Page 73 of Taking Sides

“Maybe there’s a way to do both,” Conrad suggests. “You spend the first part of practice doing whatever Grady has planned and then you take the last thirty minutes for some fun.”

“In college, we used to end every practice with a warm-up game. Fox hunt, pick up sticks, circle battles, shoot-outs, sharks and minnows . . .” Danny trails off, but my brain is spinning with more ideas.

“I used to love fox hunt,” Conrad says.

“That’s because you’re lightning fast.” Danny brings the bottle of beer up to his lips and takes a long drink.

This has me thinking about all the fun I had playing hockey. Games were exciting, when I got to play, but practice is where I really felt like part of the team.

“I liked relay games,” I say, then immediately go into analyzing mode. “It probably says something about my talents that my favorite games included relying on other people to win.”

Danny chuckles and Conrad moves his leg so it’s flush against mine under the table.

“Sounds like I would have been picking you for my team, Charming.” I lean into him, bumping my shoulder against his.

“Charming?” Danny asks.

“Because he looks like Prince Charming.” I scrunch up my face with a smile as I beam at an embarrassed Conrad.

I hear Danny’s laughter, but I keep my gaze on the guy next to me.

“He does. Ha! Charming. I love it. Wait until I tell the guys,” Danny says.

“Now you’ve done it.” Conrad playfully glares at me. “And just before a long road trip.”

“I can think of worse nicknames.”

“Can you?” Danny asks. “Because I’d love to hear them.”

Without taking his eyes off me, Conrad flips off Danny, then brings his mouth close.

“Trouble,” he mutters, before he presses his lips to mine.

I melt into him, feeling more relaxed than I have all day. Conrad moves one hand to rest on my thigh. It isn’t nearly high enough to have my pulse racing like it is. He pulls back with a nip of my bottom lip.

I sit back in my chair and blow out a breath. When I look across the table, Danny is smirking at us. Oops. Forgot we weren’t alone.

“You two are cute.” He raises his beer for another drink and waggles one finger between me and Conrad.

“Thanks,” I say, and scoot a little closer to Conrad. I want to soak up every bit of him before he travels with the team. “How long have you been seeing Erin?”

“A while now.”

“Is it serious?”

“Sure,” he answers.

“Well, that’s not convincing.” I laugh.

“Everything has the potential to be serious.” Danny shrugs, looking perfectly at ease with the attention on him. So different than Conrad. “Right now, we’re still getting to know each other, having fun, but I’m open to it being more.”

“Huh.” The word comes out unintentionally.

Danny’s brows lift in question.

“I guess I’m just surprised that after a couple months you wouldn’t already know if you wanted it to be more. Then again, I’ve never been in a serious relationship.”

“Really?” Conrad and Danny ask at the same time.