Page 92 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
We’ve got Chicago tonight and Utah on Friday.
This is what our lives are going to be like for the next seven months—and that’s if we don’t make the playoffs.
“I’m fine,” I say unconvincingly once he’s settled.
“Did you want to tell your face?” he teases.
“I’m going to ask if I can room with someone else,” I warn.
“You wouldn’t,” he taunts.
“Try me.” He holds my glare for a few seconds before his smile cracks and he begins laughing.
“You’d have nowhere near as much fun with any of the other guys.”
“I heard that,” Fletch says as he twists around in front of us. “Not my fault I’m taken and don’t bring bunnies back every night of the week.”
“He’s got a point,” I say, side-eying Linc.
Honestly, he isn’t that bad.
There have only been a handful of times I’ve had to make myself scarce because he’s brought a bunny back to our room. If it were a regular thing, I would have demanded to room with someone else.
Most of the time, he’s a great roommate. He reminds me of me a few years ago. Before life got hard and complicated.
Secretly, I quite like living vicariously through him. I’m not going to fucking tell him that, though.
“Our couch is always open for you, Big D,” Handsy offers, but knowing he’s just as bad as Linc, I don’t take the offer seriously.
“Thanks, appreciate it. Storm is gonna be a good boy this trip, though, aren’t you?” I say, ruffing up his hair like he’s a child.
“Fuck off. I’m always a good boy.”
“Not from what I’ve read,” Fletch mutters. “Remind us why Hailee ripped you a new one recently…something to do with stumbling out of a club with two…wait, no, three bunnies in tow.”
“It was a one-off,” Linc scoffs.
“What, a one-off for that month?” Handsy teases with a laugh.
“What’s Linc done?” Marilyn asks, taking the seat on the other side of the aisle.
“What hasn’t he done?” Fletch chuckles.
“Probably best not to tell the rookie all of Linc’s dirty tales. Might give him ideas,” Handsy points out.
“Oh, now I definitely want to know,” Marilyn says, rubbing his hands together in interest.
Thankfully, Coach commands our attention, and all conversation about my state of mind or Linc’s sexcapades die.
That is, until Linc and I get to our hotel room later that day.
We managed a win, which, after the firstperiod against Chicago, I didn’t think was going to be possible. But thanks to two epic goals from my roommate in the third period, we took the win and hopefully proved that the tide is changing this year.
We’ve learned from last year’s losses, and we are back with a vengeance.
Everything about the game felt wrong, though. I kept looking to the crowd behind the goal, expecting to see her there.
But she wasn’t.
