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After the game and some post-game cooldown, I shower in the locker room—like a normal person—and wrap a towel around my waist. Walking past the mirror, I catch sight of the artwork Sutter left on my everywhere. Bruises from our last game. Hickeys down my neck. I’m a real fucking masterpiece.
There’s a message waiting for me on my phone.
Top Dog
I’m hit with a blast of warm tingles. I just got a heart from my boyfriend. Life is good.
Me
Did you see me owning your barbarian friend on the ice? Honestly, as your boyfriend, I declare that you need new friends.
Top Dog
You didn’t own Elkington, kitten. You’re good, but you’re half his size. You didn’t even get his helmet off.
Me
Oh, yeah? Then why did I get so many penalties? Explain that one, fuckface.
We bicker back and forth while I get dressed. Our conversation devolves into kinky sex talk and I’m rushing so that I can get out of here and to the hotel, where Sutter will get me to do things with a dildo over video that should be illegal.
I freeze. There’s … sniffling? Peering around, the dressing room is pretty empty. Just a few of the equipment crew members moving around. The fans drying the gear in the next room are running, emitting a loud enough whirring that it’s possible I didn’t hear what I think I heard.
Nope, there it is again.
Fully dressed, I wade to the back of the room and find my brother, still in his towel behind a bunch of shit. His eyes are red, tear tracks still moistening his face. “Bro?”
“Oh, Case. Sorry.” He wipes at his face quickly as if he can stop me seeing what I already saw. But he’s too heartbroken to put on a brave face. His lower lip trembles and then he clings to my waist.
I hug his head to my torso. “Whatever it is, it’s gonna be okay.”
“No, it’s not. It’s never gonna be okay again. Syd proposed to Dash. Dash said yes.”
Fuck. Yeah, that’s pretty bad.
“I messed it up. You were right. I should have listened to you. This hurts so damn bad.” He clutches his chest where his aching heart lives.
“Look, divorce rates are crazy high. They won’t last. You can be Dash’s second husband. Second husbands have a much higher success rate.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t want that for him. He’s so happy. I just want him to be happy.”
Right. Non-toxic ships. Unlike me and Sutter. I want Sutter to be happy with me or nobody. I would bet good money he feels the same.
“Listen, there’s still plenty of time for Syd to have a terrible accident. Nothing’s over till it’s over.” I’m only making jokes now, and he knows it. I’d never actually wish someone dead. Unless they touch my new boyfriend. Huh. I might be as possessive as Sutter. Who knew?
That one pulls a smile from him. “Thanks.”
“C’mon, get dressed. Tonight calls for shots—lots and lots of shots.” Video sex with Sutter’s gonna have to wait.
Chapter 29
Rules? What Rules?
Sutter
We work our way through Toronto, Florida, and New York during the first few rounds of the playoffs, weeding them out. Sorry, not sorry, Jack and Rhett. All’s fair in love and hockey. But now love’s mixing with hockey because Milton’s worst nightmare has come to life—it’ll be a Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup final. If we sweep Vancouver, it’ll be four games, but if history repeats itself, this series will get dragged out the full seven games.
And, no, Alderchuck and I haven’t followed the rules at all. The images from our PR teams are trying to tell the story about our family-friendly rivalry, a few real images have found their way online, telling a much different story.
