Page 5 of Not the Puck Bunny

He gave me a skeptical look.

“It really isn't,” I insisted. “I just decided that lifestyle wasn't for me. Can a guy not change without being questioned?”

“Yes,” he said slowly. “If you weren't a friend and teammate. You're the best winger the Sea Dragons have. If you're having trouble with anything, I wouldn't be much of a captain if I didn't ask.”

“I'm not having trouble with anything.” My tone was stonier than I intended. “Give it a rest, okay?” I downed the last of my beer and stalked off to the bar for a refill.

I half expected Flynn to follow, but he didn't. He meant well, but I genuinely had nothing to say. Nothing that wouldn't have him judging me. Rightnow I was doing plenty of that to myself, I didn't need him doing it too.

In the corner of my eye, I caught a curvy redhead, whose curls bounced around her face as she walked. She wore a sage green sweater, made out of mohair or something expensive-looking. Her blue jeans accentuated her curves.

“See, this is perfect.” She was with a brunette in a bright pink sweater and black leggings.

The redhead pressed her pink lips together, flattening out her Cupid's bow for a moment before she reluctantly smiled. One of her bottom teeth was slightly crooked, the rest were white and even.

“I never would have figured you for the sports bar type, Pia,” the redhead said. Judging by the resemblance, I guessed they were sisters.

“Anywhere there's alcohol and hot guys is perfect for my big sister,” Pia replied, confirming my guess. “Come on, have a few drinks and lighten up. And while you're at it, take a look around. We seem to have stumbled into hot guy central.”

I curled my lip and looked away.

‘Stumbled on,’ my ass. I knew a pair of puck bunnies when I saw them. It was only a matter of time before Nate spotted them and took at least oneof them home, possibly both. He'd love a threesome with two cute sisters.

If I missed my guess, the redhead might need some persuasion from Pia, but that was one thousand percentnotmy problem.

I sipped my beer, my attention half on the replay of tonight's game that was playing on the screen behind the bar.

I'd never get used to seeing myself skate like that. Ever since I was a kid, the only dream I had was to play for the NHL. I used to play pond hockey with my brother Griffin and sister Alice. To them, it was fun. To me, it was completely serious.

I could barely tie the knot on my skates, but I was training for my future.

My teachers used to tell me to focus on a more realistic goal, but the only goals I saw were biscuits sliding into baskets. Nothing else held my interest.

Seeing that dream come to life a decade ago, still didn't seem real to me. I was living little Cameron Michael North's wildest fantasies. There were still mornings where I rolled out of bed for morning skate and pinched myself. The long hard days, and nights were worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears.

The whole bar seemed to stop and watch as I made the assist that led to Flynn scoring the goalwhich won us the game. The place erupted in cheers, but I kept my eyes on the screen until the ad break.

I placed my empty glass on the bar and headed to the restroom.

As I stepped back out into the cacophony of sound, and the smell of stale alcohol, I bumped into someone heading the other way.

It took me a second to process that moment of heat and soft impact was the curvy redhead. I shuffled back, out of her space, as far as the narrow corridor would allow. It wasn't far. Even pressed against the wall, there was barely enough room for two people.

“Shit, sorry.” She looked flustered, her curls falling over her blue eyes. She pushed them back and blinked at me a couple of times. Her lashes matched her dark red hair. Did they match the hair at the apex of her thighs?

What the hell?I asked myself.

I managed to keep my eyes on her face and not dip down lower.

“Are you okay?” She peered at me, looking concerned.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” I said, realizing I was staring.

Very smooth, Cam. My inner voice snortedat me.

I told it to fuck off. “You good?”

“I'm fine,” she said. “I should have been looking where I was going.”

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