Page 58 of My Husband Problem

“I still think you need to tell Carson why he gets hit so hard in practice,” Hudson Duval, the Otters’ goalie, says to Beckett.

“He’s such a dumbass that he doesn’t already know,” Beckett mutters.

“Wait, he’s on the team?” I ask.

Astrid sighs. “Yes. He’s…” She grimaces as she glances at Beckett.

“Good,” Beckett fills in. “Not as good as us.” He looks around the table. “But he’s good.”

“You’ll be able to hit him good at least twice next practice, right?” Wes asks.

“Three times,” Beckett says.

Wes frowns. “He said the thing about her wearing black and then about the baby. That’s two times. I know you want to hit him more, but you gotta have a reason.”

“He checked out her ass in those jeans too,” Beckett says.

I lean closer to Astrid and ask, “Who is Carson exactly?”

“Stephen’s best friend. Stephen is her ex-husband. Cheated on her with Stephanie.”

I grimace. “Stephen and Stephanie?”

She rolls her eyes. “Horrible, right?”

“And that fucker Carson rubs it into her?”

Astrid nods. “He’s an asshole.” Then she looks across the table at Beckett and raises her voice. “I wasn’t aware he takes hits in practice because of what he says to Andi.”

“Sometimes in games too,” Beckett says, unapologetically. “Just depends on when he said what.”

“So you keep track of what he says, and you make sure he hurts for it?” Astrid clarifies.

Beckett nods. “Yup. But hockey hits are a little safer than me just smashing his face out in the parking lot.”

Lawson grunts.

“Okay,” Astrid says. “But you should tell him why he’s getting hit. Itmightstop it.”

Beckett gives a half smile. “Yeah. Okay.”

But he still looks bothered and glances toward the door. I wonder if he’s worrying about Andi.

“So I think it’s going to be complicated to use the horses,” Lawson suddenly says.

He’s watching Beckett.

I am now watching him.

Because Beckett immediately brightens.

Is Lawson changing the subject to make Beckett feel better?

I am very aware that these two men are rivals. Everyone is. It’s impossible to miss. They got into a fight when I was here in person for a game, and the town website has made it clear that the beef between these two men is long-standing, though no one seems to knowexactlywhat started it.

“But the fact that it would be awkward makes it even funnier,” Beckett says.

Lawson nods. “If that’s what you’re going for.”