Page 65 of Zero Pucks Given
I hunched over my beer and tried not to be seen. I remembered the way they’d laughed when they saw me in the lobby yesterday, and how defensively Grayson had reacted. If I could finish my beer and sneak out without them noticing, that would be great.
But a minute later, one of the players left the booth to use the bathroom—and he passed right by me.
“Oh, shit. You’re that girl. The one Grayson’s with. Are you drinking alone?”
“Yeah, but I’m about to go back to my room…”
“Fuck that! Come drink with us.”
Before I could protest, he grabbed my beer and waved me toward the booth. “Hey guys! Look who I found!”
I followed him over to the rest of the team, wincing as I prepared to be teased and taunted.
“JOSIE!” the six players shouted in unison.
Grayson smiled broadly at me. “Were you drinking alone?”
“Celebrating the win,” I said, which drew more shouts and claps.
“We’ve decided you’re Grayson’s good luck charm,” another player said. “You’re single-handedly responsible for his hat trick today.”
Grayson leaned back in his chair and spread his arms. “Hey, I think I deservesomeof the credit.”
“To Josie,” said rookie Mason Calder. “The best fake girlfriend on the Surge!”
“Stick around for a drink?” Grayson asked me.
Well, shoot. How could I say no to that?
The bartender delivered several pitchers of beer. The tall guy who had recognized me at the bar ended up being Hunter Callahan, the backup goaltender. He filled my glass up first.
They sat around the booth and discussed the game—recapping every fiercely-battled moment of it. They must have been drinking in the locker room, because they already seemed drunk after just one beer. Maybe they were drunk on victory. Even as a spectator, I felt heady from the win, and I didn’t evenlikehockey.
More Surge players trickled into the bar to join us. Rather than acting surprised that I was drinking with them, each player acted downrighthappyto see me.
After two more beers, I felt like a member of the team.
I never saw it happen, but suddenly I realized Grayson’s arm was stretched out across the back of my chair. I scooched my chair closer and leaned into him. It felt right. And nobody acted like it was a big deal.
“My wifelovesyour channel,” one player told me. “I swear she’s probably bought a thousand bucks worth of makeup in the past week.”
“Tell her thank you for me!” I replied, which drew more laughs. I pointed at the rest of them. “And tell your girlfriends and wives to buy their makeup from the links on my channel. A girl has to eat.”
“The food’s free here!” Mason told me. “Be sure to get your money’s worth!”
“Oh, I am. I ordered filetandsalmon from room service last night.”
While everyone laughed at that, I got up to pee. I couldn’t stop smiling; it was crazy how much things could change in just twenty-four hours.
I exited the bathroom and ran right into Grayson.
“Fuck, sorry,” I said.
“I wasn’t following you, I swear.” He pointed to his shirt. “Mason’s drunk. He spilled beer all over me.”
I touched the damp spot on his chest, feeling the muscle underneath. “Nowhere’sthe real steel wall,” I joked, pressing my fingertips against the fabric.
He stared down at me, eyes flicking to my lips.
