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There is a burst of laughter from the other line, and I give him a second to compose himself. “If only you could see the way you act around Troy and Corwin. I’m telling you right now, I’m not the only person who’s ever wondered.”
“He’s not my type.”
“Super attractive. Kind. Plays for the NHL. Not your type?” Sam voiced is laced with mirth. I wish I was sitting on the patio with him, not alone at home.
“If I could rationalize it, don’t you think I would?”
“Listen, you’re in the same boat I was.”I know,I think,that’s why I need your advice.“It sounds like both of us fell for a person, not a gender. Unfortunately, in your case, I don’t think things will be as easy as they were for me. I didn’t exactly have to convince Troy to date me.”
“Smug bastard.” I think through everything he said. “And I didn’tfallfor Nico. We’re just banging.”
“Obsession-level thinking about him,” Sam fires back, and I cringe.
“Okay, so maybe that was a poor choice of words.” Accurate though. Sitting up, I scoot back until my back hits the headboard and cock one leg to the side. “I’m screwed.”
“Nah. Like my better half said: you’ll win him over.”
“I think my track record says otherwise.”
I hear a small commotion in the background and a noise I recognize as their patio door sliding open. Troy’s muffled voicefloats over the line and Sam tells him I’m on the phone. A moment later, his cheerful voice chimes in my ear, sounding not a bit out of breath despite just having returned from a run.
“Hey, Lawson!”
“Hey, Nicky. How was your run?”
“It was great. Only did about eight miles, because they’re doing construction on the route I usually take. I might go finish up in the gym, though.”
“You better,” I say, gravely. “It would be a shame toonlyget the eight in. Lazy of you, really.”
“Yeah, yeah, smartass. You should join me tomorrow morning! Running is allowed, with your shoulder.”
“Put Sam back on the phone,” I demand.
Troy snorts in delighted laughter, but obliges and hands the phone back to Sam. I hear the door slide open and closed once more, and Sam’s voice comes back on the line. “Troy just shoutedlove you, byewhich I assume was meant for you.”
“Eight miles, Sam.For fun.”
“We’re going kayaking today, too. And he probably still won’t be tired by the end of the day,” he replies, sounding so in love it makes my chest hurt a little bit.We can’t all be Troy and Sam. “What time is practice? Do you want to come with us?”
“Thanks, but that’s alright. I’ll probably hang around SCU after camp and see if Nico will let me blow him again.” Sam gives a bark of surprised laughter, and mumbles something too softly for me to hear. “But hey, is it okay if we just keep this between us for now? I don’t care if anyone knows about me, but Nico is…well, he’s pretty private and I don’t think he’d appreciate me talking about him to you guys.”
“No worries. Maybe one day you can bring him around to Corwin’s.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I agree, stomach sinking. There is no way Nico would agree to come to one of our family barbeques. That is firmly in theagainst the ruleszone.
We hang up. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I head into the bathroom and step directly into the shower. Probably I should have gone for a run, or at least done some yoga downstairs. Tipping my face up toward the spray, I begin shampooing my hair.Damn it, still need to get that haircut.
???
Nico acts like nothing has changed between us, so I follow his lead. I’m working one-on-one with Carter Morgan today, and as much as I like the kid and want to give him the benefit of the doubt, I also want to throttle him. I’m going to bring duct tape next time, and tape his damn mouth shut.
“Tony—,” he starts, and I cut him off with a raised hand.
“Shut up,” I say, because I’m a professional. He scowls at me. “Movement drills today. Starting with a middle-out T-push.”
I skate over and position myself in the crease, hugging the left post. Pushing to the top of the crease, I squat down like I’m preparing for a shot before pushing back toward the opposite post from where I started. I do it several times, while Morgan watches in silence.
“You need to focus on rotating your hips and leading into the push with your blocker and glove.”
