Page 258 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

“Why the fuck would we have heard from that asshole?” Kodie grunts.

“I dunno. I was just asking,” Handsy says.

“Did he go home for the holidays?” Hayden asks.

No one has the answer to that, and I hate that it stirs concern within me.

I want to hate Cooper Nash because he single-handedly ruined my season before it had barely started. But I’ve gotta admit, I kinda feel sorry for the guy.

He’s been ripped away from a team I can only assume he thought he’d be at for life, and he’s been dumped in with us, a team that hasn’t exactly welcomed him with open arms.

“Sutton asked Casey if she can call her Mom on Christmas day,” Kodie suddenly blurts.

“Aw, that’s so cute,” Hayden gushes.

“I assume Casey agreed?” Linc asks.

“Once she stopped crying, yeah. Coach is now Gramps, too.”

“Is that a nickname for all to use or …” A round of snickers erupts at Handsy's question.

“He kinda suits Gramps, don’t you think?” Rett teases.

“He’ll fucking murder us if we call him that,” Hayden points out. “And I don’t know about you guys, but I’d like to stay alive a little longer.”

“Same,” I agree. “I haven’t had anywhere near enough time with Sienna yet.”

“Who’d have thought it,” Linc mutters. “Killer is a romantic.”

“Fuck off,” I scoff.

“Do you know what he bought Sienna for Christmas?”

“An engagement ring?” Handsy asks, deadly seriously.

“If I didn’t think she’d freak out at how soon it was, I would have.”

“Fucking hell.” Kodie groans. “Are you all going to ask before I do? You all know I found my girl first, right?”

“Dude, that’s entirely on you. You could have asked more than a year ago if you wanted to marry her.”

“I do want to marry her.”

“So where’s the ring?” Linc demands.

Kodie’s mouth opens to say something, but he quickly shuts it again.

“Oh fuck—you’ve got it, haven’t you?” Hayden asks.

“Maybe,” Kodie hedges.

“So…what’s the plan?” Handsy demands.

“Like fuck am I telling you lot. You can find out with everyone else…online.”

“Brutal,” Rett hisses.

“You’re gonna do it soon, right? You know she’s ready for it,” Hayden says.