Page 51 of Not the Puck Bunny

“Yes, she is,” I said, agreeing with both points. “She's genuine. Real.”

“Is she the jealous kind, and does she know about the carrot?” Blake grinned.

“You're an idiot,” I told him. “If you're so into carrots, I'll give you their phone number. Or better yet, buy you a packet of them when we land.”

“No offense, but I prefer brunettes,” hesaid. “Hey, maybe that's what's wrong with Zack.” He spoke loud enough to be heard a few rows ahead of us.

“He needs a carrot?” I asked.

“I was going to say he has one up his ass, but that works too,” Blake said.

“Fuck off,” Zack called back. “I don't screw vegetables. Stop projecting, Eastwood.”

Blake grinned. “I don't know, it feels like I touched a nerve.”

“You're getting on my last nerve,” Zack said.

“Settle down,” Coach Lambton called out.

The flight attendants secured the cabin and the plane engine roared to life. Moments later, we were taxiing down the runway and heading up into the sky.

“Is she traveling with us, or does she have a private jet?” Blake asked.

“She has work to do.” I'd hoped she could accompany us, but from her text messages, she just started digging through everything she needed to know about the team.

Besides, this thing between us was still new. We had to figure out whether we could work together and date, and not let those two things interfere with each other. What would happen if we couldn't keepthem separate? I wasn't giving her up, and I wasn't ready to retire yet.

“I guess you brought a spare carrot then?” Blake ducked away when I went to sock him on the arm.

“I don't need a carrot, much less a spare one,” I said. “I'm not cheating on her with a carrot. Or anything else for that matter.”

“Not even a strawberry?” He pretended to look serious. It lasted all of several seconds.

I shook my head. “I don't even know how anyone would sleep with a strawberry.”

This wasn't even the strangest conversation I'd ever had with one of my teammates. Just the strangest one today.

“Seems like you've given the matter a lot of thought.” He grinned.

“It seems like you've given it much more thought than anyone else,” I retorted. “Look, I'm not going to judge you for your preference.”

He grinned wider. “Yes you are.”

“Okay, if you wanted to get intimate with fruit, I would totally judge you. Better you put your dick in a salad bowl than my sister.”

I trusted her judgment, but I knew what my teammates were like. Guys like Nate, and Blake, they weren't the kind to stick around. I didn't want tohave to pick up the pieces after they broke her heart. Or after she broke their nose for being assholes to her.

I really, really didn't want to have to break their noses on her behalf. That shit was not good for team morale.

“She is cute,” Blake said thoughtfully.

I narrowed my eyes at him and growled, “Don't go there. That goes for all the guys on the team. If any of you mess with her, they'll regret it.”

His response was to flash me a smile and tap the screen in front of him to turn on a different movie.

I gave him a last glance before pushing my earbuds into my ears and settling back to enjoy the flight.

Cam

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