Trade Deadline - Avon Gale Page 0,44
highlight reels, but considering they’d faced off against the Stanley Cup champs and hadn’t gotten trounced, Daniel didn’t think they’d done too badly.
They celebrated the victory a bit more enthusiastically than normal, but hey, it wasn’t every day the last team in the league beat the first.
Back in the dressing room, Daniel showered and threw his suit back on. He fidgeted the entire bus ride to the hotel, wanting to go straight to Tristan’s, but it wasn’t even five yet, and they weren’t supposed to be meeting at the loft until seven, so he had a couple of hours to kill.
Daniel decided to make a quick call to check in with his kids, and then settled down for a power nap once he was back in the room he shared with Demetrius.
His alarm woke him about fifteen minutes past six. Daniel showered again just to wake himself up, pulled on some jeans and a casual button-up, and then said goodbye to Demetrius before going outside to meet his Lyft.
He’d only been to Sebastian and Tristan’s loft a few times the previous season. Mostly they congregated at bars or Morley’s place for the sheer amount of space, but this was a more intimate gathering—just him, Morley, Ryu and Emmitt, and of course, Tris and Seb.
Tristan buzzed him up and greeted him at the door with a big, bone-crushing hug. The embrace was like being wrapped in sunshine, and for a few seconds, Daniel just sank into it, letting Tristan bear some of his weight.
Tristan pulled back, grinning. “It’s so weird being on the ice with you but not on the same side.”
Daniel’s heart panged. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”
Tristan squeezed his arms and stepped back. “C’mon in. We’re ordering pizza and wings. I’ve got something to celebrate!”
“Oh yeah?” Daniel asked, following as Tristan led the way to the living area. The décor was modern, lots of exposed brick, gray wood flooring, and black air ducts. The walls were decorated with a mix of edgy black-and-white photographs of New York City and Tristan’s collection of sports paraphernalia. A sectional couch dominated the space, stylish but comfortable looking, and there was a Venom throw blanket draped over the back. The whole place was such a perfect blend of Sebastian and Tristan it made Daniel smile.
“Bellzie!” Morley was sitting with a scruffy ball of gray fur curled up in his lap. He gently lifted Luna, the cat Tristan and Seb had adopted, who Daniel had only seen in pictures before now, and unfolded his massive frame from the sofa. He placed Luna back down with equal care, then walked over to clap Daniel on the back. “Damn, I missed you, bro! But Florida ain’t too bad, is it? All that sunshine. Disney World! I’m sure it won’t be long before you get a lovely Cuban goddess to fall in love with you, and I hope you’ll make it a beach wedding, bro, ’cuz I need another vacation.”
“Missed you too, man,” Daniel said, laughing. “But maybe let’s hold off on the wedding plans, huh? I might have some news to share, but it’s a bit too early to start shopping for rings.”
“Oooh.” Army sauntered toward them, his grin as wide and cocky as ever. “Bellzie’s got a new boo?”
“Do not say ‘boo,’” Ryu put in from his spot near the breakfast bar that separated the kitchen from the rest of the open area. “You’re not a ghost. Or a thirteen-year-old girl.”
“Pfft.” Army flipped Ryu off over his shoulder. “Ignore my boo, and tell us all about yours, please. I need all the details. Are you bumping and grinding with one of the Thunder? Doing some smashing in the locker room?”
“Dear Lord, no,” Daniel choked out. “Me and the guys have barely gotten along until now.”
“That didn’t stop Army and Ryu,” Morley said, throwing an arm around Emmitt. “Rivals to lovers, these two.”
Emmitt elbowed him in the side. “Shut up about the fanfic, Trevor,” he hissed. “Unless you want me to bring up your own ‘rivals to lovers’ situation with Seth Bolton, hmm? You’ve been racking up penalty minutes against him all season.”
Morley scowled. “Bite your tongue, bro. There’d better not be any fanfic about me and him or any other Marauder. Unless it’s about me punching them in the face.”
“We don’t need you to be doing any more punching,” Tristan put in. “In fanfic or in real life.”
Daniel blinked at them in confusion. “Fanfic? What are you guys talking about?”
“You don’t want to know,”