Page 5 of Double Pucked

I shake my head. “I saw that same study and it was the size of his funny bone. Dick to funny bone, and both of mine are huge…Also, I was going to say…it meansyou wear a big hat.”

With an unamused stare he’s perfected since childhood—seriously, Ryker made our fifth grade math teacher cower with his intensity—he says, “Anyway, did you want me to put the earbud back in right now and finish my podcast? Because I’d like to.”

“First, check this out,” I say, waving the phone at him. As I climb another floor, heart pumping, legs burning, I shove the screen at him. “This popular vet posted a video the other day and he said…” I pause to clear my throat. “It was a good day. Isuccessfully made a dog puke up a pair of panties. But, since they were not the owner’s panties,it’s safe to say someone is having a worse day than the dog.” I blow out a long stream of air, shaking my head. “Can you believe that?”

“People are dicks,” my buddy huffs, and that’s been his mantra since his dad took off.

“Only a handful,” I say, since we don’t see eye to eye on humanity, but hey, that’s what makes it fun to rile him up.

He narrows his eyes. “Anything else you need to tell me or can I go back to learning about words and you can watch dog videos?”

“I like dogs,” I say, defensively. Then in a cockier tone, I add, “And I like winning. Which is what I plan to do tonight when we kick your ass on the ice.”

I pop my earbuds back in and proceed to race climb him. It’s an unwritten rule of two pro athletes working out next to each other. You must school the other guy. Lift more, climb farther, run faster.

I always do.

With my pulse spiking, I’m chasing the sky as I watch a pack of Border Collies catch frisbees. Someday, I’ll be able to adopt a badass dog who can do tricks and shit.

But not too soon, since hockey comes first, second, and third. It’s everything to me, and it lets me fulfill a promise I made years ago. A promise I’ll always keep.

As I’m nearing the end of my cardio, my phone buzzes. I glance down at the text flashing across the screen. It’s from Gianna, the publicist for the Sea Dogs.

Gianna: Don’t forget the VIP event is tonight after the game! Be on your best behavior.

I chuckle at her note, then tap out a reply saying,I always am. But before I can send it she’s already written back.

Gianna: JK. I know you always are, Chase.

She’s right. I pride myself on my reputation as a good guy. It works well for me. It helps me pay all the bills and take care of my mom and younger brothers. That’s why I do everything I can to be the good guy man about town. I spearhead the Hockey Hotties calendar to raise money for both youth sports and rescue dogs, and I’ve got one helluva smile. It gleams. And I always talk to the press, even though I know firsthand that the media isn’t always friendly. That’s okay—it’s just part of the game.

Chase: I’ve got you, G. It’s all good.

Gianna: You’re the best. P.S. Tell Ryker to smile. No King of Grunts tonight.

Ouch. But that’s what a popular hockey podcaster nicknamed my friend, and if the skate fits…

Chase: I will definitely tell him. I’m working out with him right now.

Gianna: I figured as much! But remember, you’re rivals on the ice.

Chase: That’s what my Stanley Cup says too.

I finish the exchange and the workout, stabbing the end button on the StairMaster dashboard.

Ryker follows suit. “Did more floors than you.”

I peer at his screen. “Dammit,” I mutter.

We leave the gym and exit onto Fillmore Street, heading toward Doctor Insomnia’s Tea and Coffee Emporium. A good workout deserves a good cup of Joe. And that place is my regular haunt. “Here’s the deal. You need to be all sunshine tonight.”

He grunts.

“Nope. No grunts. Use those big words in your big brain when we meet our guest.”

He narrows his eyes, then drops a pair of aviator shades over them and emits a menacing growl. As if he scares me. “C’mon. You can do it. Be a good guy and say you’ll be sunny tonight.”

With a death glare—yes, I can tell those are daggers behind his mirrored shades—he says, “I will be so fucking refulgent tonight.”

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