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G: Holy shit. I’m glad you’re going. You deserve to celebrate your awesomeness.

Cooper: You think I’m awesome?

G: Oh, yeah. Did I mention how hot it is watching you slam guys into the boards. Gets me hard as fuck.

Cooper: Is that right?

G: You have no idea.

Cooper: What’s the chance of you still being awake when I get back to my room later?

G: Very, very high

Cooper: I’m gonna need all my stats…

G: I’ll talk dirty to you all night long, baby.

29

COOPER

“You earned this tonight, man,” Rett says, lowering a beer in front of me.

They were already down here with empty glasses in front of them by the time I joined. I want to say it was because I was distracted by Garrett, but that wasn’t the case. The moment I told him I was going out, he was nothing but supportive of me getting to know the guys better.

It was my fault. I was up in my head about it.

Kodie might have invited me, but what if he didn’t really mean it? What if he assumed I’d say no?

It was fucking stupid. I felt pathetic, worrying about it. But I couldn’t help it.

I almost convinced myself to shed the clothes I’d changed into and throw my ass onto the bed to watch the highlights of tonight’s other games, but in the end, I pulled on my big-boy pants and walked out of that door with my head held high.

I was met with shocked looks as I approached the tables the team had taken over down here. But thankfully, not a single one of them looked pissed off by my presence. In fact, they all shifted around, someone grabbed an extra chair, and I was welcomed with open arms.

A couple of months ago, I’d have said it was impossible. But now, as I’m pulled into a conversation about tonight’s game, it’s almost like I’ve always been a part of this.

I look around at all the faces I share the ice with almost daily, and I can’t help but wonder why I was so apprehensive about this move. Sure, it was tough at first. They might have covered it—with varying degrees of success—but I knew no one wanted me here. But as time has gone on, something has shifted.

My eyes snag on Kodie’s at the other end of the table, and his lips twitch as if he wants to smile but refuses to. I know that feeling.

But without the smile, or the presence of any words, something passes between us. An understanding.

A truce.

I’m not naive enough to think we could ever go back to how things used to be. Too much time and pain have passed between us. But maybe, just maybe, we could find a new kind of us.

I give him a non-smile back, and he nods, as if he’s agreeing.

“I need food,” Storm announces, snagging a menu from another table. “I say we eat and then head out. That club Killer took us to last time we were in town is calling my name.”

“Oh shit, that place was off the charts,” Rovvy says. “I hooked up with a cheerleader that night. She was so fucking flexible. Never known anything like it.”

“Safe to say Rovvy is in,” Storm laughs.

“I spent most of it messaging Hailee last time. I barely remember it,” Monroe confesses.

“We know,” Rett states. “Maybe invite her this time.”