Page 175 of Pucking Strong

BRADY:

They say he’s gonna need a skin graft

“Well, duh,” says Novy from my other shoulder. “The guy’s got no skin left.”

One of the forwards, Flash, steps in next to him. “What are y’all looking at?”

From there, my phone gets passed around to every person in the PT room, each one exclaiming in disgust and surprise at the state of Dylan’s injury.

“He could be an extra onThe Walking Dead,” Paulie mutters.

Jake just waves his hands, leaning away from the phone. “No way. I don’t wanna see that shit.”

Caleb takes a look, then hands the phone to Henrik as he appears in the doorway, kitted up and ready except for his gloves and helmet. The others are all talking and moving around, so I don’t hear it when my phone pings with a new message.

I definitely hear it when Henrik glares at me from across the room and says, “Who the hell is Fish Lips?”

Istare down at Teddy’s phone and read the message again. Someone named “Fish Lips” texted him just as Caleb handed me the phone.

FISH LIPS:

Hey, beautiful. Someone said you were back with the Rays. Had to see it to believe. Perfect timing, eh? Let me take you out after the game. You know I can show you a better time than that old lump Karlsson.

Teddy crosses the room to my side and reaches for the phone. “What’s up?”

There’s a ringing in my ears as I hold the phone away from him. “Who is Fish Lips?” I say again.

His expression shutters and I have my answer. “No one.”

“Uh-oh.” Flash hops off the closest PT table. “Daddy looks mad.”

I glare at him, pulling the phone in close to my chest.

He raises a brow, glancing between us. “What? I just assumed that would be y’all’s vibe. You strike me as the rough, spanking, ‘call me daddy’ type, Karlsson.”

“And with that, I’m gonna go empty my bowels,” says Tremors, stepping past me through the open door.

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