Page 57 of Slap Shot

“Think it turned out okay.” I gesture around us. “Look at what you’ve built.”

“We. Whatwe’vebuilt, Hud.” Maverick ruffles my hair. “Glad you got all the food cleaned off you.”

“You helped start that mess.” I tap my paperback and look at the group. “I know y’all said last month’s pick was controversial. How did we feel about this one?”

“It was mediocre,” Liam says. “I liked the narrators. I didn’t like the story.”

“How did you not like the story?” Ethan asks. “It’s about a basketball player pretending to date his best friend’s sister. And she says she doesn’t like him. It’sgold.”

“I’m tired of books that claim the main characters don’t like each other. I want to see it. Give me a dagger to the throat,” Liam says, and Grant nods in agreement.

“Pretty sure that could be considered assault,” Riley chimes in.

“Not in dark romance it’s not,” Grant says. “That’s why I like that shit the most.”

“Yeah, because stalkers are more believable than two people not liking each other,” I draw out.

“They could be,” Grant challenges. “And fantasy too. When they’re sword fighting and he’s allI hope you’re prepared to meet your end, and she’s allI’d sooner die than let you win,and then he nicks her cheek and smirks? I live for that shit.”

“Holy shit. Should we bring swords to the arena and fight?” Ethan asks.

“Not happening,” I say. “I don’t trust half of y’all with sticks, let alone a weapon that could slash someone in half.”

“Mitchy?” Maverick asks. “Thoughts on the book?”

Riley clears his throat. “I liked it. I really liked the scene where, ah…” He trails off and grabs his beer, taking a long sip. “The car scene.”

“Thecar scene.” Ethan slaps the table. “That was hot.”

“And illegal,” I say.

“My god, man. Have you ever had any fucking fun in your life? We know you’d never get a woman off while operating a motor vehicle, but you have to admit it was fun to read,” Ethan says.

Ten pairs of eyes look at me.

Yeah,you set yourself up with this one.

I silently berate myself and then sigh, knowing the guys aren’t going to let me off easy.

“Fine. No, I will not be getting anyone off while driving. Yes, it was fun to read. Yes, it was hot,” I admit, and Ethan pumps his arm in the air. “But I’m not saying another word about things I enjoy in the bedroom. That’s all you’re getting.”

“Prude,” Connor calls out, and I flip him off.

“I’m not a prude. I just don’t want y’all knowing what my girl might like. That’s for me and her, not you nosy assholes. Besides. I’ve never had any complaints. One ex even sent me a message a month after she broke up with me because she missed my hands,” I say.

The admission sets them all off. Ethan tackles me. Grant jumps on top of us. Maverick is cackling, and even I can’t help but laugh.

“Huddy Boy is a fuckingdog,” Grant yells.

“I knew he’d be a freak in the bedroom,” Ethan says, and I untangle myself from them.

“I’m not a freak. I just know how to listen,” I say. “Helps a lot.”

“We need to make him watch the ‘Juno’ positions clips and figure out which ones he likes.” Grant drops to the floor and thrusts into the rug. “Have you ever triedthis one, Hud?”

“If that’s how you fuck women, Grant, it’s no wonder you have to use your hand so much,” I tell him. “I don’t know why y’all care about my sex life. I’m not an interesting person.”

“But your hands.” Riley lifts my arm, and I knock him on the head with my book. “What is it about your hands?”

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