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They never talked much about his hookups. Mostly because they weren’t anything great, but also because he wasn’t sure how much she wanted to know. He supposed there was no reason to lie. “Fucking amazing.”

“Oh, really? I want to hear more.” She took her wine glass to the fridge and poured a fresh glass. “Bring a drink over to the couch so we can gossip.”

“Lauren—”

“Bennett James Verreault. Do not fight me. You’ve literally never had a man in your life. Now you have one circling you and I want to know more. So, you will indulge me with tiny, minor details about him. It’s what friends do when they like a boy.”

He dragged a palm down his face. Lauren was painfully stubborn when she wanted to be, which was often when it came to him. “Jesus. I don’t like him and he’s not in my life.”

“Grab a drink, babe. It’s happening—or I will tell the WAGs that you want to approve the designs for the playoff jackets this year. Your phone will literally blow up twenty-four-seven.”

Everyone with social media knew the WAG playoff jackets were a big fucking deal. Bennett didn’t want anything to do with that circus. “Fuck. Okay.”

He grabbed a can of sparkling water from the fridge. As he popped open the top, he picked up his phone and read the latest messages.

NM: Nothing to say?

NM: Dai, Bennett

NM: You know you are sexy

NM: This cannot be a surprise

NM: I KNOW I am sexy

NM: There is no need for you to say this

NM: Though you can if you want

A smile tugged at the corners of Bennett’s mouth. For a closeted mafia boss, Nico was very flirtatious. And needy.

And all of this was wildly out of Bennett’s comfort zone.

“See?” Lauren called from across the room. “That smile right there is what I’m talking about. Get over here and spill.”

Eventually, Lauren went to bed. Bennett always had a room in the penthouse ready for her, decorated with soft pillows and muted colors, as well as a bathroom stocked with all her favorite products. She was here so often and he wanted her to feel comfortable.

Around midnight, Bennett was lying in his own bed, holding his phone and reading the thread with Nico. He debated responding. He could just leave it alone, ignore Nico from now on. He could block Nico’s number. That might prompt another visit, but Bennett could find a way to avoid him. Probably.

You can do something that’s just for you.

He did—he played hockey. That was for him . . . and also for the team, the fans, and the league. And Bennett felt incredibly fortunate to be the captain of one of the most storied, legendary franchises. He loved hockey, always had.

Yet he knew hockey wouldn’t love him back if his sexuality ever became public. They would close ranks, preserve the status quo, with him on the outside.

But Nico had the same secret. So maybe the risk wasn’t as risky. Like Lauren said, maybe it was safer, with less chance of being outed. A short, no-strings thing where no one took it too seriously. And each time with Nico had been fucking hot. God knew that Bennett would really like to do all of it again.

Inhaling deeply to completely fill his lungs, he wrote, Why are you bothering me? Shouldn’t you be out terrorizing the city?

After reading the words, he closed his eyes, feeling ridiculous. This was stupid. He’d let Lauren get in his head tonight, making him wonder what might happen if he took her advice. Now he’d texted Nico and the words were there, on his phone. Lonely, because Nico hadn’t responded. Granted, it had only been seconds, but each second gave Bennett more time to think⁠—

A buzz.

NM: The city can wait

NM: I would much rather terrorize you at the moment

Relief flooded his body and Bennett bit his lip. Okay, this he could do. Probably. He’d talked to guys on the hookup app before. This wasn’t any different.