Page 283 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“Am I the one building my social media? Last time I checked, I have fifty thousand followers on TikTok, which has bounced up to five hundred thousand, so I don’t think I’m doing too bad if you ask me.”

“I wasn’t asking you.”

“Ask me. I’m ready to ensure you have a headache before we go out there and pretend like we’re the loving couple ready to take over the world.”

“So, you two aren’t dating?” I ask as my eyes dart between them.

“We’re faking it,” Iris says and puts her finger to her lips. “Shh. It’s a secret.”

“Not anymore,” Jamie grumbles and hisses from Iris’ death grip. “I swear to God, you should be an arm wrestler.”

“I tried that, but apparently, women can’t beat huge muscled men at a sport of strength without being hunted and killed,” she huffs. “So, social media influencer is safer.”

“Safer my foot,” Jamie grumbles.

“You two look good together.”

They stare back at me as I give them a genuine smile.

“Let’s go on a double date sometime.” With that, I turn away. “I gotta go. Spent long enough in this place. I’ll see you two around.”

“Bye, Captain O’Riley!” Iris cheers.

“If you don’t start calling me Captain Winchester, I’ll feel insulted,” Jamie mutters.

“Aww. Are you jealous, Sweetie? You want me to give you the puck bunny treatment, handcuffs and all?”

“Ugh. Let’s go!”

“Answer me! C’mon. It can be a good statement to use. Actually, your scowl of disappointment is the perfect picture. Stay right there and let me take a phot— Ah! Don’t move! Jamie! Jamie! GET BACK HERE!”

I chuckle and shake my head.

Reminds me of Mikayla and me.

“Are you going to steal my car a second time?”

I look up to see Coach Johnson at the door.

“See, I borrowed it because your keychain is the only one I recognized from the row of hanging keys in the office.”

He shakes his head.

“You gave that keychain to Mikayla when she was twelve.”

“And you kept it on your car keychain ever since,” I counter as I reach him and pull out the key in question. “I’m surprised it’s still hanging in there. Thought it would be tossed by now. Especially when you hate my guts.”

“I never hated you, Maddox.”

I look up at the man, who stares at me with respect.

“Do I hate the fact I’m going to have to give my girl up to another man who will watch over her when I’m no longer around? Yes. I hate it tremendously,” he confesses. “But it gives me a sense of peace knowing my girl is in good hands. With you and the other three in the picture, I have a good feeling Mikayla will continue to feel loved.”

“That’s the goal,” I whisper. “Guess that means you won’t mind me proposing to her.”

He looks surprised, but I smile and open the door.

“I probably gotta save up for a ring and have no clue how marriage is going to work with three other men involved, but I want to make it clear that Mkaykay is the end game for me, Coach Johnson.”

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