Page 46 of Pucks, Lies, and Sticktape

Salas, completely unbothered, grinned. “And I mean that with all the love—one straight dude to another.”

The tension shattered as Jett’s voice piped up from the back of the plane. “Ilovethe fact that our very own Brawny man had to clarify that he’s straight – especially with his wife and kid beside him.”

Laughter rippled through the team as Salas, unamused and unwilling to waste energy on words, merely lifted a middle finger without even turning his head.

"Love you too, bro," Jett called out with a chuckle. "In a straight way, of course."

“Y’all are ridiculous,” Ashley, the hockey team captain’s wife, muttered, standing up to head toward the restroom.

The moment she disappeared, Jett leaned forward, conspiratorial mischief lighting up his face. “Dude, Savage, if you cannot see the writing on the wall… go get her, bro!”

Savage blinked in confusion, and Matthieu almost laughed. They might be hockey players, but they were men at their core— except goody-two-shoes-Savage. The man was like a boy scout, always following the rules, behaving, doing whatever the coach said, and the golden boy of their group. For a man named Savage, you’d think he would have some rough exterior, some tattoos, piercings, or something – and the confusion on his face cemented his opinion of the man.

“What are you talking about?” Savage asked curiously.

“Mile high club?Hellooo?Your hot wife just went to the bathroom on a private plane, wearing a skirt.”

“It’s not private—you’re here,” Savage deadpanned, frowning.

“Oh my gosh, are youdense? If Karen was here and she took off for the bathroom, you’d hear me moaning from the cockpit.”

“Thank God for small miracles,” Salas added cheerfully, flipping Jett off again.

“You really think so?” Savage asked, a thread of raw hope in his voice that made a few heads turn in shock.

Matthieu’s nerves briefly faded as he looked at the guy. Something was wrong between Golden Boy and his wife?

“Are things not okay at home, bro?” Salas asked, this time quieter, careful.

Savage hesitated, rubbing a hand over his face. “It’s… complicated.”

Jett was having none of it. He jerked his thumb toward the bathroom like it was the gateway to salvation. “Well, now’s your chance to gowork it out.Seriously, dude. You are missing out on the chance of a lifetime – and she’s hot.”

Savage swallowed, his fingers tugging at his collar like it was suffocating him. “But… she’s not like that. She’s a lady and?—”

“All women want to know they are wanted, loved, or desired. You should absolutely go,” Jeannie volunteered suddenly.

Matthieu froze.

The guys whistled low, the atmosphere instantly shifting.

He turned to look at her, his brain short-circuiting at what she’d just implied.HisJeannie. Prim, soft-spoken, glasses perched on her delicate nose, the absolute picture of sweetness and innocence. And yet… she had just casually thrown that out there?

Matthieu swallowed.Oh, helloooo…

His mind raced with the possibilities, with what that meant—whatshemeant. His blood ran hot, his heart hammering as he tried to process the revelation.Did she want to join the Mile High club? Did she want him like that?If Jeannie was willing to say something like that out loud, in front of everyone, thenmaybe?—

A hand clapped his shoulder, dragging him back to reality.

“Congrats, brother,” Salas said, offering him a knowing thumbs-up.

Matthieu let out a slow breath, a smirk creeping onto his lips. “Don’t I know it,” he murmured.

Because turbulence, nerves, and wedding logistics aside—at the end of this trip, no matter what happened, he’d be married toher— the woman he loved more than life itself. This incredible, amazing, surprising woman who seemed to reveal a new facet to her every time he turned around.

He glanced at his watch and frowned.

If Savage bailed on his wife – he was suddenly going to ‘need the bathroom’ and would show his bride-to-be just how freakin’ much he loved her… because it was true.

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