Page 31 of Slapshot
“Thank you for your pity,” I mumbled into the table, resisting the urge to purr under Mia’s blunt nails.
“So what’s your next move? Are you finally leaving her alone? Or going all out stalker?” Oscar asked, his chair squeaking as he settled back.
“I’m pretty sure I can find a happy medium between those two options, but I need help. You’re not helping me.”
“I don’t know if there’s anything to do right now,” Mia said gently, keeping up the stroking like it would soften her delivery. “It sounds like Blair has some work to do, and while you’ve done a good job of bringing her awareness to it—” Oscar snorted. “While you’ve done a good job bringing her awareness to it, it’s up to her to decide whether she is ready to work through it or not. You can’t do it for her.”
My friends were the worst helpers in the history of the world.
“So you’re saying to give up on her?”
“I’m saying that she has to do some work on herself. That doesn’t mean you give up on her, but it does mean you give her space. In the meantime, maybe I could have a word with her. See if she needs a friendly ear.”
My friends were the best helpers in the world.
“Yes. Please. Talk to her. You can tell her I’m a good guy and fix everything.”
Mia held up her hands like she was at gunpoint. “I’m not making any promises.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Oscar, kiss your wife for me.”
“I’ll kiss her for myself,” he growled as he skirted the table and pulled her into an inappropriate kiss.
“Y’know, if I wasn’t used to it, this could be really uncomfortable right now,” I muttered, finally feeling settled enough to swig my beer.
“Weren’t you leaving?” Oscar asked as his hands roamed down Mia’s back, cupping her ass possessively.
“Yup, definitely. Thank you, Mia, for the offer. I wholeheartedly accept. For the love of God, wait until you hear the front door close before you start stripping off. See you later.”
I wasted no time vacating my best friend’s house, and still caught the first moan as I slammed the door firmly behind me.
I was going to find a stuffed pigeon and leave it in his locker for that.
But maybe after Mia helped with my love life…
Blair
The training centerwas quiet for once, players choosing workout times on their own schedule during the week before the global series. Many of the staff chose to work from home as they coordinated the logistics of sending a hockey team overseas for two days. I’d already drafted up themed posts for most of the guys heading over to Helsinki, but the walls of my apartment had been closing in on me, and I found the coldness of the rink comforting when my mind felt ready to burn out.
I had revisited Cian’s speech so many times in my head, it felt like some demonic spell that would open a rift in the earth for me to fall down.
“I come in peace.” The gentle feminine voice was a surprise. Oscar Cavanaugh’s wife, Mia, was stunningly gorgeous, even in a sweater and jeans. Her dark hair was swept up in a simple ponytail, and I felt a moment of envy for how straight and silky it looked as it swung behind her.
“What are you doing here?”
“I brought coffee. Want some?” She held out a cup displaying the Wild Brew logo on the side.
“I asked the barista what your order was,” she admitted, her cheeks coloring a soft pink.
“Why does this feel like a bribe?”
“Because it sort of is?” She dropped into the seat beside me, turning her body to face me.
“I may be a trained therapist, but I’m also from a fucked-up family. I specialize in that shit. So I’m here as a friend, asking if you’d like to talk.”
Her features were relaxed, no signs of deceit, or any hint she was fishing for information to use against me. That didn’t mean…
“Cian sent you.”
