Page 36 of Rookie Attraction

While Sel takes off down the hallway, I walk to the kitchen and place the coffee and pastries on the counter. Cody drops the table and offers his hand to me.

“Finn Baran, number seventy-six, right? You’re the rookie. You played great your first night.”

“Thanks. It’s nice to meet you.” I shake his hand. “I was introduced to the training staff last week, but I guess I missed you.”

“I’m a newbie too, started a few days ago,” Cody explains with a grin. “But you’ll see me around the rink moving forward.”

Cody reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card.

“Here’s my contact info. I’ll be there for games and practice days, but I’m also happy to arrange home visits around your schedule.”

“Awesome. Thanks.”

Cody grabs the table by the handle and heads for the door.

“See you next time, Sel!” Cody calls out. “And thanks for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome!”

“Here, let me help you with the door,” I offer.

“Appreciated, Finn,” Cody replies with a nod. “See you soon.”

When Cody’s gone, I shut the door, head back to the kitchen, and start unpacking the pastries and bagels, each one more mouthwatering than the next. Once I have the food plated, I snag my coffee and sigh with pleasure because the scent is total nirvana. But it’s the first sip that really gets to me, and before I know it, I’m groaning loudly in appreciation.

“You gonna drink that or have sex with it?”

I choke and geyser the mouthful of coffee all over the counter in front of me. Thankfully, not all over our breakfast, though. Putting my cup down, I offer my teammate my favorite finger with one hand and reach for the roll of paper towel with the other. God, I made a mess, of the counter and probably my face. While wiping up, I glance over to find Sel leaning against the fridge in tight jeans and a Rush T-shirt. He’s shaking hard, desperately trying to hold in his laughter.

“I’m glad your jokes are back, Sel, but your timing sucks.”

Sel’s laughter finally bursts free, and the sight of his smile fills me with relief. The man I met this summer is back, here, now. I can’t look away, kind of like staring at the sun. I’m suddenly dizzy again, and I grab the counter to steady myself.

Fuck, I’m starving. For food. Yes. Bagels. Croissant.

Eat something before you pass out.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t resist,” Sel quips as he moves to take a seat on one of the stools. “Wow, that’s quite the breakfast spread. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Eat up before it gets stale. I got you black coffee because I didn’t know how you liked it.”

“Sweet,” he replies. “Lots of half and half and brown sugar. Or a latte.”

“Same.”

Sel heads for the fridge and grabs a container of milk and a package of brown sugar, opening the lid of his coffee and stirring in a generous amount of both. Instead of standing there staring, I sit down and wait for him to join me. Then, like the hockey players we are, we dive into the food and come up for air and conversation only when the last bite is devoured.

“Fuck, that was incredible,” he insists. “Their coffee’s way better than mine. Where is this place?”

“22nd and tenth. There was a lineup when I arrived, but it moved quickly.”

“I’ll have to check it out.”

I survey him, noting how different he looks today. The color in his face is back, his brown eyes are clear, and his posture’s relaxed.

“You seem to be in a better mood. That massage must’ve worked wonders.”

“It helped, but that’s not all of it.” Sel swivels to face me. “I finally spoke to Damien last night. By the way, he said to give you his best. He’s very proud of you.”