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I’ll let him keep it tonight. “I guess us lowly Mules will have to get used to second place.”

“I’ll tell you what,” he says. “When I retire, I’ll cheer you on as you finally get your chance to win the cup.”

“How gracious of you.” I look over my shoulder and narrow my eyes at him. He’s looking forward and from this angle I have the perfect sightline of his profile. His jaw is prominent and rounded. His nose has a nice slope. His eyes sit above unshaved cheeks. His lips are full and appear soft.

I flinch and look forward again. What an odd thing for me to notice. And yet, I did.

Fuck. This better not be what I think it is. It’s been years since I’ve admired another man’s lips. Years that I’ve spent denying that I ever wanted to know what another man’s lips felt like. Years that I have spent avoiding any opportunity or urge to find out the answer.

No. There’s no way. We’re just friends. And new friends at that. Friends that are better suited to be rivals. Besides, he’s straight. So any thoughts about his lips are ridiculous. They may as well be Danton’s, completely useless and unappealing to me.

“Looks like we’re here,” Ander says.

“Where?” I ask, looking around, and then noticing that he has walked me to my hotel. “Oh. I did not realize the team stayed so close to your apartment.”

“Yeah!” he says. “One of the perks of a smaller market team. It keeps everything a lot more compact.” He looks right at me and seems to pick up on my sudden discomfort. “Unless… you… wanted to keep walking.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I should go. We have busy day tomorrow. Travel and all.”

“Yeah.” He laughs. “Me too. One of the last things Coach said to us before he stormed out of the locker room was that we have a six am bag skate to look forward to.”

“Terrible,” I say. “But effective.”

Ander rubs the back of his neck again. “Nothing brings a team together like mutual suffering.” He drops his hand and takes a deep breath. “Thanks again for this. I… feel better.”

“No problem. I get it.”

“I know you do,” he says, then holds out his arms slightly, silently gauging if this is a hug situation or not. I’m a bit surprised. His family historically hasn’t hesitated in giving them out.

I’m pulled straight to him, but not with any help from him. This time, this hug is completely on me. He feels sturdy in my arms and he smells like locker room soap and whatever linen-fresh laundry detergent he uses on his clothes.

“Don’t be a stranger,” he says into my ear. “Make an appearance in the group chat. People are starting to think you’re a spy.”

“I am a spy,” I say as I pull away and crouch down to give Shutzie a few pets for good measure. I look up at Ander. “Goalie is my cover. Do not tell anyone.”

He crosses his hand over his heart. “I would never.”

EIGHT

Ander

Okay. Tonight’s game against Montreal went much better. It still wasn’t great. Not my usual standard, but better. I mean, we won, so that’s what counts. Even if it was our forward group who saved our asses. Connor scored twice, Tavish also scored twice, and even Gavin potted one off a rebound.

But I also let in three goals in fifteen shots on our end. So yeah. Still not great. But Coach Matthews was only slightly disgruntled with me. I’ll take it.

Sitting on my couch with my feet propped up on the coffee table, I turn to look at Shutzie beside me. I scratch the top of his head. “How was your night?”

He pauses chewing on his rope and looks at me with his mouth pulled into a smile and his tongue hanging out.

“There isn’t a single thought in that head of yours, is there?”

He tilts his head at me, looking at me like I’m crazy.

Maybe I am. I’m talking to a dog.

I rub harshly at my face. “Fuck. I need a girlfriend.”

But since I don’t have one of those, I turn on the TV so Shutzie and I can catch up on the other games played tonight across the NHL. The first thing I check is the Mules. I smile when I see that they won again. It wasn’t another shutout, but Columbus only scored once. As for the Mules, well, my brother’s hot streak has continued and he scored another goal, while Ryan had two assists in the game.