Page 4 of Not the Puck Bunny

“Lay off Cam.” Flynn Weston, the team's center, cast a sidelong glance at Nate. He didn't say much, but when he did, he was usually telling Nate to shut up. As far as I could tell, he was the only one who could keep the defenseman in line. The rest of us gave up trying a long time ago.

“What?” Nate shrugged. “I'm just saying he needs to loosen up a little. Don't tell me I'm wrong. You're both thinking it.” The pretty blonde behind the bar placed a beer in front of him. He winked at her before turning to toast them, and took a sip.

She blushed before wilting slightly under the look I gave her. She hurried to pour my beer before I pointed out I'd ordered mine first.

“She must be new,” Blake remarked. “Most of the women here have become immune to Nate's charms.”

I waited until Nate took another sip and said, “You mean he's slept with the rest of them and they've discovered he's only in it for a few minutes.”

He choked on his beer, coughing until his face was as pink as the woman’s behind the bar.

I smiled behind my glass before taking a much more careful sip.

“I last longer than a few minutes,” he protested.

“You have enough witnesses to that,” Blake teased.

Nate shrugged, completely shameless. “At least I don't pretend I'm in it for the long term. With me, women know exactly what they're getting. One night of bliss that will ruin them for every other man.”

I snorted into my drink.

“If you got your head out of your ass, you could find out what it's like,” Nate said to me.

“My head isn't up my ass, and you're not my type,” I deadpanned.

He took the bait. “I meant you could find bliss with multiple, beautiful women. At the same time if you wanted to.”

I'd had my share of puck bunnies. Like a lot of guys, when I signed with the NHL, I was happy to accept any and every offer that came my way. And they came my way often. So often, they started to blur together, until every encounter became increasingly meaningless. I stopped bothering to ask for names, knowing I wouldn't remember them later.

That lifestyle was fine for Nate, but I was over it. I fucked around less and less these days. Partied less too. Spent more time thinking about life after hockey. That thought was depressing as hell, but we all had to face it sooner or later.

“And deprive them of your company?” I said. “What sort of friend would I be if I did that?”

“The kind who gets laid?” Blake suggested.

I smirked at him. I didn't need him piling on me as well.

“There's nothing wrong with not wanting to fuck anything that lies still for long enough,” Flynn said.

“Exactly.” I nodded.

Needing some space, I stepped away from them and headed to the lounge area at the back of the bar.

Several long couches lined the walls, tables in front of them. Above the couches, hung photos of past and present members of the Sea Dragons. Alongside those were photos of the Sea Cucumbers, Lowball Bay's baseball team, and the Humpbacks, the NFL team. At the end was a collection of photos of the Starfish, the local NBA team.

In the center of the lounge, leather armchairs surrounded low, round tables with tops scuffed by time and stained with rings from drinks left too long. The decor was classic and well loved, rather than tacky and tired.

As usual, the lounge was occupied by the players who weren't single, and their wives and girlfriends. The single players and bunnies tended to avoid the lounge, at least this early in the night.

I slid into an armchair as the band started up with a cover ofWelcome to the Jungle. The drumming would give me a headache, but they could have been worse.

Flynn lowered himself into the seat beside me. “Don't let Nate or Blake get to you. They're still outto live their best fuck boy lives. We were both like that a few years ago.”

I crossed my knees and leaned back. “I was never like Nate.” I was popular enough, but women didn't fall on my cock the way they did his.

Flynn raised an eyebrow at me. “That's not how I remember it.” He held up a hand before I could protest. “I'm not judging you, dude. But something got to you. If you ever want to talk about it?—"

“I don't,” I said bluntly. “It's not important now.”

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