Page 89 of Puck'n Bully
“I’m Logan, by the way,” he says, extending his hand toward me. “I’m the team’s captain.”
I take his hand and give it a firm shake. “I guess you already know who I am,” I say with an awkward chuckle.
“Hey, I said no talking until I get back!” Mitchikov is suddenly back at our table, glaring at Logan with an accusing stare.
“I was just introducing myself. Jeez, Mitchikov!” Logan says, throwing his hands up in the air.
“Couldn’t you wait for me too? I haven’t introduced myself to him either.” He turns toward me and nearly punches me in the face as he throws his hand out at me. “I’m Pavel Mitchikov,” he says, grinning excitedly. “I play on the team as one of their defensemen.”
“Hi,” I say, capturing his hand.
Pavel sits in the chair beside mine and looks utterly relaxed.
“What about our order?” Logan asks, folding his arms over his chest.
“Maggie’s working on her shift right now,” Pavel says, grinning. “She agreed to bring our food over when our coffees are ready.”
“So, let’s chat,” Pavel says, turning his full attention to me. “Are you and Hayden together?”
I stare at him, half-amused and half-worried.
I’ve never met anyone who was so fucking direct. He just asks whatever comes to his mind!
“I—” I hesitate, wondering how to proceed. “Why do you want to know that?”
“Because Bastian isn’t the same person when he’s with us,” Logan says in a low, grim tone. He lets out a breath, shaking his head. “We’ve been playing in the same team with him for the past three years and he’s never allowed us to get close to him. He doesn’t party with us. He doesn’t even go on road trips with us. We have to force him to hang out with us.”
“Yep,” Pavel agrees, continuing. “He’ll only join us when we have to go to some other city for our games. Do you know he won’t even drink with us?”
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” I say slowly.
“So, do you think it’s surprising for us to think you mean something different to Hayden?” Logan asks. “He’s barely known you for a few months and he’s already spent the weekend with you. He’s allowed you to be close to him. That means something, right?”
I stare at them, unsure what to say.
Thankfully, a young waitress comes to the table, giving me a chance to consider what they’re trying to tell me.
“Hey, who’s this cutie?” the girl asks, fluttering her extra-long lashes at me. “Is he on your team or something?”
I stare at the waitress, wondering if she’s crazy. There’s no way a guy like me would ever survive a game of ice hockey with these muscular giants.
“Nah, he’s our date,” Pavel says, wrapping an arm around the back of my chair. “Glad you think he’s cute.”
“Huh?” I stare at him while the young woman blushes hard and grins at the three of us.
“Can I join you guys sometimes?” she asks, biting her red-painted lip. “I’d love to hang out with a cute guy like him. He seems kind of cool too. I’m Maggie, by the way.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Pavel curses under his breath. “Leave him alone, Mags. The dude belongs to us.”
I stare at Logan, wondering if he’s as disturbed by Pavel’s lies as me.
To my shock, Logan just sits there with a relaxed grin on his face.
“Well, you know how to get in touch with me,” Maggie says, looking toward Pavel and squeezing my shoulder.
“What the hell was that?” I hiss when she finally leaves our table.
Pavel grins. “I just wanted to prove to you that we’re cool with Hayden dating a guy.”
