Page 56 of Gap Control

He didn't wait for an answer. Just nudged the water bottle still in my hand.

"You should finish that," he said. "You're flushed."

He walked away, and I stared after him. Flushed wasn't the right word—more like scorched. And I didn't want to cool down.

For a moment, I pictured the Rykson movie. I'd stare at my reflection in a rain-streaked window like a melting soft pretzel. Brady interrupted.

He rounded the corner like a man on a mission and barely paused before launching in.

"You have a death wish."

"I have a water bottle."

"You have a boyfriend."

"Fake boyfriend."

"Fake boyfriend who just kissed you like it was opening night on Broadway. And by the way?" He held up his phone. "The internet is foaming at the mouth. You two just doubled our engagement rate. Triple if you count TikTok."

I groaned and leaned my head against the wall. "Tell me there's no new merch."

"There's a poll."

I raised an eyebrow. "A poll?"

"Caption options for the next post. Top contenders: 'He kissed me like he meant it,' and 'This is totally normal teammate behavior.' They're calling you the 'gay Ted Lasso of hockey.'"

"I am so tired."

Brady pocketed the phone and tilted his head. "Okay, jokes aside. Are you okay?"

"No."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"God, no."

"Do you want to pretend you're fine until you die of repression and/or a mid-game panic attack?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "Cool. I speak that language."

"You're not gonna say I told you so?"

"Oh, I am, just not today. Today, you get snacks and silence."

The silence part sounded great.

I pulled out my phone. Twenty-seven new notifications. Two texts from Peggy. One suspicious meme from Mercier involving kissing booths and penalty minutes.

I shoved it back in my pocket and started to pace. It wasn't about the kiss. Okay, itwasabout the kiss, but it was also about the fact that he kissed me in front of everyone, and for a second, I let myself believe it was only for me.

I closed my eyes and stopped moving.

This thing between us had started as a joke.

Now I'd lost the punchline and couldn't figure out whether I wanted one.

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