Chapter 26
The locker room is already buzzing by the time I make my way inside.
Today’s practice felt incredible, and if it wasn’t for Coach threatening my balls, I don’t know when I would’ve gone home.
The start of every season feels this way, as if something inside me locks into place the moment my skates touch the ice.
This year is no exception. I was afraid it wouldn’t be the same without Teddy, but there’s another person in my heart now, and she’s only an hour’s drive away.
Bubba skates to his seat beside me and slaps my shoulder, pulling me from my memories of this summer. “You were killing it out there today, Sunshine. Did you spend the whole offseason on the ice?”
No, more like training with Russian ninjas.
Misha’s torture paid off, though. I’m usually winded after the offseason break, but I feel incredible today.
I could’ve gone for hours. Don’t get me wrong, I’m typically one step ahead of everyone, and I work my ass off to be able to too…
there’s a reason I’m the captain. But this year, I was skating circles around our best defenseman.
Nobody could keep up with me, and with the new power behind my shots, our goalie didn’t stand a chance.
“Just some agility work here and there. If you didn’t spend all summer bumming around in Jamaica, you’d be good too.”
“Well, keep it up. If you play like this all season, we might actually have a shot of making it past the first round of playoffs next year.”
Toodles rolls in on the other side of me and flops into his seat. “Yeah, if Coach can find another goalie. I think you’ve scared Gusgus away from hockey for good. I don’t even think Cuddles could’ve stopped your shots today.”
“I guess we’ll see when we play Thunder Bay this year.”
For once, the thought of losing Teddy, or Cuddles as the team calls him, doesn’t make me so sad.
The second half of last season was rough after he left.
It’s taken some time, but I’m finally happy for him after what he found in Thunder Bay.
Love. Maybe that’s why I’m not upset anymore. Maybe I’ve found that too.
“Are you telling us you actually worked out this summer and didn’t party 24/7 the whole break like you always do?” Milton asks, plopping down on his seat on the other side of me.
This was a very different summer indeed. The thought of Mila brings a smile to my face, and the boys immediately clock in on it. “Whoa, what’s got you lighting up like that? Is Thatcher Prescott in love?”
A collection of oohs and aahs fills the room as everyone’s attention homes in on me.
“Damn, did you finally decide to keep one of your puck bunnies?” Bubba says, hopping around on his skates like a rabbit, and before long, there’s a tango line of half-naked assholes following him.
“You’re lucky we need you, or I would hope you fall and break a leg.” I laugh. “And no, I didn’t fall in love with any puck bunnies.”
There, not a lie. That’ll get them off my back.
Wrong. Milton clocks onto it right away. “He said that he didn’t fall in love with any ‘puck bunnies.’ Our sunshine is so totally gone!”
“Practiced over the summer, fell in love…Oh, you have to tell us about your break.”
It feels fucking good to have the guys interested in what I did even though I can’t really tell them. One, they would never believe me in the first place, and two, I’m pretty sure Mila would kill me.
“Oh, same ole, same ole…nothing—”
A choir of insults and begging interrupts my lie.
“Bullshit.”
“You’re such a fucking liar.”
“Pleassseeee.”
“Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!”
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be punished by Mila after all…
“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you.” I pause while the entire team surrounds me like it’s story time in elementary school.
“So after everyone left practice for the summer, I got a call that my condo had caught fire and was completely uninhabitable.” I leave out the part about how my parents were so pissed about the fire that they forbade me from staying at any of their other properties, including the Hamptons, where I typically stay for the offseason.
“I was in a hotel for a night, but then a…friend connected me with some family that has a place Upstate. Turns out it was a Mafia compound. I spent the summer training with their best soldiers and ended up in a…relationship…with their very kinky lady boss.”
The team sits quietly, side-eyeing each other before Milton speaks up. “So…you spent the summer on mushrooms? Different from your typical high, but I respect it.”
Oh well, I didn’t think they would believe it in the first place. I can figure out something else to get some Mila punishment.
“Whatever, man. At least I didn’t have to spend my break hotter than Satan’s asshole surrounded by screaming kids in a theme park.”
Milton smiles. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Hot as hell. But the kids had a blast, and we brought the nanny so the wife and I were able to get some alone time too.”
“Well, since you were so concerned with Jamaica, I’ll have you know I spent most of the time working on cardio. And if I’m lucky, I’ll see the results of all my hard work in nine months or so,” Bubba says with a wink. “Hopefully, I’ll be needing all of your kiddo tips and tricks soon, Milton.”
Kids. The thought of having them one day has crossed my mind, but I’ve never felt particularly compelled either way. I couldn’t be a worse parent than my own. Hell, just hiring a nanny to take care of them 90 percent of the time instead of 100 would be better.
Mila crosses my mind again, as she does so often.
I wonder if she wants children. If she did want them, I would absolutely oblige her, but something tells me she’s not dying to be a mother, and I’m fine with that.
She always pulls off me just in time, and it wouldn’t be like her to take risks, so she’s probably on birth control.
We should probably have that conversation at some point.
She’s actually the only woman I’ve ever fucked without a condom.
I’ve been so wrapped up in her intensity that my usual no-exceptions policy went out the window immediately.
The thought of screaming kids does the trick. Wow, if that’s what just a thought does, I definitely don’t think I’m leaning toward fatherhood. I can be Teddy and Ellie’s kids’ funcle. If I ended up with Mila, I would be their actual uncle.
The boys drone on about how everyone’s break went, but all I can think about is my own. It was by far the best summer of my life and ten times better than any of their holidays. Mila changed me in such a way that I know I’ll never be the same.
My phone buzzes with a text notification, and I pull it out of my bag to find a message from the goddess herself, as if I summoned her.
Mila: Are you still free this weekend? I was thinking of coming into the city.
I’ve barely read the message when I send back a resounding yes.
This is the first time I can remember not staying to lock up, but I have shit to do today.
I need to make sure my condo is up to par for a queen.
The decor should be fine. I have good taste.
It’s the…other things I need to take care of.
I shoot Misha a text requesting a list of sex toys and equipment, then grab my things.
“Alright, Co-captain. Closing up is on you today,” I say, patting Bubba on the shoulder.
It’s all I can do not to skip out of the room whistling love songs, but what can I say? I’m smitten.
“See, I told you he was in love,” Milton yells out as I make my way to the door. “You’d better introduce us soon!”
“Maybe one day. Trust me, you guys aren’t ready for her.”