Page 70 of Absolutely Pucked
“What’s up?” I asked.
Tucker turned his head so he could stare at me properly. “Are you taking the C?”
Oh God. There was nothing worse than talking about Killian except talking about my future with the team.
“Listen, this is causing me more childhood trauma, so can we just…not?”
Boden scoffed as he walked into the room, set his crutches to the side, then flopped into his chair. “Dinner is ready in ten. And you’re not a child.”
“Debatable,” Tucker said with a grin. “But it is time to nut up and put on your big-boy panties, babe.”
My stomach churned uncomfortably. “You reallythink I should be trusted with that kind of responsibility?”
Boden’s face softened. He was different now—happier. Easier. Having a contract signed with a professional team, having that team be close enough he didn’t have to leave us, and being so in love it made him even more insufferable?
I did like him that way, even if he was a jackass about it.
“You’ve done well in the past. You never hesitate to step up when we’ve needed you to.”
Rolling my eyes, I leaned back, and Nugget took the chance to hop up before Athena could make her way over. I put my arms around her and held her gently. “Yeah, but that’s like when your friend has a kid,” I said.
Tucker frowned. “Whoa, hold the fuck up. Who has a kid? God, don’t tell me Jonah knocked up his girlfriend.”
“They broke up,” I said. “And no. A metaphorical kid. You know? Having the A is like that. Your friend has some medical emergency…”
“What kind?” Tucker demanded.
“Dildo trapped up his ass,” I said, waving my hand impatiently. “He has to go to the ER and get X-rays and shit, and what does he do with the kid?”
“Um. Shouldn’t the mom be taking care of the kid?” Tucker demanded.
Boden pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a metaphor, Tuck.”
“I didn’t pass English,” Tucker said with a sniff.
I knew that was a fucking lie. He was a college grad. “Anyway, so this baby is hockey, and you’re in the ER with a dildo in your ass…”
“I mean, that’s the first thing you’ve said tonight that makes sense,” Tucker admitted.
I glared. “Let me fucking finish!” Nugget didn’t appreciate me raising my voice, and she hopped off with an annoyed chirp. “It’s fine to take custody of your responsibility for a little while because I can give it back. But actually becoming a dad to all these hockey dipshits?”
“Coach,” Boden said.
Tucker straightened. “Wait! Did they fire Hugo? Who am I fighting?”
“No one,” Boden said with a small smile. “Hugo’s ready to retire, and he thinks that Ford would be the best man for the job.”
Tucker sagged back into the couch and picked up Athena, setting her on his chest so he could scratch her chin. “I agree with that.”
“You’re both traitors!”
Tucker turned to look at me again. “Babe. Love of my life?—”
“Not the love of your life,” I reminded him.
“Soulmate I don’t want to have rail me up the ass,” he clarified. “We are just stating the obvious. You care about the team. You care about the guys.”
“Well…yeah.”
