Pucking Strong: An MM Workplace Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Book 4)

“Okay, what exactly did he say?” Colin takes the beer and two jumbo soft pretzels I offer him. All around us, rowdy hockey fans crowd in, laughing and chatting. It’s the first home game for the Rays since their stretch of aways.

And since Henrik and I danced on the beach.

I thank the concession stand attendant, slipping our bottles of water and the bag of cotton candy into the backpack hooked on Karolina’s wheelchair. Giving her a push, we weave through the crowd, heading for the VIP section. We’re here early enough to catch the tail end of warm-up.

Colin walks at my side, resolutely being an asshole by wearing a Jags jersey to an NHL game. Why did I even invite him? He takes a bite of one of the soft pretzels, talking as he chews. “Did he give any indication of how slow he wants to take things?”

“None. We danced on the beach and drove home holding hands. When we got home, Karolina was in hysterics because her rainbow unicorn stuffie lost an eye, and Hanna couldn’t find a sewing kit to put it back on. I had to run out and get one. By the time we got that sorted, Hen was exhausted and stressed, saying he had to go to bed because of his travel schedule. That was four days ago.”

“But you told him you loved him?”

I groan. “Col, I spilled my freaking guts. I told him everything. It was so embarrassing.”

“And you’ve said nothing to each other since?”

“No. I mean, we’ve talked every day. But it’s just been about Karro and, like, ‘Hey, good game,’ and stuff like that. He got home yesterday, but I was at a fundraising thing. It’s all just been a little crazy.”

“Unbelievable.” Juggling his beer and pretzels, he tries to show the attendant his lanyard pass.

“I got you,” she says, scanning the pass.

Once she scans mine and Karro’s, I wheel Karro up to the elevator. “Press the button, sweets. We’re going down.”

Shifting her pile of new Rays merch to the side, Karro reaches out with her casted arm and presses the Down button. When the elevator arrives, we wait for it to clear before stepping in. I wheel Karro in backwards. Colin stands at my side with a stupid smirk on his face.

“What?”

He just shakes his head. “You are so down bad. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.”

“How is that helping?” I try to keep my voice down as the elevator starts to move.

“Just talk to him, bro. Next time you see him, tell him, ‘Henrik, my one true love, I wanna know you in the biblical way.’”

“Did you forget the part where I said slow? We’re talking glacier pace here. And he might not even want that from me. Like, ever. Never.”

Colin turns to me, a look of horror on his face. “And you’re cool with that?”

“I don’t know! This is completely uncharted territory for me, Col. I only ever do relationships where the banana bread comes first.”

He swallows a sip of beer. “Banana bread?”

I gesture down at Karro with a dramatic nod of my head.

He snorts. “Ahhh … good old banana bread. I love banana bread. I know you love banana bread—”

“Don’t.”

“Wait. Does Karlsson not like banana bread? Or is he more of a sourdough bread eater?”

I grimace. “Can we change the kind of bread, please?”

He just laughs, leading the way out of the elevator. “What stupid metaphor would you prefer? Rye bread? A good slice of pumpernickel? Man, if Tracy was a bread, I think she’d be a nice, crispy French loaf.”

I just shake my head. “Why did I think I could talk to you about this? Why did I even bother? I have only myself to blame.”

He laughs again. “You’re talking to me because I’m older than you, I’m wiser than you, and I have more success in relationships than you do. I’m basically Yoda.”

“My god, does that make me Luke Skywalker?”

Before he can respond, Karro perks up in her wheelchair. She’s decked out in a Karlsson jersey, glitter on her cheeks, and pigtails I’ve fixed with silver and teal streamers. “Morbror loves banana bread.”

Colin and I both stiffen, eyes wide.

Fuck, I have got to remember that this girl understands English! And the longer she hangs out with my dumb ass, the better she gets.

“That’s great, sweets,” I say, patting her shoulder. “We should make some this weekend. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“Yeah!”

Colin just shakes his head at me.

“Shut up,” I hiss, pushing Karro forward.

“You’re going to hell,” he mouths.

“You can leave now.”

He just follows at my side, a new spring in his step. “Delusional Rejects, table for one.”

“I’m unfriending you, effective immediately.”

“Hey, when I meet your man later, should I refer to you as my Padawan or my hopeless case?”noveldrama

“I’m gonna murder you in a lake.”

“We’ve got a looooong way to go if you’re gonna keep that attitude.”