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Baxter’s shaking his head. “Yeah, but that’s the one I’d be worried about, wouldn’t you?”
Rux cuts me a sympathetic look and ruffles my hair. “No one’s worried about your dick rotting off.” He pauses, mid-ruffle. “It’s not, right?”
“My dick isfine.” It’s fucking clean as a whistle. Pristine. Immaculate… barring some possible chaffing courtesy of a particularly vivid dream about my favorite little hothead this morning.
We were on a beach, the wind blowing her hair around her face. And she was—
“See?” Rux says to Baxter and the six other guys who are now standing around to watch the show. Then back to me. “So what’s with the sudden bunny-free O’Brian? You got a girl?”
One comes to mind, but she’s not my girl. No matter how bad I might want her to be. “No.”
Popov juts his chin at me, crooked smile spreading. “You got a guy?”
I’m about to say no to that too, but then Rux throws his head back and groans before turning on him. “Poppy, enough. Even if O’Brian did swing that way, the answer’s no.” He turns back to me, brow raised. “You into guys? Because Poppy’s brother is a world-class douche, but I got a friend—”
Jesus. “Thanks for the offer, but no. And what are you going on about my dick for?”
This time it’s Vassar chiming in. “Word’s out that you haven’t hooked up with a bunny in months and they’re trying to figure out if it’s because you picked up an STD or started seeing someone.”
Rux clamps a hand on my shoulder. “Your captain cares about your shit, man. We all do.” His smile goes flat, and I’m pretty sure this is what it feels like to be lined up across from Rux for a puck drop because the look he’s giving me says he’s not messing around. “So what’s the deal?”
Vassar shoves off the bench, heading toward the showers. “He’s hung up on Natalie’s friend.”
I gape at his retreating form. And to think how long I kepthisfucking secret.
The hand on my shoulder turns into a vise. “He talking about Cammy?”
Now I’ve got both Baxter and Rux staring me down like they’re about to take me apart. Cammy is Baxter’s sister-in-law so it makes sense, but Rux?
Whoa. “No, man.” The vise loosens.
“George Bowen?” Rux asks with less intensity.
Poppy lights up. “George? Youdolike guys. My brother is not douche—”
“Save it, man. George is a chick.” Rux looks back to Baxter. “What’s it short for?”
And this I’m interested in.
“Shit, Nat told me once. It’s like, Georgia or something. But seriously, I’ve known her since they were freshmen together, and I’ve never heard anyone call her anything but George. Something about her brothers—”
He breaks off. Then, rubbing a hand over his mouth, checks in with Rux. Who wags his head and shrugs.
Christ, these two have got that whole psychic connection thing on and off the ice.
“You know she’s got like four brothers, right?” Greg asks, a glint in his eyes.
I didn’t, but I can see it. “Okay. You saying they’re going to have a beef with me?”
“Them? No way. But I was just thinking, of all of Nat’s friends who score surrogate little sister status with the team, you picked the one I’m least worried about. George can take care of herself. Those brothers of hers are meatheads, but one look from her and they’re grabbing their junk and running for their lives. So…” He shrugs and grins. “Knock yourself out, man.”
* * *
George
“Yo,George, inventory says we’ve got more twenty-six-inch tubing, but I can’t find it downstairs.”
I look at my youngest brother, Gary, and wonder, not for the first time, how he could literally have grown up in this shop, worked here since he was twelve, and still have no idea where half our inventory is or how to handle anything but the most basic bicycle repair.
