Page 63 of Double Pucked

Oliver: It’s a brand-new era! Ryker Samuels is on social and we love it.

I huff, but I know this is a good thing.

Ryker: Glad you’re happy.

Really, that’s all that matters. I couldn’t care less, but he cares, so there’s that.

Oliver: Even Bryce Tucker couldn’t make this look bad.

My jaw tightens at the mention of the podcaster who dubbed me King of Grunts. But whatever. I’ve given him nothing to spin the wrong way, and I’m about to shut the message when Oliver sends another.

Oliver: P.S. Is your friend dating the VIP guest? Saw a pic of them at the dog park. So cute!

I stop in my tracks, then click on the shot. There’s nothing romantic in it, but Chase is high-fiving Trina at dusk in the dog park, and my first thought isno one better make any trouble for my buddy and our girl.

My second is that I wish I were the one at the dog park.

And my third is—I need to get on the ice and block out all these annoying thoughts.

22

THE GIRLFRIEND ISSUE

Chase

I’m finishing up on the elliptical at the Sea Dogs gym that afternoon, getting in some light cardio next to Andrei, our top winger, when Erik marches in. Our goalie’s got his game daynothing fazes me attitudeon, and he’s waggling his phone my way. Stalking across the gym, he multitasks like the badass he is, trading trash talk with Ledger, who’s doing curls on a weight bench.

I can’t hear what’s coming out of Erik’s mouth though, since I’ve got to finish up this chapter in a Stephen King-esque end-of-the-world tale. The narrator is sick. But not as sick as the world is in this horror story. As birds spiral out of the sky, ready to peck everyone to death I’m sure, Erik stops in front of my machine and motions to my earbuds.

So much for finding out if the birds are on a rampage or not.

I pop out my earbuds as I lower the speed on the machine. I’m almost done anyway. Andrei, never one to miss a moment, takes out his earbuds too as I say, “No, Erik, you can’t play with your Switch till after the game, and only if you get a win.”

Though we all need a win, to be honest.

Erik doesn’t take the bait. Instead, he thrusts his phone at me. “Dude. Lisette said you’re dating that girl who came to the game.”

I flinch. What the hell? Then, I peer at the screen. Holy shit. That’s a hot photo of Trina and me at the dog park the other night, along with Nacho hightailing it out of the tunnel.

Hot as in it sure looks like we’re doing more than justtalking. Someone—maybe a jogger, maybe a walker, maybe the dog trainer person—snapped a shot when Trina was touching my face post dog kiss.Innocent dog kiss.

But I’m gazing into her eyes like I’m planning to devour her. If a picture says a thousand words, this one saysI want to rail you tonight.

Well, the camera doesn’t lie.

But the caption takes a lot of liberties.

Sea Dogs team captain is romancing VIP guest and her pup.

The Internet is fast. How the hell do you get from VIP guest to dating like that? “That’s presumptuous,” I say, though in all fairness, Trina and I got from VIP suite to VIP guest in the bedroom in one night.

“And Lisette said she’s been texting you about meeting some of her friends, but she’s not sitting you at the singles table anymore. She wants you to bring your new girlfriend to the wedding,” he says, and it’s clear this is a demand delivered straight from the bossiest of bossy cousins in the world.

I’m not usually speechless but there’s a first for everything because…new girlfriend? My cousin decided I have a girlfriend because the Internet said so? “She’s not my girlfriend,” I say, but that sounds weak as it comes out of my mouth.

I mean,of courseshe’s not my girlfriend. But denying that she is feels a little shitty too.

Ledger curls the weight for another rep. “So, you take out a hot VIP guest one night and the next night you play with her dog, and you’renotseeing her? What are you doing? Moonlighting as a dog walker, Weston?”

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