Page 116 of Double Pucked

He scoffs. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And the thing is, you showed me there’s room in my life for hockey and love.”

My heart thumps louder for him too.

“The real issue is this,” he adds, as he shows me his phone and his social feed. Right alongside the WTFs and thefreaksare comments likecool, andcan I come to the wedding,andwhatever works, as long as she doesn’t root for the Sea Dogs.

Ryker stares sternly at me. “See? That’s all that matters. You’re an Avengers fan now, Trina.”

Chase clears his throat. “She’s a Sea Dogs fan, and that’s that.”

“Avengers.”

“Sea Dogs.”

And I suppose that really is the biggest concern. Which means, it’s time to set our phones down, and not worry about the world, and all the things we can’t control.

I have my guys, my dog, and some books to read. The rest is just noise.

ANOTHER EPILOGUE

THE DOUBLE WAG

Trina

A year later, I’m torn.

This is seriously hard. I’m in the VIP suite, wearing my special jersey, nibbling on avocado bruschetta but feeling like I’m being ripped in half.

“Nobody in my throuple support group warned me about this,” I joke to Aubrey, but I’m not really joking.

Loving two players from two teams does a number on your sports loyalties. Mine have shot sky high in the last year since I’ve gone from hockey hater to hockey lover.

The year hasn’t been all smooth skating. Like my two men, I’ve been subjected to a fair amount of scrutiny from the media—but we take it all in stride, and most of it is behind us now. All that’s important to me is that my guys are happy, and that our families accept us—which they do.

Besides, what goes on behind closed doors isn’t anyone’s business but our own—and the stuff that does go on behind closed doors? It’s all so very worth it. Everything with them is because I love Ryker and Chase, and they love me.

But I don’t just love my guys. I fell hard for the game too. I dare anyone to claim it’s not the best sport there is. But right now, the score is tied in the game as the Sea Dogs and Avengers vie against each other on the ice.

“What do I do?” I ask. But it’s a question for the universe. An unknowable one.

“Well, obviously blow both of them regardless,” Aubrey deadpans.

“That’s a given, but still,” I say, staring down at the ice as the guys fly by at rocket speed. But when there’s a media time-out, I pull my focus from the rink and turn it straight to my friend.

She’d been telling me about a new guy in her life and how very complicated the situation is. I listen, then give her my best advice, hoping it’s as good as the advice she gave me when I desperately needed it a year ago.

The last year has been a good one for many, many reasons. The book club has tripled in size. Business at the store is terrific. We raised a good amount of money for Nacho’s rescue with the jerseys. And my boy won his most recent agility competition.

He’s seriously the best dog ever. He’s also cut way down on his underwear snacks.

Oh, and also, Selena-slash-Abby was exposed. At first, I’d thought some industrious reporter had tracked her down. Then I’d thought maybe the book club had put their clever heads together and found out who she was. Because they could do that with their big brains.

Finally, I’d imagined the guys on the Avengers or the Sea Dogs had exposed her.

But nope. I was wrong on all three guesses. It was my sister. Cassie put her determination to use and found out who The Stuntwoman was.

Pretty sure it’ll be hard for the boys’ ex to pull off her tricks now—on anyone—now thateveryoneknows her name, and her face, and her voice.

Such a shame.

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