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“Will you nerd out and start reeling off players’ stats?” he asks, a teasing lilt to his voice.

“I can’t make any promises,” I say honestly as he finds the Vancouver–Texas game.

Silence falls between us as we watch his old team battle it out. It’s only the second period, and they’re already down by two.

They’ve been struggling recently, and I know for a fact that it’s because of Cooper’s departure. The numbers don’t lie. It constantly leaves me wondering why they traded him.

It’s the question that’s been asked a million times since it was announced, and as far as I can tell, no one is any closer to discovering the reason.

“Do you miss it?” I ask when Vancouver loses possession, and Cooper hisses in disappointment.

“Vancouver?”

“Yeah. The place. The team.”

“I…uh…to begin with, I missed the familiarity. It had been home for a long time. I liked my house. I knew what I was walking into when I arrived at the arena. I had my place, you know?”

“Yeah, I know,” I agree.

“But I don’t think I miss it. I might not have agreed at the time, but I think the trade happened at the right time.”

“Why, though? You were by far the best D-man they had. I mean, look,” I say, gesturing toward the TV. Their offense is strong as hell, but with a weak back line, they’re not going to get anywhere.

When Cooper doesn’t respond straight away, I turn to look at him and find his jaw clenched tight, his eyes no longer on the TV.

Shit.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me. My curiosity gets the better of me sometimes,” I say lightly in the hope of lifting the mood.

Cooper scratches his rough jaw, contemplating something for a moment longer before he turns to me.

“I…uh…The owner’s son and I⁠—”

My eyes widen as realization hits. “Oh, shit.”

He slams his lips closed, no longer needing to say any words and instead nods.

“I don’t hook up with people who know who I am. I certainly don’t do relationships, but—fuck. One drunken night led to another, and before I knew it, we were sneaking around behind his father’s back.”

I fight to keep my reaction neutral and remind myself that nothing serious is happening here. Yeah, sure, he didn’t kick me out after we fucked and he invited me to stay for dinner. That doesn’t mean we’re suddenly dating or anything.

“Isn’t he set to take over from his father in the coming years?”

“That’s his father’s plan,” Cooper agrees roughly.

“But he doesn’t want it?” I predict.

“We were kindred spirits. We understood each other on a level that I don’t get with most people. Before I knew it, we were spending most nights together, and…it was good. We had fun.”

“What happened?”

A laugh spills from his lips, but there’s no amusement in it. Instead, it’s full of bitterness and pain.

My stomach knots.

“We got caught.”

His words pierce the air like a gunshot.