Page 190 of Pucking Around

Jake says it back, rolling to his other side. Caleb mutters something that sounds close enough, and Ilmari scoots closer to me, fitting me to him, my big Finnish bear spoon. The only missing piece is Poseidon, who takes his sweet time deciding where he wants to sit down before curling up with his head resting on my ankle, my own little furry ball and chain.

But I don’t mind. Sleeping on the floor on our mattress pile with room for all five of us, I breathe deep, filling my lungs with the peace of knowing that, in this moment at least, we’re safe and happy. What we have is sacred.

But we need a plan. We need a way out of the safety of the shadows and into the harsh light of day. All of us. Together.

83

“I’m just asking if she’s said anything about me,” Langley says lying on his back on the massage table.

The Rays gym is pumping out the rock tunes as players swarm everywhere. It’s a recovery day, with another game tomorrow, meaning workouts are light. Most guys are just doing a bit of cardio.

I jiggle Langley’s legs, working to release the lactic acid buildup from his strength and conditioning session. “Uh-huh. And I already told you, I haven’t talked to her in like a week.”

“So, she hasn’t saidanything?” he presses.

I huff, dropping his legs down. “Why would she say something about you, Langley? You really think getting whacked in the head with a soccer ball left that big of an impression?”

“I—” He swallows his words, biting his bottom lip. “Well…no,” he admits softly.

I offer him my hand, helping him sit up. “Look, it’s sweet that you liked her, okay? But Tess is…complicated.”

He narrows his pretty green eyes at me. “What do you mean?”

“Well…she’s still married for one,” I say. “It’s been the divorce from hell, and her ex is literally the devil, but—”

“She’s married?” he says, his sweet, tender heart breaking.

“I mean, they’re separated,” I repeat. “Have been. And she’snevergoing back to that piece of shit. But it just complicates things.”

His softness forms an edge as he glares at me. “Did he hurt her?”

“I’m really not comfortable discussing her business with you, Langley.”

He sighs, nodding his head as he looks down at his trainers.

I take hold of his arm, helping him through some stretches to loosen up his shoulders. “Besides, the last thing you want right now is a long-distance relationship, right? You’re young. You’re focused on your career. You don’t want that hassle.”

He nods, knowing I’m talking sense.

“And I mean…you’re not really her type,” I add, moving over to his other arm.

He looks sharply at me. “What do you mean? I could be her type.”

I look him up and down, taking in his pro athlete body. That she can work with easily. Tess Owens loves a well-muscled man. It’s his All-American, preppy baby face. His sweet as pie personality. And he’s too young. Too uncomplicated. A total puppy. He would bore her in the end.

“Well, I’ve known her for a while now, and she has exactly two types,” I explain, ready to let him down easy. “Zoë Kravitz inBig Little Lies,and that actor who plays Jax Teller…playing the role of Jax Teller,” I add. “We tried to watch his other stuff, and she pitched a fit. That’s it. You gotta be a Kravitz or a Teller, and you’re neither,” I finish with a shrug.

“I can be a Teller,” he says, puffing his chest out. “I could grow a beard, I think.”

I snort. “Oh, honey. That’s literally theleastinteresting thing about Jax Teller. You gonna buy a motorcycle too? Treat her like an old lady? Start stashing guns and drugs in the Zamboni?”

“Well…no,” he says, his brain clearly chewing on the puzzle of how to appeal to Tess, a woman he’ll likely never see again.

My spidey senses tingle as I watch him. “Langley…did something happen between you two while she was down here?”

“No,” he says quickly. Too quickly.

“Langley,” I say in my best, most adult mothering tone.

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