rival any less sweet—or losing to them any less bitter? Grady wasn’t sure. Maybe if he wasn’t playing, he’d simply be happy to participate in victory sex.

In the end, it turned out it didn’t matter if Baller had only been talking to himself. They peppered the Canadian goaltender with fifteen shots, but Baller was the one who poked the puck through five-hole with thirty seconds before the clock ran out. The team mobbed him behind the net as the home crowd booed.

Music to Grady’s ears—almost as sweet as the scowl on Max’s face. Maybe if Grady had less of a stick up his ass, he’d blow the guy a kiss.

Probably not, though.

With the victory, the US team secured a spot in the semifinal without having to play in the quarter. This was Canada’s first loss, so they’d take another semifinal spot. Europe would play Finland to determine the opponent for the US team, and Canada would play the winner of the Russia-Team North America quarterfinal.

Grady was just glad he wouldn’t have to face Canada or Team North America again until the final.

“We’re going out!”

Hedgie rolled his eyes. “Obviously.”

“Everybody hit the bikes. Meet back here in forty.”

Grady stuck his earbuds in, cued up his postwin playlist, and started his cooldown.

He had five minutes left to go when his phone beeped with a notification.

So hear me out.

Grady snorted. Who else would it have been?

No.

Come on. Its a good idea.

Grady doubted it.None of your ideas are good.

Thats not what the cum all over ur shirt says.

Fuck. There was a difference between somethingfeelinggood and being a good idea. But answering with that would be admitting that it felt good, and if Grady gave Max that inch, Max would throw him in the trunk of his car and gun it for the border. Metaphorically speaking. They were already in Canada.

He still hadn’t decided how to reply when Max messaged him again.

So heres my idea. If Canada wins this tournament ill suck ur dick. Your team wins, u suck mine.

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