27. Xander
Coach Porter blows the whistle, signaling the end of practice.
My lungs are on fire as I try to catch my breath. I follow the rest of my team to the edge of the ice, where Porter’s standing, arms crossed, frowning at all of us.
“Good work, gentlemen. That was a solid effort.”
I almost laugh. Even when he’s pleased with us, he still looks pissed.
“Before you hit the showers, I want to remind you all that we’ve got that big fundraiser coming up in a week to raise money for the Cancer Research Foundation.”
Every year the Bashers along with a few other teams in the league partner with a nonprofit to hold a formal fundraiser. This year the fundraiser is being held in Denver for the Cancer Research Foundation, a charity that funds research for cancer treatment. There’s typically a fancy dinner, a silent auction, and speeches from the charity’s spokesperson and team leadership. I’m happy to attend and donate money every year to the fundraiser because it’s always a good cause.
We all promise to be there. Porter nods his approval before exhaling sharply.
“One more thing. The team’s PR department had the brilliant idea to auction off dates with players instead of the silent auction,” Porter says, clearly annoyed.
“I’m into it,” Theo says.
“Same,” Blomdahl says.
Almost everyone on the team says they’re up for it too, including me.
Porter looks at us like we’re all nuts. “I’ll let the PR department know.”
“You’re auctioning off a date too, right, Coach?” I joke.
“Very funny.” He frowns at me, but I can tell he’s not pissed, just mildly irritated. He turns to address everyone again. “Just a reminder that your family is welcome to attend the fundraiser. You can bring a date too if you want as well. And remember: the fundraiser is black tie dress code. That means black suits and ties or tuxes. If you come dressed in anything else, I’m going to murder you at our next practice.”
Porter dismisses us and we all head for the locker room. I shed my gear and jump in the shower, excited to ask Sophie to be my date to the fundraiser. I’m sure she was already planning on attending—all team staff are required to attend functions like this. But I want her to go with me. I want to walk in there holding hands with her.
Warmth radiates in my chest at the thought of going to events like this with Sophie again and again.
Like we’re a real couple.
I’d like that. A lot.
I stand still under the shower head, hot water raining around me as I think about Sophie. Our relationship is fake, but it’s feeling more and more real with each passing day.
I think back to the other night when we fooled around at my place. It was the hottest night I’ve had in a while time. It was also the sweetest. We fell asleep cuddled together. For as many times as I’ve hooked up with women in the past, I don’t fall asleep cuddling them. Even thinking about doing that would have been weird.
But with Sophie, it was the most natural thing in the world. When I hold her in my arms, it feels like she’s meant to be there.
Nerves crackle inside of me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Do I tell her how I feel?
Doubt creeps into my thoughts, rattling me. I’ve never had a serious relationship before in my life. I have no idea how to bring up my feelings in a way that wouldn’t sound weird. Or terrifying.
Because if I were Sophie and my fake boyfriend suddenly caught feelings for me when we agreed this would be nothing more than just fake, I’d probably get freaked out.
But our fake relationship has an expiration date—right before playoffs, which is just weeks away.
I go cold at the thought of scaring her away, of losing her before that deadline—of losing her for good. Maybe I should just keep this to myself while I figure out a way to bring it up to her.
Once I finish getting cleaned up and dressed, I head for the training room to check if Sophie’s there.
When I walk in, I see her examining Blomdahl’s shoulder.
“That’s still bothering you?” I ask.
He nods. “A little. But I’ll live.”
Sophie smiles at me before going through some mobility movements.
“You’re healing well. Just keep icing it and be careful not to overwork it on non-game days, okay?”
“Sure thing, doc.” Blomdahl hops off the padded table and walks past me toward the exit. “You two coming to Spanky’s tonight?”
Sophie looks at me and smiles. “Yup.”
Blomdahl walks off, leaving me and Sophie alone.
She struts up to me. “Hey, you.”
I slink my arms around her waist and she tip-toes up to kiss me.
The nerves crackle inside of me as I work up the nerve to ask her out to the charity gala. “So, um, you know the fundraiser?”
She nods.
“Would you want to go as my date?”
Her hypnotic blue eyes dazzle as she gives me a wide grin. “You want us to go together?”
I cup her face with my hand. “Of course I do.”
She smiles wide and kisses me. “I would love to go as your date.”
My face aches with how hard I’m grinning. It feels like actual butterflies are swarming around in my stomach. I feel like a high schooler who just asked the girl I’m crushing on to the prom.
“Does this mean I get to see you all dressed up in a suit again?” She slides her hands up my chest.
I nod. “I get to wear a tux this time.”
She rests her palm on her chest and bites her bottom lip. “Hot.”
I laugh. She’s still got some work to finish up so she says she’ll meet me at Spanky’s in an hour. I kiss her one more time and take off.
An hour later, I’m sitting with Theo, Blomdahl, Maya, Ingrid, and Dakota at our usual table.
When Sophie walks in, I stand up and greet her with a hug and kiss. When we sit down together, everyone says hi to her.
I slide her a glass of water and she takes a sip.
“So what did I miss?”
Blomdahl shrugs. “Not a whole lot.”
Everyone looks at him. Dakota laughs and looks at Sophie.
“You missed Blomdahl choking on a shot of hot sauce to avoid answering a question.”
Sophie giggles. “Um, what?”
Blomdahl tugs a hand through his shaggy blond hair before crossing his arms over his chest. “I told you I suck at Truth or Dare, but you all wanted to play.”
Everyone laughs.
“What was the question?” Sophie asks.
“If he has any piercings,” Dakota says.
Blomdahl’s face turns bright red as he frowns. Everyone glances at his lap.
Sophie’s eyes go wide. “Oh…”
“I think it’s your turn, Williams,” Blomdahl mutters. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“If you had to fight anyone on the team, who would it be?”
I try not to smile. “You.”
Blomdahl cracks a smile. “Really?”
“Yeah. You’re the only one who would put up a decent fight.”
Theo joking shoves my shoulder.
“Okay, dude. Your turn,” I say to Theo. “Truth or dare.”
“Dare. Always.”
“I dare you to strip naked and run around the bar,” Blomdahl says.
Theo laughs but starts to pull off his hoodie. His wife smacks his arm.
“No way,” Maya scolds with a smile on her face. “You’ll get us kicked out of here. And probably arrested too for indecent exposure.”
“Aww, but you love it when I expose myself.” Theo leans over and kisses her.
Ingrid wrinkles her nose like she’s grossed out. “I don’t want to see my cousin naked.”
Sophie bursts out laughing.
Blomdahl raises an eyebrow at Theo. “Never thought you’d back down from a dare.”
Theo frowns like he’s offended. “I didn’t back down. My wife won’t let me.”
Blomdahl yawns at Theo’s excuse. I roll my eyes. Blomdahl is such a shit-stirrer, always egging us on to do something stupid. It hardly ever fails. Given the fact that we’re all pro hockey players with insane competitive streaks, someone always takes his bait and ends up doing whatever idiotic challenge he proposes.
The other day after practice, he dared Dylan to put icy hot on his balls. I’ve never heard him scream like that, ever.
“Whatever you say, man,” Blomdahl mutters to Theo before turning away. I can tell he’s about to laugh at how annoyed Theo is getting.
“I’d get naked right here, right now if they’d let me,” Theo insists.
Blomdahl turns to him. “How about we find a strip club that’s doing an amateur night and you can take your clothes off there?”
I shake my head. Jesus, this is escalating.
Theo smacks a hand on the table. “Let’s go.”