Page 4 of The Risk Taker

He’s sitting on the bench, head down, lacing his skates like he’s not listening. But when I look closer… there it is. The smallest twitch at the corner of his mouth. Like he’s trying not to smile. And failing.

I step toward him until I’m standing right in front of him. “You in on this?”

He lifts his eyes and his lips twitch again. “And if I was?”

God, that smirk should be illegal. Still, I can’t stop my own grin from spreading. “Oh, Hayes. You really don’t want to play with me.”

He shrugs, pretending not to care, but I don’t miss the way his fingers tighten around his laces.

“Where’s my gear?” I ask again.

“No idea,” he says with a shrug.

Up close, he smells like mint and detergent and something else I can’t quite place. He’s so clean. So composed. It’s almost annoying how put-together he always is. Makes me want to shake him, just to see what happens when he stops keeping it together.

“You’re a terrible liar,” I murmur.

His cheeks turn faintly pink. Delicious. I want to sink my teeth in and bite them like apples.

I snap myself out of it—because, Jesus, this is Nathan Hayes. Coach’s kid. Hockey robot. Guy who barely tolerates my existence.

“You gonna tell me where it is?” I ask him with an arched brow.

He clears his throat and averts his gaze. “Showers.”

Groans erupt behind me, but I’m already grinning as I step back.

I glance over my shoulder just in time to see Austin throw his head back. “Dude, you ruined it,” he groans, narrowing his eyes at Nathan. “We had him!”

Ryan shakes his head. “Can’t believe you sold us out.”

I throw my hands up. “You know what? You all suck. Pick on the actual rookies for once. I’ve done my time.”

“Yeah,” Austin says, sliding off the bench and slinging an arm around my shoulders. “But you’re our favorite. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

I glare at him. “What am I, the team mascot?”

“Basically.” He grins, ruffling my hair. “You’re like a golden retriever puppy. Everybody loves you, but we also have to keep you in line so you don’t piss on the carpet.”

Cole snorts from the corner, still focused on his laces. “More like a Chihuahua. Loud, annoying, and shits everywhere.”

I twist toward him, scowling. “Fuck you very much, Cole.”

He pops his gum, not even looking up. Typical.

Ryan’s trying to look unimpressed, but I catch the flicker of amusement in his eyes as he leans one hip against the boards. Captain or not, even he thinks this is funny.

“Consequences, Gray,” he says, shrugging. “You were late.”

I hold up the kid-sized jersey between two fingers. “Consequences like my dick being suffocated in shorts meant for an eight-year-old? Yeah, thanks, Captain. Real leadership.”

Austin howls, nearly tipping us both over with how hard he’s laughing. “Oh man, I almost wish we’d let you try it on. That visual would’ve been burned into my brain forever.”

“Burned into your spank bank, you mean.”

He winks. “Oh, how well you know me.”

From the other bench, Nathan mutters, “Jesus. Get a room.”