Page 119 of Body Check

TWENTY-SEVEN

Gavin awoke to find the bed beside him empty.

He squinted, patting the cool sheets as if he’d somehow find Dakota there if he looked hard enough. But there was only smooth, polished cotton under his palm, and he frowned, wondering where Dakota had gone off to.

The door to the en suite bathroom was open and the lights were out, so clearly, he hadn’t gotten up to relieve his bladder. A glance at the clock told Gavin it was an hour before their alarms were supposed to go off. Maybe he hadn’t been sleeping well and had gotten up early?

It would be very like Dakota to not want to wake him.

Gavin threw back the covers, padding softly across the bedroom, wondering if he’d find him in the living room, reading or quietly watching TV or something. But when he swung open his door, there was a light glowing around the half-open door to the home gym.

He frowned, stepping forward and peering inside.

Dakota was dressed in his usual soft, casual, organic looking activewear and nodding at someone on a laptop screen. He had earbuds in, so Gavin couldn’t hear what the guy on the other end was saying.

A moment later, Dakota spoke. “So, you’re doing great, Kevin! It’s clear you’re really making progress with your reps. Do you feel like you’ve plateaued?”

He fell silent for a few moments before he nodded. “Sure, definitely. I think if you add another ten pounds of resistance but keep the same number of reps and sets that it’ll be that next level of challenge you’re looking for. How does that sound?”

Gavin backed out of the door silently, not wanting to interrupt.

It looked like Dakota was offering fitness advice. It was fine, just sort of … surprising. Gavin hadn’t known Dakota was doing it. And why had he kept it a secret?

Gavin made a detour to the bathroom to use the toilet and brush his teeth before he settled in bed. Rather than try to sleep, he reached for his phone. At this point, there was no way he’d be able to drift off again.

Between wondering exactly what was going on with Dakota, thoughts of the phone call he’d made at 12:01 am to Wade Cannon—which had gotten him athoroughcussing out for the late hour but a promise to have Rafael Moon call him the following day—and the idea of Finn O’Shea as a possible replacement swirling in his head, there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d sleep.

Gavin googled Finnegan O’Shea, refreshing his memory by skimming through the laundry list of his history and accomplishments as a player—former Boston Harriers captain,multiple Stanley Cup winner, Selke Trophy winner, King Clancy Award winner, various leadership awards—there was no denying he had the resume to be a good candidate.

But since his retirement he’d been working as an investment banker and program coordinator of a youth hockey league. Did he have any interest in leaving that behind to return to pro hockey or was that just Declan’s desire?

Of course, Finndidspend a fair amount of time around the team, dropping in to watch practices on weekends and games whenever he could. He and his children were frequently seen faces on the Jumbotron, and he often dropped by Gavin’s office to chat.

Perhaps he missed being involved in pro hockey more directly. Gavin supposed there was only one way to find out, so he typed out an email to Finn, asking if he’d be interested in meeting up in the next few days.

Gavin had hitSendwhen the bedroom door swung open silently. Dakota stepped through it and shot him a startled glance, obviously not expecting him to be awake.

“Uh, hey. You’re up early,” he said.

“You are too,” Gavin pointed out.

Dakota bit his lip. “I was in your home gym.”

“I know. I came out looking for you. I was worried you couldn’t sleep.”

Dakota looked uneasy. “Uhh, I had an appointment.”

“You’re still working as an online trainer in addition to your work with the Harriers?” Gavin guessed.

Dakota took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Uhm, it’s complicated.” Dakota’s fingers twisted in the bedsheets.

“Simplify it?”

“I need the money.” Dakota looked down.

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