Page 65 of The Husband Game

“Dating or hooking up or …?”

“Oh, no.” Birdie laughed. “Jonah is gay. He’s been out to the team since I got here but pretty quiet about it to the media. But as far as I know, Felix is straight. He’s been with a woman living out in BC as long as I’ve known him.”

Charlie winced. “Ugh. Long-distance relationships suck.”

“Yeah, they do. But it sounds like he’s hoping she’ll come back here with him. I know that’s why he went out there this summer.”

“So who else is on the team? There’s Jordan Stokes, right? Natasha’s boyfriend with the pretty hazel eyes.”

“Yes. He’s one of Colton’s wingers. He’s from the US. Maryland, maybe? Quiet. Nice guy. No drama. A solid player who we’re lucky to have. And I love Tasha and him together. I hope they work out.”

“Me too.”

“And you met Macky—Anton Makarov—who is our starting goaltender. He’s pretty quiet. Oh, it’s cute though. He always borrows Elena’s scrunchies before a game to hold his hair back.”

“Aww that’s adorable!”

“Isn’t it?” Birdie smiled. “He doesn’t speak as much English as Elena does so I don’t know him super well, but he’s very good in net. It was a shame he had some issues during the playoffs last year because we might have won otherwise.” She let out a little sigh.

Charlie laughed. “You have to admit it was pretty cool that the Otters won last season. With the shit year they had with all of the players coming out and then the big scandal … they needed some kind of win.”

“Oh, I suppose,” Birdie said with a little laugh. “But this is our year, damn it.”

“Yeah, it is.” Charlie smiled. “No arguments there from me.”

Birdie squeezed his arm. “It’s going to be so fun having you here to cheer with me at games!”

Charlie smiled. “I’m looking forward to it too.”

And he meant it.

For all his apprehension about marrying Dustin and becoming the spouse of a pro hockey player, he was starting to enjoy the way the team had folded him in. Fake relationship or not, Charlie liked this group.

And he hoped that win happened while he was still here.

* * *

“So, you are still alive. I was pretty sure you were, because your social media is full of fun little things you’re doing with your adorable new husband, but since you keep ignoring my calls and texts, I couldn’t really be sure.”

“Hi, Emily,” Dustin said a little sheepishly.

“Don’t ‘hi, Emily’ me,” his sister said, sounding annoyed. “What the fuck, Dustin?”

“I’m sorry.” He sprawled out on the couch. “Life’s been a little crazy.”

“Too crazy to call or message me or our parents for a month?”

“Well, kind of.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I wanted to get Charlie settled in here in Toronto first and—”

“Right. Let’s talk about Charlie. What the actual fuck is going on there?”

“Surprise!” he said weakly. “I got married last month.”

“Yeah, no shit. That part I’d worked out. It’s all over everywhere on social media. What I wanna know is why none of us knew you were dating anyone!”

“Because I’m a horrible brother and son who leaves my entire family out of the loop on my romantic life.”

Emily snorted. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

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