Page 63 of The Husband Game

They watched the guys scrimmage, standing up and cheering when Dustin got another goal off a pass from Matty.

When they settled down again, Charlie nudged her elbow. “Tell me about Matty?” he prompted.

“Oh, so Matt Carlson is on the team’s top D-line with Nico and is the other alternate captain. A mean motherfucker on the ice when he has to be, and a total teddy bear off it. Best ass in the NHL.”

Charlie snickered. “Oh, believe me, I know. Didn’t you hear about my first morning here in Toronto?”

“What? No!” Birdie laughed. “Tell me, Charlie.”

He described the whole thing and Birdie snorted. “Oh my God, welcome to the team, indeed.”

“Yeah, nothing like starting with a bang,” Charlie said drily.

“This team is so co-dependent, am I right?”

“Thank you,” Charlie said with a laugh. “I was like, this can’t possibly be normal.”

Birdie shrugged. “I think it depends on the team. I don’t mind how close these guys are but it’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.”

“I’m getting used to it,” Charlie admitted. “He’s divorced, right? Matty, I mean.”

“Yeah. Married some dumb bitch who didn’t appreciate what she had.”

“Birdie!” Charlie said with a laugh.

“Well, it’s true. He’s a sweetheart and he deserved better.”

“Fair. He does seem like a sweetheart. So he’s straight then?”

“Well.” Birdie leaned in a little. “Theoretically, but Colton said there are rumors Matty and his ex-wife hooked up with a guy once. And swords definitely crossed, if you know what I mean.”

“Oooh.” Charlie waggled his eyebrows. “Spill.”

“All I know is that she was a Grade-A bitch and they got divorced shortly after.” Birdie shrugged, her cropped sweater sliding a little further down her shoulder.

“Was the hookup with someone on the team?”

“No, I don’t think so. I can’t be sure though because it was before Colton was signed here. No one’s ever mentioned who the guy was.”

“Hmm.” Charlie considered that idea for a moment. “And Colton was the second line center for the team last year?”

“Yes.” Birdie smiled proudly. “He killed it last season—his rookie season—and he’s just such an amazing player.”

“Not that you’re biased or anything,” Charlie teased.

Birdie laughed. “Definitely not.”

“I’m assuming he’s straight or bi?”

“Straight,” Birdie said. “I’m bi, but he isn’t.”

“Got it.” Charlie smiled.

They watched the players in silence for a little while. They’d switched to doing skating drills with cones.

There was plenty of focus from the guys who were doing the drills at the moment, but the other people waiting for their turn were pretty laid back, laughing and horsing around together.

Charlie caught a glimpse of Matty poking at someone—from this distance, it was hard to tell who it was since their jerseys didn’t have numbers—with his stick.

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