affected every part of his life. “Why? Your play and game’s still on, but your enthusiasm’s missing. What’s going on?”
He could’ve given a smartass response or walked away, but he didn’t. Rylie was one of his closer friends, as close as he’d let people get anyway, and their bond had strengthened since they’d been paired up on defense. But mostly, he didn’t want to lie or blow him off. He didn’t want to hide Jacqui.
Not with someone he trusted to understand.
An uneasy itch fluttered over his skin, adrenaline spiking with nerves to punch at his comfortable shell. He headed to the open mats along the wall, motioning for Rylie to follow. He was into his second set of crunches before he’d relaxed enough to answer the man.
“You know that thing you found with Sam?” Henrik asked, glancing at Rylie, who was matching him again.
He grunted a “yes” without pausing or looking over.
“That’s what.”
Rylie froze mid-crunch, eyes wider than his grin when he turned his head. “No shit?”
Heat flushed up Henrik’s neck to enflame his face. He blamed it on the workout and prayed Rylie did too. But yeah, it felt good to talk about it. His smile grew the more he tried to hide it. Oh, fuck it.
He flopped back on the mat, chest heaving, grinning like a love-struck teenager. “Yeah.”
“Fuck.” Rylie slugged his arm, laughing. “Good for you.”
A weight he hadn’t realized had been pressing on his chest lifted with his friend’s easy acceptance. “Her name’s Jacqui,” he shared without thinking about it.
Rylie nodded and lay back to restart his crunches. “How long have you been seeing her?”
Henrik followed suit, incredibly grateful for Rylie’s easy acceptance. No razzing or mocking digs. “Since preseason.” It was easier to talk while he was half focused on his workout. Emotional dumping was not his norm.
“That explains a lot.”
“Like what?”
“Hell. I don’t know.” Rylie fell back, sucking in air. “All the shit the guys have been ripping on you for. No woman on your arm for one.” He lifted his legs into the air and started another set of crunches. “You’ve been quiet too. Keeping to yourself more. Withdrawn.”
Had he? Henrik puzzled this, grunting a response for lack of a real answer. They finished the rest of their workout in silence. He showered and redressed in his suit, still thinking on Rylie’s comments. He hadn’t been aware of how much he’d changed around the guys. Did he keep his nose out of the ribbing? Sure. Had his time hanging in the player lounge lessened? Yes. Did he spend more time alone in his hotel room on the road? Sure.
And the guys had noticed?
It stumped him as to why. He wasn’t the most popular guy on the team. Hell, he’d never tried for that status. He wasn’t the best player either. No delusions there. He just did his job—so he wouldn’t lose his hockey family. Partook in the banter to stay included. Dated the women to keep his house from being empty.
He flipped his tie through the knot and tugged it tight. Rylie and his damn observations.
“Hey,” the very man he was just cursing said at his side. “Let me know if you ever want to double.”
Henrik frowned. “Double?”
“On a date, dude.” He shook his head. “Like, with our girlfriends.”
It took a moment for Henrik to process that offer. A double date. None of the guys had ever offered that before. Sure, he’d done dates with other couples, but it’d always been the women coordinating.
The idea took hold, blooming into an even bigger idea that he went with. “Are you guys free next Sunday afternoon?”
Rylie’s brows winged up before he frowned. “The Sunday before Thanksgiving? I think so.” He pulled out his phone and checked his calendar. “No practice that day. Sam’s in town too. We should be free.” He tucked his phone away. “Why?”
“Put us on your calendar. Two o’clock. My place.” He was grinning now, excitement overriding nerves for his plan. “Bring your gear. I’ve got a rink we can play on.”
“Of course you do.” Rylie was chuckling now. “Is it even cold enough?”
“It’s artificially cooled.”
“Right.” He shook his head. “We’re in...unless Samantha has something. She’ll want to play too.”
“Not a problem.”
“Text me your address.” He slapped Henrik on the shoulder. “You heading out?”
Henrik grabbed the rest of his stuff, still mulling the address comment. “You don’t know where I live?”
Rylie shot him a puzzled side-glance. “I’ve never been there.”
Another stumper. For as much as he hated being alone at home, how