Page 64 of Ice Contact

Olivia Brooks, what are you implying?

Olivia

I wasn’t implying anything, sir. Just a concerned caretaker asking what all you’re cleared for. That’s all.

Hayes

Sure.

Olivia

What time should I pick you up?

Hayes

I want to do a quick workout since I’ve been laying around for the past few days, so give me a couple hours.

Olivia

I love how a ‘quick workout’ for you is two hours. A quick workout for me is walking up the one flight of stairs to my office. And that’s only if there are super judgy people there telling me not to take the elevator up one floor.

As if I’m not proud enough of everything she does, I fucking love that my girl is so damn funny.

Hayes

Lol. I’ll see you in a bit.

Olivia

“Larsy!!!!! They cleared you?” Zack asks.

“What’s up, Z?” I laugh as I shake his hand. “I’m cleared to skate, then day-to-day.”

“Can’t wait to have you back out on the ice, man. I’m so glad you’re okay.” He cringes, his face warping with fear and pain. “I saw the pics of your car. Thank God you got hit where you did, or you’d be out for the season.”

“No shit. I’m glad I don’t remember much of it or I’d be scared to even get in a car. I don’t know who was watching out for me, but I’m glad they were. Thanks for sending food over to me and Olivia. She would not leave my side, so it was nice to have dinner show up unannounced.”

“That’s what we do. We take care of our team. All part of my Captain duties.” He winks as he gives me a captain salute. “Also, Kara made me, but I was going to do it anyway.”

I laugh, thankful to have the whole Reeves family looking out for mine. “How are you feeling after being back a few games now?”

“Feeling great. If anyone knows how bad it sucks to be out, it’s me. Hopefully we’ll get our line back on the ice soon.”

“Dude, I can’t wait,” I groan, already itching to be back in uniform during a game. “Hey, I wanted to thank you for talking to David Green about Olivia. The day of the accident he called and offered her the anthem job back.”

“Oh, thank fuck. I mean, the other singers are okay, but Olivia is the fucking shit. The Riders need their weapon.”

“I’m glad you think so. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear this much about the national anthem,” I snort, pulling my clothes off to change into my workout gear.

“I gotta get my swearing out here, ‘cause I can’t at home around the kids. Fuck. Shit. Cocksucker!”

Man, have I missed the chaos of the locker room.

“Who’s a cocksucker?” Bougie yells as he saunters into the locker room after practice. Vladi shuffles in behind him rolling his eyes, the usual irritation on his face from any time spent around his favorite rookie and good luck charm.

“Bougie…always so classy entering a room,” I snark, as he comes over to bring me in for a quick bro hug.

“Larsy! Damn good to see ya! Are the rumors true? We getting The Weapon back?’

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