Page 145 of Time to Shine

Casey laughed. “Anaheim.”

“Short trip.”

“Mm. We can sleep in.”

Landon crawled up Casey’s body until their faces aligned. “I think I missed waking up with you more than anything.”

Casey smiled lazily at him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Landon dipped his head and kissed him.

“You know what I missed the most?” Casey said.

“What?”

“You.”

Landon thunked his forehead against the mattress. “That was cheesy.”

“Every day, Stacks.”

Landon turned his head and breathed against Casey’s neck. “Me too.”

Landon got the start in Anaheim.

He wasn’t surprised, exactly. Honestly, he’d been expecting it. He’d played well in L.A. and Anaheim was a low-ranked team anyway. But he still felt weird about it.

Casey tapped his ankle with his foot under the little round table they were eating their pregame meal at. “I hear we have a ringer in nets for us tonight.”

Landon didn’t smile.

“Okay, you’re obviously nervous because you’ve barely touched your food.”

“No,” Landon said, too quickly. “Not exactly. I don’t know.”

“You know you deserve this start, right?”

Landon sighed. He couldn’t hide anything from Casey. “I do know it, but I can’t help feeling...guilty? Is that stupid?”

“Nothing to feel guilty about. We need to play our best players every night.” He pointed his fork and the two pieces of penne he’d speared with it at Landon. “You’re our best goalie right now.”

Landon nodded. Casey was right.

At that moment, a hand landed on Landon’s shoulder from behind. He nearly jumped out of his skin trying to get away from it.

“Shit,” said Gilbert Morin. “Sorry if I startled you.”

“It’s okay,” Landon said, fighting the urge to put his own hand on his shoulder to erase the unexpected touch.

“I just wanted to talk to you for a sec.” Gilbert looked at Casey. “Can I borrow him for a minute? Goalie business.”

Casey stood and picked up his tray. “No prob. Come find me after, Stacks.”

“Okay.” Landon watched him carry his tray to Gio and Petey’s table.

Gilbert claimed the chair Casey had vacated. “You know how my career got started?”

Landon didn’t answer, because he knew he wasn’t supposed to.

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