Page 131 of Cheap Shot

“It’s fine,” Luke said with a sigh as he shook off his hockey gloves, letting them fall to the floor. “I owned rabbits growing up. I know how to handle them.”

They made fine enough pets, but they could be stupid as fuck. If they twisted wrong in their frantic attempts to get away, they could break their own spines.

As the woman handed Elvis over, Luke carefully grabbed his hind legs and pinned his body against his chest. Right against the Harriers’ logo.

They were dressed in gear for this photoshoot and Luke was already sweating his balls off under the hot lights.

“Make it quick,” he told Thad, glaring at the lens pointed at him. “I’m not sure even hockey gear can survive rabbit teeth, if this guy decides to bite.”

Thad laughed. “Roger that.” And the camera started clicking away.

It wouldn’t be the first time Luke had been bitten. As a teenager, he’d startled the fuck out of one of his childhood pets once and ended up with a black and purple mark nearly as big as a puck on his arm. It had been his fault, but he’d still sworn a blue streak and been chirped by his teammates about it looking like a nasty hickey.

This rabbit, Elvis, seemed a little calmer now though.

“You’re alright,” Luke told him gruffly. “I’m not gonna drop you, dude.”

He petted the rabbit’s quivering back and glanced at the camera. “This okay?”

“Looking great,” Thad said. “Just keep it up for a few more minutes. Can you turn your shoulders a little bit to the left and look at the camera? I want to get a better shot of Elvis’s face.” Thad paused. “Well, never thought I’d say that.”

Luke barked out a laugh. “Yeah.”

Dumb name for a rabbit, if you asked him. He should’ve been named Cash. As in, Johnny Cash.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take him home?” the woman asked a few minutes later when Luke passed the rabbit back.

Luke gave her a skeptical look. “I’m a single guy and I travel all the time during the season. I know people shove bunnies in cages outdoors and in garages and shit, but they deserve better than that.”

The woman beamed. “See, you already know exactly what they need.”

“Yeah, people who arehome.”

Rabbits were social as fuck. They did okay on their own if they could bond to their person, but they were fucking needy. Not as bad as a dog, since they could be litter trained. But definitely more work than a cat, if you were doing it right.

“It’s just an idea,” the woman said, her cheerfulness not fading a bit. “And we could put you in contact with some reputable pet sitters, if you change your mind.”

“Not gonna happen,” Luke said with a sigh. “But thanks for the offer.”

“Sure thing. You know where to find us if anything changes!”

“Mmm,” Luke said, dying to strip out of his gear already. “Hope he finds a good home with someone else though.”

“Oh, that’s been very difficult,” she said with a frown. “He’s been returned twice already. They didn’t like his attitude.”

You and me both, bud,Luke thought. “Well, best of luck,” he said aloud, refusing to get goaded into pet ownership by an overeager volunteer.

“Thanks!” she said, still cheerful.

“You’re a bunny whisperer!” Tanner teased as Luke joined the group of guys waiting for their pictures to be taken with various animals. “How did I not know that about you?”

Luke began stripping off his gear. “Ahh, just had some growing up is all. Just gotta use some common sense with rabbits. Guess that’s why they didn’t give him toyouto hold.”

Tanner scowled. “Pretty sure they just thought it was funny to have the biggest, scariest-looking dude holding a fuckingbunny rabbit.”

“Yeah, that explains why you’re getting a big, mean dog. You look like you couldn’t harm a fly.”

“I’m a lover not a fighter,” Tanner said without an ounce of shame.