Page 66 of Offside and Off-Limits
“I'm not even gonna ask why I'm Cuddle Bear,” Carson says, his tight features telling me he's not exactly thrilled with the name.
“Well, I'm happy,” Asher declares, his arms out to the side as he does a turn, proudly showing off his Snuggle Muffin T.
“You're the cutest Snuggle Muffin I've ever seen,” I tell him.
“You got that right,” he replies, and we fist bump.
I slide my own T-shirt into place and Carson, Asher, and Weston all laugh, eyeing me.
“You aresoa Cupcake,” Asher says with a chortle.
I flash him my grin. “Loud and proud, baby. Loud and proud.”
“You saved the worst one for yourself. Respect,” Carson says.
“Whose is this?” Weston asks, pulling the final T-shirt from the bag. “It says Princess Sparkles.”
“That'll be mine,” says a voice from the tent entrance, and we turn to see our captain, Jamie Hayes, looking about as thrilled to be here as a rookie missing his first shot on goal.
“Yeah, it is!” I say as I pump the air with my fist. “Thanks for being here, Princess Sparkles. Me, Snuggle Muffin, Mama’s Boy, and Cuddle Bear appreciate your service.”
“Not exactly the way I like to spend my weekends, getting drenched in nothing but a T, but it's for a good cause, so I’m all in,” Jamie replies as he takes the T-shirt from Weston, who couldn't wipe the smile from his face if he tried.
“Good to see ya, Princess Sparkles,” Asher says with a grin, and wins a look from our captain.
Jamie arches a brow at me. “Why did you pick Princess Sparkles for me? Do I somehow give off princess vibes to you?”
“You sure do, Princess Sparkles. But you know what? It could have been worse,” I say, gesturing at my own T-shirt. “And besides, a tough guy captain like you needs to get in touch with his feminine side every now and then, and what better way to do it than when you’re being publicly drenched in water for charity?”
Jamie shakes his head, a smile teasing the edges of his mouth. “Not sure I have an eight-year-old girl feminine side in me.”
He pulls on his T-shirt and I waggle my brows at him. “You do now.”
“Are you guys decent?” Clara calls from behind the closed flap, and Jamie hurriedly pulls on his trunks.
“Of course we’re not, but you can come in,” Jamie replies. “We’re a bunch of men wearing T-shirts that should probably have been given to a girl’s birthday party.” He throws me a meaningful look.
“All part of the fun,” I assure him.
The door flap pulls open, and as Clara steps inside her eyes rove around the tent. “You guys look so pretty,” she says, her lips quirking.
I do a little curtsy. “Thank you, miss.”
“I thought you were going to wear your game day gear,” she replies.
“We got a new plan, thanks to Lennox and his perplexing choice of nicknames for us all,” Jamie replies.
She raises her brows. “You're responsible for these, Cade?”
“You're welcome,” I say, my hands held out at my sides as I flash her my grin.
“Why does that not surprise me?”
“Because you know I’m awesome?” I tease.
“I guess it’ll all be part of the fun. I thought our socials would go nuts for this in your game gear, and now?” She gestures at our chests. “Tell me, Cade, did you purposefully choosewhiteT-shirts?”
“The team name looks best on white, just like our game day uniform,” I go on to explain.
