Page 44 of With the Assist

“Have you noticed how he’s played this week?” Liam asks. “It’s the best he’s looked in months.”

I lace my skates, letting them talk. He’s right. This week has been my best in a long time. Whether I want to admit it or not, something in me knows she’s part of that.

“She challenges me, not only physically, but mentally. It’s different than working out with you guys. It’s less pressure, even though she pushes me just as hard. She doesn’t care who I am or what my numbers look like.”

“That’s hot,” Liam mutters.

“Shut up.” I shoot him a look.

Grayson’s gaze stays steady. “You’re enjoying the work again.”

It’s not a question.

“Yeah. I am.”

For a moment, no one jokes. The weight of it settles in the space between us. Hockey isn’t a job for us, no matter how much money gets thrown at it. The sport is ingrained into who we are, but when it stops feeling like yours, something breaks that’s hard to name and harder to fix.

Liam, of course, ruins the moment.

“Sex has been known to improve performance. Endorphins. Stress relief. I’m just saying.” He leans back on the bench.

“It’s not like that,” I snap.

Even as I say it, my throat burns with the truth I don’t voice. That I want it to be like that. That I fantasize about her hands on me more than I should. That I’d like nothing more than to see what she looks like when she finally lets go of her super-human restraint.

It’s irrelevant.

Wyatt snorts softly. “You’re in trouble.”

Grayson smiles, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, you are.”

Liam slams his locker closed. “Damn. And here I was hoping for a scandal.”

“Don’t worry,” I mutter, grabbing my stick. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to make one of your own.”

“How does the fake date thing work?” Grayson asks.

“Just a few public outings. I’ll go to her team party in January. And I’m going out with her friends tonight.”

Liam’s eyes pop out of his head, and I swear there might be drool falling down his chin.

I glare. “No. Hell no. Liam, do not sleep with one of her teammates. For the love of god, leave that team alone.”

Wyatt’s head is down, shaking with quiet laughter, and Grayson is not much better, cheeks full of air as he holds it in. Liam, though, looks like a kid in a fucking candy store.

“So, what time are we going out tonight?” Liam asks, shit-eating grin spreading across his face.

“We’re not going out,” I argue, clenching my jaw. “I am.”

“He’ll just stalk you all the way to the bar if you don’t tell him.” Wyatt points out.

I curse under my breath.

“We’re going to the Blue Line. But Liam, don’t be a jackass, please.”

He huffs, “The ladies love me.”

Grayson chuckles. “The ladieswould get the ick if they heard you say that.”