Page 67 of The Cutting Edge
Right now, all that matters is being together. And the Cup. Because winning the Cup is the key to everything.
Chapter twenty-five
Logan
Iyankoffmysweat-soaked practice jersey and pads, the familiar scents of ice, testosterone, and sweat filling the locker room. Scrubbing a towel over my head, I glance over at Cam.
He pokes me in the ribs, "It was good seeing you with Coco today. I can see why you've completely lost your mind. She's hot and funny -- and I'll bet she could beat your slow ass around the rink a few times."
“Yeah, Coco’s different.” The words slip out before I can stop them. Shit, now Cam will never let me live this down.
He smirks, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh really? Do tell.”
I shrug, feigning nonchalance even as my cheeks heat. I play it off by rubbing the towel roughly over my face to mop up the sweat on my brow. “What’s there to say? She’s smart, hilarious, has an endless supply of one-liners, calls me on my shit...and Poppy adores her. I’m just really liking getting to know her. You know…”
“Getting to know her, huh?” Cam waggles his eyebrows. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” He balls up his dirty shirt and chucks it at my head. I laugh and duck. “This from the guy who’s already planning the wedding after like two weeks,” he says.
“Jealous much?” I grab my duffel bag and head for the door, hoping to make a quick escape before I open my mouth again.
Cam’s laughter follows me out. “She's got you completely bewitched. Logan Rivers off the market in less than two weeks. That's got to be some kind of record.”
His words echo in my head and a smile tugs at my lips. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am already half in love with Coco after only a few weeks. But I can’t bring myself to care, not when she makes me happier than I’ve been in longer than I can remember. Even Poppy seems happier.
I pause outside the locker room, leaning against the wall. Cam’s teasing aside, I know he’s genuinely happy for me. And he’s right—if he found a woman like Coco, he’d fall just as hard and fast.
When Cam emerges a few minutes later, I say, “You know, when you meet the right girl, you’ll go all in too.”
Cam shakes his head, scowling. “It’s not the same. My situation—”
“—is only complicated because you’re making it that way.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Man up and tell Lana how you feel instead of letting her parade you around like a show pony to get more ladies in the stands.”
“I can’t just—it’s not that simple.” Cam rakes a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line of his body.
“Yeah, it is. You like her, and you'll never know if she likes you if you don't ask her out for fuck's sake. Stop overthinking and take your shot.” I stare him down, willing him to listen. “You’ll be a lot fucking happier if you do.”
“She drives me fucking crazy is what she does…” Cam is silent for a long moment. Finally, he sighs. “Thanks, Dr. Phil. Since when did you become an expert on relationships?”
I grin. “Since I met Coco.”
“Well, that’s promising.” But there's a hint of a smile on Cam’s face as we head into the team meeting. Here’s hoping something sunk in — if I have to listen to him obsess over Lana for the rest of the playoffs, I might lose my shit.
Cam takes a seat across from me as Coach starts talking plays for tomorrow's game. But my mind is elsewhere — namely, on a certain figure skater and how long this meeting's going to last before I can get back out there again.
Coco. Just thinking her name makes me smile. Which is probably pathetic, but I can’t help it. In the few short weeks I’ve known her, she’s become my north star, what I look forward to after a long day at the rink. Everything's better with her around. Her laugh, the way she scrunches her nose when she’s thinking, her competitive spirit, especially when she's giving me crap about something...
“Rivers, you with us?”
I jerk, blinking at Coach. The rest of the team is looking at me expectantly. Oh shit, how long have I been zoning out? I clear my throat, hoping the flush creeping up my neck isn’t too noticeable. “Sorry Coach, you were saying?”
A few of the guys snicker. Coach rolls his eyes but continues, and I force myself to focus. No more daydreaming about Coco and her green eyes and the way she fits so perfectly in my arms. At least, not until after the meeting is over.
When we’re finally dismissed, Cam corners me in the locker room again. “So when are you seeing Coco again? She coming to Philly with the WAGs?” he asks, a knowing grin on his face.
I shrug, unable to keep the smile off my lips. “If I can convince her.”
“Nice. You going to tell her you’re halfway in love with her already?”
I punch his arm, but I’m laughing. “Shut up, man. It’s way too soon for that.”
