Page 172 of Pucking Strong

About fifteen minutes later, I’m setting the freshly kneaded dough into a bowl, covering it with a damp towel, when Henrik walks out in a crisp, charcoal-grey suit. “Whoa,” I blurt. Schooling my expression, I offer him a cool wink. “I mean, hej, snygging.”

Henrik’s eyes go wide. “Who taught you that?”

Karro can’t hold it in a moment longer. She cracks up with a loud “Me!”

Chuckling, he shakes his head, holding his arms out. “Well? How do I really look?”

Sitting on the edge of the counter, her sticky fingers dusted with pärlsocker, she gives him a once-over. “You need a pink suit.”

He smiles. “I’m sure you must be right. For today, will this do?”

She just shrugs, content to turn her attention back to eating all the pärlsocker.

He looks to me, one brow raised in silent question. “You think me handsome?”

I shrug too. “You know how I feel about you in a suit.”

His smile widens, reaching his eyes. He steps around the island and gives me a last parting kiss. “I’ll see you both later.”

“We’ll be there. Go play hockey. Skate fast, win pucks.”

He gives Karro a forehead kiss before he slips his protein drink from the fridge and a banana from the hook. Then he heads for the door. As soon as I hear it click shut, my phone starts buzzing on the counter. I check the screen to see Brad Brady’s face smiling up at me. I tap the green button. “Hey, Brad, what’s—”

“Help!” he shouts over me. “Ted, you gotta help me out, man.”

My heart leaps into my throat. “My god, what happened? What do you need?”

“I need you to cover for me at the game. Like, now. Like, pronto. Pregame stuff is starting, and Cassidy already called off. She’s in France or something. Without me, they’ll be scrambling for PTs. Please, Ted.”

“What happened?” I say again. “It sounds like you’re in your car.”

“I am! My stupid husband only just got himself into a stupid motorcycle accident. I hate fucking motorcycles!”

“Oh my god.” I sink down onto one of the island stools. “Well, is he gonna be okay?”

Brad groans into the phone. “They think he broke his clavicle. And he all but degloved his right elbow from the road rash.”

“Jesus.”

“Well? Can you do it?”

I take a deep breath, thinking through all my options at warp speed. “I mean, I have Karolina with me, and Hanna’s in Orlando—”

“Just bring her! Come on, you know one of the WAGs will take her. Please—”

“I’m coming,” I say over him, rising to my feet. “It’s all good. We’ll get ready now and go.”

“Oh god, Teddy, you’re a lifesaver.”

“Not a problem. Just go take care of Dylan.”

“Yeah. Hey, why did I have to fall for a biker, huh? Why couldn’t I find myself a nice birdwatcher or a guy who collects stamps?”

I laugh. “We can’t help who we love.”

“Can’t we? If this man tests my heart like this one more time, he and his leather pants are gonna take a long freaking hike back to Nebraska.”

“Uh-huh.” We both know Brad is crazy about Dylan. I shift the phone to my shoulder as I start cleaning up the cinnamon roll mess. “Look, I need like fifteen minutes here to get organized, then I’ll head to the arena. Tell the others?”

---