Page 63 of Time to Shine

Landon glanced up, and then slowly lifted his torso until he was upright. He held the split as he stared at Casey with a placid expression.

Right. The thing Casey was supposed to tell him. “There’s a thing this afternoon.”

“I’m going to need more information.”

“It’s a charity thing.” Landon’s shorts were stretched so tight across his groin. Casey could see everything.

“What kind of thing?”

Casey blinked. “Oh. It’s fun. We did it last year and it was a huge hit. It’s like a Christmas thing to raise money for the local food bank.”

Landon closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. “Casey...”

“Right. Okay, so a bunch of Outlaws players set up at this booth at the mall and we wrap presents for donations. Fans love it because they get a gift that’s wrapped by their favorite player.”

Landon’s brow pinched. “So what would I be doing?”

Had Casey not explained this well enough? “You’d be wrapping gifts. The players—” he pointed to himself and then to Landon “—wrap the gifts.”

“I get that, but why would anyone want a gift wrapped by me?”

“Because,” Casey said slowly and clearly, “you are a Calgary Outlaws hockey player.”

Landon held his gaze for a long moment, then said, “I mean. Sort of.”

“Not sort of, you fucking goof. And I’ll bet you’re great at wrapping presents.”

“I’ve never wrapped a present in my life.”

“Yeah, I hadn’t either until the thing last year. I am so fucking bad at it. Everyone wanted a gift wrapped by me because they were so hilarious looking.”

“No one asked me to take part in this.”

Had Landon hit his head somehow? He hadn’t played last night, but maybe during warm-up? “I just asked you, dude.”

“I meant—never mind.” Landon finally released his pose and shook his legs out in front of him. “I need to finish my stretches.”

“Okay,” Casey said, and didn’t move.

Landon raised his eyebrows at him. “Did you need something else?”

“Um, nope. Nope. I’ll just...” Casey pointed at the stairs. “But you’ll come to the thing, right?”

“If you want me to.”

“I want you. I mean...” Casey took a step backward. “Cool. Yeah. I’ll just be...upstairs.”

When he got to the top of the stairs, he laughed at himself. “Smooth, Hicks.”

“Are you sure I should be going to this?” Landon asked as they were getting ready to leave the house.

“Totally.”

“Maybe I should stay here.”

“Fine,” Casey said. “I’ll just tell the organizers that you hate the food bank.”

Landon’s eyes narrowed. “Again, I was never officially invited by anyone involved in organizing this event. And I obviously don’t hate the food bank.”

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