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I shake my head. “Nope, I think I’m gonna get some sleep. Ethan took the guest bedroom, so that leaves you with the couch.”
Will pops the plate into the microwave and hits a few buttons. “Whatever. I’m cool with the couch. I told E we can take turns sleeping in the bed.”
I glance up at the clock on the wall and frown at the time. “I have to get to bed. Try not to make too much noise out here. My shift starts in three hours, and I need at least a nap to function properly.”
“Sounds good.” Will turns around with his back against the counter and folds his arms over his chest, waiting for the pasta to cook. “Night-night, baby sis.”
I suck in a deep breath, thankful Will didn’t catch me with Ethan or the condom. Awkward.
“Night, big bro. Tomorrow, remind me to have a key made for you. I won’t be home until around eight o’clock. Go ahead and eat dinner without me.”
“You shouldn’t work so much,” he shoots back. “Some of the shit you do is dangerous. I’d feel better if you knew how to protect yourself.”
“I have to work hard if I want to make a name for myself. If anyone should understand that, it should be you. Your life is anything but conventional.”
He nods. “I get it. Remember to have some fun every once in a while. Don’t work yourself to death. Be careful.”
I force a smile. “Always.”
He calls me all the time to check up on me. With Will living in my apartment, he’s seeing for himself how dysfunctional I am. I prioritize work above everything else. That’s why ton
ight was so important. One night of fun with Ethan was all I’d wanted. Too bad it went to shit before anything between us could even begin.
The microwave dings, the obnoxious sound echoing throughout the apartment. Will retrieves the hot plate and makes a hissing sound when the ceramic burns his fingers. He steps back, almost dropping his food on the floor, but he recovers nicely. He sets the plate on the table and pulls out a chair.
“Enjoy your food.” I turn my back to Will and walk out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
He mumbles something with a full mouth. I have no idea what he said nor do I care.
I have to be alone. I need time to process what happened between Ethan and me. Time to process what tonight means for us.
Chapter Thirteen
Ethan
My body aches from the lack of sleep. The gnawing pain that comes back to haunt me sometimes is shooting down my arm and leg. Drawing my stick back, I slap the puck, but my aim is off. It hits the boards behind the net, and before the other team has the chance, Tyler Kane retrieves it. Kane dodges the defenseman attempting to block his shot and taps the puck between his legs to Will.
This time, Will reaches the net. The puck sails past the goaltender’s skate, and the goal horn sounds throughout the arena. I slap the helmets and backs of my teammates, celebrating our first win of the postseason. Less than a minute is left on the game clock. The chances of the Capitals beating us is slim to none, though not entirely out of the question. I had nothing to do with this win. In fact, my shitty playing could’ve cost us. Luckily, it didn’t.
Over five years ago, Alex Parker was traded to the Flyers from the Caps. He exchanges a few words with one of his former teammates, a guy he used to live with back in D.C. before he skates back to the bench with us.
“Nice shot, Romeo,” Parker says to Will, nudging him in the arm with his elbow.
Will grins. “Thanks, man.”
We look up to Kane, Parker, and Donovan more than the other players on the team. They have more experience and time in the league, and because of their close relationship, it’s helped build our young team up to secure our position in the playoffs. And I feel like I’m blowing it for my team.
On our way back to the bench, Will skates alongside me and taps me on the arm with his glove. “Dude, what’s up with you?”
I shrug off his concern. “Nothing.”
“Your head wasn’t in the game,” he counters.
We take our places on the bench and drop or sticks.
I strip off my gloves and then my helmet, wiping the sweat from my brows. “I’m just tired. I haven’t slept much since the apartment flooded.”
After the other night, thoughts of Mia have taken over my mind. No matter how much I try to shake our encounter in her kitchen, I can’t seem to find my focus. I never allow distractions to get in the way of my game. But Mia is a hard woman to forget.
