Page 15 of Bad Pucking Roommate

Luca nods absently and lets out a heavy sigh. “You’re a good guy, Justus. Thanks for checking on me, but you should probably go.”

The way he’s not looking at me, the almost hopeless quality of his voice, says otherwise. “You’re not really selling me on the idea that being alone is what's best, right now.”

“The alternative is worse,” he mutters.

“What alternative? What aren’t you saying?”

“I already involved you more than I should’ve.” He shakes his head. “Let’s just leave it at that.”

“What makes you think I can? You’re still giving me that look like you need me for something. You just won’t say what.”

“Because it’s something I have no right to ask. Especially not of you.”

I shrink back like I’ve been burned.Not me? I get that I’m still pretty new, one of the youngest on the team, but of all the guys he’s the last person I expected to hold that against me.

“Shit.” Luca squeezes his eyes shut. “That came out wrong. I’d ask you before anyone if I thought you’d say anything other than yes.”

Now it’s my turn to shake my head. “You’re not making any sense.”

“What I need… No one should say yes to it without giving it serious thought. In fact, the answer should be no. But you’re too good of a guy. You’d think of me before yourself.”

I pull at my own hair as my mind starts to run wild. “Shit, Luca. Are you sick? Do you need a kidney or something?”

He reels back with wide eyes. “You just swore.”

“What?” My brows draw together.

“You just swore. I’ve never heard you do that before, and you did it because you’re worried about me. Fuck. Now, I really feel like an ass.”

“You’re not sick?”

“Hell, no. Well, not in the way you’re thinking.”

“What am I thinking?” I cross my arms over my chest.

“That I’m physically ill. Or I’ve got some disease. I’m not dying.” He rolls his eyes when my expression doesn’t change. “I’m just royally fucked because the problem is in my head.”

Is that all?Relief floods my body, making it so I can finally take a full breath. “You’ve got the yips.”

“The what now?” Luca’s brows disappear under his hair.

“Yips. My grandpa used to talk about those. I think it’s mostly a golf thing, but I don’t see why it can’t apply to hockey too. It’s like a mental block that keeps you from performing to your full potential.”

For the first time since I entered the room, I see a little life in Luca’s eyes. “Yeah. Yes. I’ve got the yips. How do I get rid of them?”

“I have no idea.”

“Can you call your Grandpa?” Luca’s eyes are as bright as they are on the ice, which is saying something since they’re actually a deep, dark brown. This is a side of him I’ve never seen, and I really like it. It makes me want to come through for him. But I can’t.

“I’m sorry.” I shake my head slowly. “He’s…he has dementia. It's pretty bad. I’m not sure he’d know the answer.”

I’ve never seen someone deflate so fast.

“We can Google it.” I offer. “I’m sure there’s all sorts of suggestions online.”

And just like that the hope is back. “Where’s my phone?”

Chapter seven

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