Page 5 of Pucking Strong

His smile flickers as those around us share confused glances. “Call me Karlsson. Everyone does.” Dropping my hand, he breaks our cosmic connection … and my heart.

Out on the street, in his arms, he was Henrik to me. That was when we were strangers.Henrik. Such a beautiful name. But now, everything is different. We’re off the street. We’re in his gym, in front of his friends, his teammates. And we’re no longer strangers. God help me, I think we’re coworkers.

This can’t happen. He’s an international sports superstar. People wear his number and cheer his name. He can’t be Henrik with me. I’m nothing to him, just a lowly college intern. But still, as I watch him walk away, an aching truth settles deep in my soul: I want this man, even as I know I can never have him.

This is going to be the longest fucking year of my life.

The Present

My phone buzzes as the coffee cart barista hands me my latte. “Thanks, Kelly.”

“Good to see you again, Teddy,” she chimes. “We sure missed you around here.”

Smiling, I take a sip of my coffee and check my phone. It’s my sister.Again.She’s been pestering me all morning.

SHAE:

Did you update your mailing address? You need to forward your mail.

I groan, quickly shooting her a message back.

TEDDY:

You know I’m twenty-six, right? Also, I’m a literal doctor. I could kill you and make it look like an accident.

There’s a long pause before she replies.

SHAE:

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