Tripping (Iced #2) - Kristine Allen Page 0,50

I showered, dressed, and grabbed my shit like the place was a sinking ship.

“Damn, where’s the fire, dude?” Jericho asked. Alex ducked his head to hide his smirk.

“McGregor has a hot date,” teased Jordan, and I wanted to punch him.

“Whoa. Seriously? Like are we talking real date, or code for puck bunny hookup?” Jericho asked in stunned fascination as he buttoned his shirt up. When we had home games, management wanted us coming and going from the games in dress clothes. It was all about the image.

“He’s been seeing her for damn near a month, if not longer,” snickered Nate. My mouth hung open and my eyes popped as I took in the guys that were like family to me. I’d become the center of attention to every guy in there, whether they were participating in the conversation or not.

“How the hell do you know that?” I asked Nate. “And why are you putting my business out there?”

“He probably didn’t, but you just told on yourself.” Alex snickered, and I dropped my head.

“Never thought I’d see the day. The Mac-Daddy has fallen,” joked Dmitry. “Guess that means less competition for us with the bunnies.” He and Jericho did a fist bump.

“So who is it?” Kris asked. It was the first he’d joined in the conversation. He’d been quiet since getting out of the shower and checking his phone.

“Well, if you come to the Iron Dog with us, you’ll meet her,” I ribbed, having no desire to hide my relationship anymore. He hadn’t been out with us after a home game in ages, and people were starting to notice.

His gaze dropped and his head bowed, causing his hair to fall over his eyes. “Yeah, I’m not sure.”

“Figures,” muttered Jordan.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kris asked, getting defensive.

“Nothing, man,” Jordan said as he stood and put his bag over his shoulder. He started to walk away, then he turned back. “You’re supposed to be our team captain, yet you act like you can’t be bothered to give us the time of day unless we’re here.” He swept his arm out to encompass the arena.

“It’s not—” he began. “You know what? Never mind.”

Tension rippled through the locker room. Kris looked at his phone, and his thumbs flew over the screen. Then he shoved it in his back pocket. “I’ll join you guys for one drink.”

“Hell yeah! The Cap’ is back!” Dmitry said as he flung and arm around Kris’s neck. Kris rolled his eyes but couldn’t hold back the quirk of his lips. Jordan was expressionless as he watched Kris, and I tried to read the entire group. I’d been pretty tied up with Bleu and hadn’t been spending near as much time with Kris, Alex, or Jordan, and they were my best friends.

Alex had Sydney, but Kris had been off, and I’d been too wrapped up in my own shit to be a friend to see what was up. It made me feel like a shit friend.

We left the locker room as a unit. Several of the rookies and the single guys left to head to the bar. A few of the married guys, Jericho, Dmitry, Alex, and I stopped by the family room. Isak Bergström headed straight to his wife and kids. His wife was a bit of a bitch, but he obviously saw something in her because they had two kids together.

My attention didn’t stay with him long, because I spotted my girl, and a smile broke out on her face when she saw me. She was standing there talking with her sister and Sydney. Dmitry and Jericho’s family was next to them.

I dropped my bag to the ground and crouched to lift her up and swing her around. She laughed as she gripped my shoulders. “You afraid I’ll drop you?” I chuckled.

“Never,” she softly replied. Shoes dangling two feet off the ground, she looked down at me. I reached up as she leaned down, and I kissed her right there in front of everyone. We broke free to calls of “get a room” and “eww mommy and daddy are gross!”

“You guys are real mature,” I said good-naturedly to my friends as I slid Bleu down my front to set her on her feet. Her widening eyes told me she felt that. To keep my situation from becoming the topic of conversation, I turned her so her backside mostly covered my front.

The little tease rubbed her ass against me. Covertly, I pinched one cheek, and she giggled.

“Everyone, this is my