“By what? Or should I say, by who?”
I glare at him. I told him about the hot woman I spent a night with in Chicago, but I haven’t told him that woman is my new publicist.
“Ah,” he says. “Woman trouble. Must be serious woman trouble if it's affecting your game this badly.”
“Drop it,” I all but growl. I’m not in the mood for this.
“Alright, alright.” He skates backward, hands raised. “But whatever it is, figure it out before Thursday. We need you sharp.”
Coach blows his whistle, calling us in. “Listen up. Media day is at eleven. That gives you thirty minutes to shower and get presentable. I want everyone looking professional.”
The guys groan. No one loves media day, but it's part of the job. We file off the ice and head to the locker room.
I'm peeling off my practice gear when Cole's voice cuts through the noise.
“Guys, quick word.” Our captain stands in the middle of the room, still in his equipment, commanding attention without even trying. “Media day isn't just about answering questions. It's about representing this organization. Image matters. What you say, how you act, it all reflects on the team.”
His eyes sweep the room, landing on me for just a beat longer than necessary.
“We've worked too hard this season to let off-ice distractions derail us. Keep it professional, stay on message, and remember, you're not just representing yourselves out there.”
The message is clear, even if he doesn't say my name. Everyone knows about my weekend. Everyone knows I'm the reason we're having this conversation.
I yank my jersey over my head harder than necessary.
“Got it, Cap,” someone says, and the room returns to its usual chaos.
“Hey, Nova,” Ryan calls out from across the locker room, grinning. “I saw those puppy pics on Instagram this morning. Six golden retrievers? That's a lot of commitment for a guy who usually can't commit to the same woman for six hours.”
The room erupts in laughter.
“Shut up, Ryan,” I mutter, but there's no heat in it.
“Maybe Nova's finally growing up,” Blake adds. “Trading in club girls for good girls who like puppies.”
“Or maybe,” Jake says with a knowing look in my direction, “he's trying to impress someone specific.”
I shoot him a warning glare, but the damage is done. The guys latch onto it.
“Oh shit, there's a woman,” Ryan says, leaning forward. “Nova has a woman he's actually trying to impress. This is historic.”
“There's no woman,” I lie, grabbing my towel.
“Bullshit,” Ethan says. “Nobody adopts six puppies on impulse unless they're trying to prove something. Who is she?”
“Does she work at the shelter?” Blake asks. “Is that how you met her?”
“There's. No. Woman.” I enunciate each word clearly.
Cole, who's been silently changing, finally speaks up. “Leave him alone. If Nova wants to adopt puppies, that's his business.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“Even if it is obviously about a woman,” Cole adds with the hint of a smile.
The room loses it again.
“Even Cap agrees!” Ryan crows. “Nova's gone soft.”
