Page 113 of Cheap Shot

“I still can’t believe you didn’t watch the North Atlantic Tournament,” Tanner complained as they left the ice after practice. He’d been hammering Luke about that since he got back and wouldn’t shut up about it.

“I fucking did. I just … wasn’t that focused on part of a couple of games,” Luke groused, his already warm body going even hotter as he thought about the sounds Sebastian had made while they’d screwed around on the couch.

The way he looked when he came.

Luke fucking loved hockey but c’mon, surely Tanner would understand why he’d been distracted. Of course, Luke hadn’t exactly told Tannerwhathad distracted him …

Tanner scowled. “I got the game-winning goal in the semi-finals, dude! I am the entire fuckingreasonTeam USA evenmadeit to the finals.”

“Fuck you too, dude,” Graham said with a laugh, punching Tanner’s upper arm as he walked past them. “Way to ignore my contributions.”

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Tanner called after him. “You did great, S’mores.”

Luke rolled his eyes at the stupid nicknames Tanner had for everyone.

“And I didn’thaveto watch every second of every game to see that you were wildly out of position half the damn time,” he pointed out. “You’rebetterthan that.”

Tanner squinted. “You never say nice things to me. Were you kidnapped by aliens? Are you dying? This isn’t normal.”

Luke scowled back at him. “I just told you that you played like shit. How is that being nice?”

“Yeah, but you also said that I’m better than that.”

“Well, youcouldbe if you were fucking paying attention to your gap control and positioning,” Luke argued.

Tanner ignored that. “So if you didn’t watch the games, whatdidyou do over break?”

“I fucking told you I watched them. Mostly I rehabbed though,” Luke said. “Did charity shit.”

He’d been a little worried that the work at Brie and Harper’s place had messed his hamstring up further, but he’d been cleared for a little light skating today. No contact, of course, but at least he’d been able to use his legs. It had feltgreatto get out there again.

“That’s it?” Tanner looked disappointed. “Rehab and charity? Boring.””

“I did some work on my house,” he offered.

“So youdolive in a house!”

“No, I live with your m?—”

“If you say my mom I will murder you!” Tanner shouted and threw himself at Luke.

He hadn’t been prepared for it and he bumped into the wall. He had on all his gear still, so it didn’t hurt but he still shoved Tanner back. He went flying and hit the other wall with a thud.

“Clayton, what part of non-contact don’t you understand?” Coach Hoyt yelled from behind them. “Crawford’s not cleared yet.”

“We’re not on the ice, coach!” Tanner called back but he hadn’t stopped grinning.

“I don’tcarewhere we are! If you put Crawford out of commission again, I will get you sent down to Concord!”

Luke chuckled under his breath.

Those were probably idle threats. Tanner was playing too well to send him down to their AHL affiliate team and the last thing the Harriers needed was to have LukeandTanner out at the same time.

But Tanner still looked mildly horrified. “I’ll be good! I swear.”

“Believe it when I see it,” Hoyt shouted back.

Luke hid a grin. Privately, he had to agree.