Page 3 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

“Oh, wow, that would be great.” Her gaze lands on me. “Oh hey, you’re Easton Millar! The new guy.”

I grin. “Yep.” Even though I joined the team last season, I’m still “the new guy.”

“My girlfriends are all crazy about you!” she says breathlessly, then gives a self-conscious laugh.

I catch Cookie’s gagging mime behind the girl’s back.

“I’ll take the picture,” the bartender offers.

She hands her phone over and we all arrange ourselves behind her, since she’s about a foot shorter than us. After a few clicks, the bartender returns her phone.

She peers down at it. “Oh, thank you! These are great! My friends will be so jealous!”

We’re all used to this. Again, the fans are the reason we play. I used to get annoyed and impatient, especially when people asked me stupid questions about my past, which I do not want to talk about. But I’m doing better now, and most people have forgotten or don’t even know about what happened to me.

“Okay, I’ve got a question,” JBo announces once we’re done with the photo shoot.

“What?”

“Have you guys ever used a condom for oral?”

I blink. “Not what I was expecting. I, uh, have not.”

The others are all in agreement.

“Why?” Wendy asks. “You got an infection? Cold sore?”

“No!” JBo frowns. “I was just curious. Okay, this chick I was with last weekend asked me to. I’d never done it before.”

“Well, apparently youcanget STIs from oral sex,” I say. “So it’s probably a good idea.”

“Then why don’t we do it?” Jammer asks wryly.

“Because we’re idiots?” I shrug.

“Yeah. Could be.”

“It’s kind of a mood killer, no?” Wendy says.

“I had to cut up a condom and use it like a dental dam,” JBo informs us. “I mean, it was good that I had the right kind. Ones with lube might be kind of nasty tasting.”

“Lots of flavors out there,” I point out.

“Okay, do you use one when women go down onyou?” Jammer asks.

Again, we all answer in the negative.

“Risky,” he says, shaking his head.

“True. Something to think about.”

“Women are way more concerned about it,” JBo says. “They always want you to use a condom.”

“Obviously,” I say. “The consequences of getting pregnant are way worse for them.”

“I know, I know. And I do use one.”

“Same. Don’t be a fool, wrap your tool.”

---