Page 10 of Rookie Moves

Heading into the players’ lounge, I grab a protein shake and a banana muffin before taking a seat on one of the leather couches.

This facility is the epitome of luxury. There’s an air hockey table and leather couches in front of a large flat-screen TV. We have an in-house chef who preps our pre- and post-game meals and also keeps the fridge and cupboards stocked with everything we could want. There’s a red-light therapy room, saunas, and hyperbaric chambers to aid with our conditioning and recovery. Plus, we have access to top athletic trainers to tend to our every need and an equipment room that makes me drool every time I step foot inside it.

I know this is nothing compared to what it will be like in the NHL, but I feel pretty damn spoilt already.

Once I finish my shake, I rinse out my bottle and shove the last of my muffin into my mouth, then make my way down the hall to the training room. I climb onto my favorite stationary bike, pop my headphones in, and begin a slow pedal to warm up.

I don’t know how much time has passed when I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Tyler appears in the doorway, his signature backward ballcap in place and a cautious expression on his face.

“Hey,” he says with a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m good,” I reply and take out my headphones as I slowly bring my bike to a stop. “How about you?”

He shrugs and steps further into the room. “I’m fine. I just wanted to check in with you after last night. Listen, I…” His words trail off, gaze darting to the floor. He shifts on his feet, then pulls his hat off, running a hand through his hair before putting it back on.

My spine stiffens at the unusual energy pouring off him.

Wait, is he… nervous or something?

“I don’t know what it is, but I was all kinds of messed up after what you said. I’m sorry if me making you come last night made you uncomfortable.”

The choice of his words has my cheeks heating involuntarily. I know he doesn’t mean them in the way they sounded, but my mind can’t help but go down that road.

Like him making me come in other ways.

With his hand, or maybe his mouth.

His dick.

Fuck, stop it.

“You didn’t,” I choke out. “Make me uncomfortable, I mean.”

He sags in relief, that easygoing smile I like so much reappearing on his face.

“Good, I’m glad. But also, I don’t want you to think you have to deal with shit alone, Colbs. I know you’ve probably got other people to fall back on, but I wanted you to know that you have me too. For anything at all.”

I give him what I hope is a grateful smile, and then Stassie’s idea comes rushing back to the forefront of my mind.

Would it be such a crazy idea to ask him?

He’s safe. He wouldn’t hurt me. I can tell from the look in his eyes that he’s genuine. Not that I had any doubts before.

Plus, he hasn’t got a career in hockey ahead of him after he graduates, so the chances of us crossing paths again after this summer are slim. And I trust that he would keep this between us.

But could I go through with it and not come out burnt on the other side?

Could I have a fling with someone I have a crush on and keep my feelings from growing into something more?

You’re running out of time, boo.

It’s the sound of Stassie’s warning from last night popping into my head that has me blurting, “Actually, there’s maybe something you could help me with.”

His brows lift slightly, eyes lighting up his whole face. “Yeah?”

Climbing off the bike, I wipe my damp palms down the side of my athletic shorts. I take a step closer to him, swallowing the lump of nerves that’s formed in my throat and say, “I want to get a hat trick this year.”

He laughs, and the lightness of it has me relaxing slightly.