night,” said defenseman Eli Donnelley, prying the top off his beer. He laid back in the easy chair. “We could have invited some ladies over and made good use of your pool.”
Fally smirked. “Right. Nic and Stacey would approve of that.”
“Shouldn’t invite married guys, either,” Eli replied.
Fally pointed his beer bottle at him. “Fuck you, douchebag. Is there ever a moment when you aren’t thinking about your next lay?”
Eli grinned. “Nope.”
“I’m siding with Eli on this one.” Shaw pointed outside. “That pool is crying for a party. Women in bikinis, women wearing nothing…” he trailed off.
“Nic is right,” said Fally. “You guys are just a bunch of players. It’s why she warns her gorgeous girlfriends away from you fools.”
“They don’t call me, West and Eli the Players Club for nothing,” said Shaw.
“Oh Christ,” said Ryder. “Some stupid blog gives you guys that fucking nickname, and now you think you’re so badass.”
“Leave me out of this shit,” West said. “I came over here to play Xbox, not to pick up women.”
“Yeah, you’re a ball of fun lately, Keller,” Shaw told him. “Why did you bail on us at the club the other night?”
West waved him off. “I’m getting sick of the same old shit, man. You think half of the women we screw are really interested in us? All they care about is what we do. They just want to be seen with us.”
“What’s your point?” asked Eli. “And more importantly, who cares?”
West slammed down his beer bottle. “That is my point. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a normal conversation with a woman once in a while, instead of getting asked to fuck two minutes after learning their name? It’s getting really old.”
“You sound like a goddamned girl,” Shaw said. “You’re twenty-eight years old, not fifty. You want to settle down already?”
“I’ve been in this league since I was twenty-one years old,” he said. “I like to fuck a hot girl as much as the next guy. Is it too much to ask that the girl I fuck be hot, smart and able to have a conversation?”
Eli laughed. “Yep. You’re getting old, man. We might have to kick you out of the club. Go date some of Nic’s friends.”
“Jesus,” said West. “I didn’t ask to be anointed as part of this fucking club.”
“Too late,” Eli told him. “Not like you can turn in your membership card. It’s a nickname. We don’t have control over what the media says.”
“Listen to you. The media.” Ryder laughed. “It’s a blog.”
“Lucky Bounce is a reputable hockey blog, and blogs have power these days. They’ve got a shitload of subscribers,” Shaw told him. “Besides, the name caught on didn’t it? I’ve gotten a ton of action because of that article.”
“That blog is just a handbook for puck bunnies,” Fally said, giving Shaw a scornful look. “When do they show you in action on the ice? All they care about is which blonde you have on your arm, or who you may be screwing.”
Eli grinned. “Who cares? Bring on the puck bunnies. Jealous much, Fally?”
“Screw you. You’ve met my wife. You’re the one who should be jealous.”
“We’ll make you an honorary member. O’Bryan can be one too.”
Ryder’s cellphone buzzed. “Hell no. Keep me out of that shit.” He pulled the phone from his pocket to check the caller ID, and saw it was the gate security guard.
“Hey Tom,” he said.
“I have a Zoe Miller here to see you, Mr. O’Bryan.”
“Zoe?” he asked, surprised.
“Yes, Mr. O’Bryan.”
“Send her through, please.”
“Will do, sir.”
He shoved the phone back in his pocket, completely stunned by the call. He’d never expected her to show up at his door after the way they’d left things.
“No one say a damn word,” Brandon said, entering the room. He held Briar upside down, and both she and the baby doll were covered in chocolate. “I hope Stacey brings a change of clothes for this little monster.”
Shaw snorted. “I hope she brings one for you.” He gestured at Brandon’s shirt, which was smeared with the stuff.
“Oh Christ,” Brandon muttered, setting Briar down. He took off his shirt and jammed it in Briar’s diaper bag.
The doorbell rang, and Brandon glanced up.
“Please, let that be Stacey.” He attempted to wipe his daughter off with a paper towel.
“It’s not,” Ryder replied.
He wanted to see Zoe again, but a house full of nosy teammates didn’t seem like the best place to reconnect. He knew they’d have questions, and he didn’t want them staring at her and making her uncomfortable. He wanted