Page 61 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“I don’t know.” Damien doesn’t seem interested now. “If he didn’t want to play, they can get this mystery brother to do so.”

Shit. He plays hockey, too.

“He’s a hockey player, too,” Wolfgang brings out with a frown. “Well, no shit why Jayce lost it. Probably thought he was being replaced from the get-go.”

“You guys seem to understand him more than the rest of the world,” Sebastian notes.

“They were best buddies before,” Marcus points out. “You guys used to be close with Jayce, Oscar, Diesel, and Kane, right?”

My guys are darting between the four of us before I decide it’s good to end this convo.

“Yup.” I rise up and stretch my arms. I’m sure they get a good look at my muscles and tattoos. “I knew there was a strong chance Mikayla would be assigned to a different team than her dad. That whole conflict of interest shit is all bullshit. Mr. Champion just doesn’t want family drama since he doesn’t know how close Coach Johnson is to Mikayla.”

“So he assumed they’re on bad terms, so he wanted them on different teams just in case his assumptions are correct,” Felix sums up. “Honestly, I can’t complain.”

Some of the guys laugh and hoot.

“Better not crush on our new team nurse, bro,” Garrett warns and leans over to pat his friend’s shoulder. “There’s clearly a line for her love.”

“We have two Team Nurses,” Felix counters with a sly smirk. “There’s no line for the other one.”

“Oh!” We’re all staring at him as he’s next to stand and stretch.

“YO! You already have a man!” Ethan gasps and points to Felix.

“Wait. Felix, you’re gay?”

I’m not sure I want to remain for this conversation.

“Yup.” Felix doesn’t seem bothered. “And I ‘did’ have a man. Now, he’s my ex, who I left in Dubai on read.”

“Shit, dude!” Marcus is up and squeezing the poor man in a bear hug. “Spill. Don’t tell me you actually left his ass in Dubai.”

“He’s lucky I didn’t take his passport with me.” Felix rolls his eyes.

“Sassy Savage Player on the loose,” Sebastian teases, and Clayton is actually clapping his hands.

“Man, how are you confident like that?” Clayton seems so fascinated by Felix’s honesty.

“Am I going to let the world dictate who brings happiness to my life on the categories of physical, emotional, and sexual compatibility, all because of gender? Fuck that.”

“Puck,” Ace, Damien, Wolfgang, and I say in correction, rewarding us with stares from the rest of the team.

“So, I’m calling it out now,” Marcus begins and points around us. “If you four are gonna be fighting over Coach Johnson’s daughter, we get all the tea and first-class tickets to the fights on the ice.”

Ace is laughing.

Damien is rolling his eyes.

Wolfgang grins with pride, and I’m leaving the damn change room.

“Captain! Wait!” Marcus calls out to me.

“What,” I bark back just as I stand before the door.

“So seriously. Nurse Mikayla off limits or what?” Marcus asks the question I’m sure the rest of the team wants to know.

I hate having to confront it here, but if he’s asking, that only means one thing.

---