Page 76 of Crease Collision

Is that too much?

KAI: If you want to, that is.

A reply comes right away.

OSKAR: Tack! This means a lot. I’m in my room thinking about you.

Thank God. Maybe it wasn’t too much.

OSKAR: Of course I want to celebrate like that. Haven’t thought about much else today.

I laugh, imagining him thinking about fucking in the middle of the game. That never works, but I guess it did for him.

KAI: You must’ve taken a break during the game. Sex and shutouts don’t go together.

OSKAR: Only thought about it during intermissions.

KAI: Good boy.

OSKAR: That’s what I am supposed to say to you.

A sudden rush of heat has me sweaty in a few seconds.

KAI: Like this morning?

OSKAR: Fur shure. We both play tomorrow night. Could we video after?

KAI: Don’t say fur shure. And I’m totally up for video after the game. I’ll come right back to the hotel, so text when you’re ready.

OSKAR: Fur shure. Natti natti, hjärtat.

Him and his damn Swedish. It makes me feel so… excited.

Dictionary app. No luck.

Search engine. Good night, my heart.

Fuck. My hands shake while I text back.

KAI: Natti natti, hjärtat.

I hope that’s not… too much.

Road trips usually help me disappear into hockey. Why does today only make me feel farther from him?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

OSKAR

The bus doors open with a hiss, and the heat hits hard. Eighty-four in St. Louis in October can’t be normal.

Sweat drips down the back of my neck as I fall in line behind my teammates shuffling into the arena’s loading dock. Two wins on this trip already. Our loss to Nashville stings, but our mood is good.

Inside the locker room, the equipment manager points toward my stall. My damp shirt is clinging to my back, so I get undressed and step into the shower for a blast of cold water.

Two minutes later, focus restored, I head back to check my gear. The equipment guys have unpacked everything and laid it out beside my stall. Carefully, I run my hands over each piece, checking straps, Velcro, stitching, buckles, and the tightness of the skate rivets.

While I’m working, Carson comes over. “The equipment inspection, huh? You goalies are all perfectionists. Must be exhausting.”