Page 44 of Rookie Attraction

“You’re on. I’ll bring the booze,” Makela offers and stands up.

“On recovery day?”

“We travel the day after that, so yes, trust me, we’ll need a buzz. Who are you rooming with on the road?”

“Uh, I don’t know,” I reply. “I haven’t checked the schedule yet.”

I reach for my phone and bring up the team’s travel schedule.

“As long as you don’t get Kuz, you’re good,” Sorensen remarks. “He snores like a freaking symphony of chainsaws. It’s the worst.”

I quickly scan the email, and when I see the list of names and who I’m paired with…

“Fuck.” I look up.

“Seriously? You got Kuz?” Makela grunts. “You unlucky bastard.”

“I better remember to bring my headphones.”

“Earplugs too,” Sorensen snickers. “And extra pillows in case you need to sleep in the shower.”

“Holy shit,” I mutter.

I don’t have time to worry about it because Makela smacks my shoulder.

“Come on, rookie, we’ve all been there. You’ll survive. It’s time to get to work.”

Sel

I’ve got some bizarre internal radar when it comes to Finn because I know the second he walks into the room. It takes everything in me to keep focused on the conversation I’m having with Berg and Tullmore, but I do it. I’ve decided that friendship with Finn is fine, if we keep it off the ice and out of the locker room. It’s better that way.

Better for whom?

Him. Definitely better for him. And I think Finn agrees because he doesn’t make any move to talk to me either. Hell, he hasn’t even looked my way since he arrived, and I’m out of sorts about it. I work out, organize my closet, watch TV… truly exciting stuff. I should enjoy the peace of solitude, but it’s too much silence. It’s weird, but I haven’t heard Finn’s boisterous laughter in what seems like forever, and I stupidly miss it. Jesus, I need more sleep. Or sex. Probably the latter. I should’ve followed through on my plan to hit a club, but I never went out and I didn’t have sex. So much for an excuse to cut my night short with Finn… After he left my place, I wasn’t in the mood to go anywhere. Once upon a time, the very idea of hooking up would have me running out the door. Not anymore. I just know that Hugo’s waiting for me to screw up, and it’s probably why I’m hesitating. It’s probably best if I stick with my own hand and leave hookups for later. I can’t believe that’s where my mind’s at, but some days I don’t recognize myself anymore.

The echo of a familiar voice carries across the room, and this time I can’t help but turn to the source. No surprise, my defensive partner is the center of attention, surrounded by Sorensen and Makela.

“You ready, Sel?” Ranken asks.

I realize, too late, that I’m staring at Finn and quickly look away.

“Yeah, of course.”

The team scrambles out of the locker room, and I find myself in the middle of our group as we make our way to the ice. Kuznetsov shuffles along beside me as we make small talk. Out of nowhere, I suddenly get bumped in the back and trip hard. For a second, all I see is Tullmore’s jersey, and I know I’m about to cause a domino effect and take him and everyone else in front of me down. Thankfully, Kuznetsov reacts quicker than I do. He grabs my arm and stops an embarrassing scenario from becoming a total disaster.

“Shit, thanks, Kuz,” I offer as he hauls me back up.

“No worries,” he replies with a grin.

I look over my shoulder to find Brady behind me. Did he nudge me by accident or on purpose? He doesn’t look guilty, but then again, he won’t look me in the eye.

Presumably guilty.

Asshole.

When I step out onto the ice, Finn skates past and offers a nod, but he doesn’t say anything. Then there’s no time for me to wonder about Finn’s mood, or mine, or what he’s thinking, because Range and our defensive coach, Lee, signal for us to get our asses moving. We head straight into the warmup, and I recognize the determined look in Finn’s eyes when we pair up for drills. The newbie’s all business today, and he works harder than anyone else. I know the pressure a rookie faces, and the desire to prove you belong. Finn has the drive and the talent, and he wants the next win badly.

“You and Baran are hitting it hard today,” Makela comments when we take a break.