Hockey Hottie (Loving the Puckers Book 1) Read online

  Alex

  “Do you mind if I take off my shirt while I run?” asked a hesitant K. I’d never seen him so unsure of himself. Just moments ago, we were joking about how he was my hero at all the family gatherings. There used to be very little that we didn’t know about each other. Amazing what five years apart could do to us. It meant a little bit of getting reacquainted yet at the same time we knew so much about each other. But he’d never actually worked out with me.

  “Of course not. This isn’t supposed to be a big deal. I just like having an accountability partner.”

  Then I saw that shy smile he had anytime he gave me a gift, like he was afraid of disappointing me which was crazy since he always gave me the best gifts. It was like he read my mind to see what I wanted.

  He tossed off his shirt. His abs and obliques were amazing. There was nothing amiss, but I knew this was the start of the season and Dad would be obsessing about conditioning so the team could be healthy at the end of the season. K pulled his long hair back with an elastic although I doubted it would actually dip into his eyes since it was long in back and sides but short in the front and too modern and groomed to be a mullet. Then he hopped onto the treadmill and started to really run.

  I went into my first set of ten skater lunges without weight on each leg as a warm up. I stared at the mirror in front of me so I wouldn’t be ogling K’s body. I pretended to pay attention to my form as I asked, “Do you like being back and playing for Dad?”

  “It’s all right.” There was almost no expression to his voice, so I couldn’t tell if he liked being back or not.

  “Just all right?” Yeah, I was prying and I didn’t care. We hadn’t really chatted since he moved back. When he was in New York City, we texted regularly. “I know if I had my own place, it would be so weird moving back in with Mom and Dad. I love them, but I can’t wait to get my own place and go to a real university. I can’t even imagine playing for my dad’s best friend. It’s just a lot.”

  Online college classes weren't the same, but they allowed me to compete internationally without ever getting behind. I could train most of the day. If I got my Olympic medal on schedule, I could take in-person classes for university and move out.

  He said, “Yeah, it’s a little weird being back living with my dad and Dr. Leah. I have to tell them where I’m going again. I won’t stay there forever. I just need to decide if I want to sell my place in New York, and that will dictate how big of a place I’ll get here. So, why haven’t you gotten your own place yet?”

  “Skating owns my life until the Olympics. It’s easier if I stay here. Plus, I think it might kill Daddy if I move out. He’s barely used to the idea of me dating.”

  I swore I saw K shoot up an eyebrow in surprise at that comment but, before I could even think about what that could mean, his face turned stoic and he asked, “So, are you dating anyone right now?”

  “No. How about you?” I had been making conversation before, but I really wanted that answer.

  “Nope.” That surprised me. He could have anyone, and they would be lucky to have him. He was so damn sweet. There was a part of me that was glad he was single.

  K stopped running. He hopped onto the side edges of the treadmill while letting the belt continue to run. He looked straight at me, even though I was still looking ahead into the mirror rather than turning to the side.

  “Any chance you would want to be my date to the team Halloween party?”

  I stood up from the lunge and faced him. I had a huge smile on my face. I had to ask, “Are you for real?”

  “Yeah. Do you really think I would ask you out and then go ‘just kidding?’” He looked at me like I was being dumb.

  “No. I swear you have been avoiding me for the last two months. Then today, we finally hang out again but not only that, you ask me to go to a party with you.” It was taking all my control not to tackle him with a hug in excitement. I knew he only saw me as a friend, but then he would occasionally say things like this when we would text back and forth that made me wonder. “Yes! I’ll go with you. Do we get to dress up?”

  “Yes, we will need costumes for it. For old times’ sake, you can even pick them out. I’ll give you my credit card.”

  “Anything?” I asked with a mischievous grin. Before his hockey career took off and he couldn’t come home for Halloween, we dressed up as a bunch of my favorite 80s movies. There was one that I’d always wanted to do but hadn’t gotten to yet.

  He stepped off the treadmill and approached me to give me a card. “Yeah. I trust you. It was fun being the Dread Pirate Roberts and you being Princess Buttercup our last Halloween together.”

  “That was a good year, wasn’t it? You kept saying ‘As you wish’ all night long. Oh my god, I’m so excited!” I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I bounced and gave him a peck on the cheek as I hugged him. I swore he blushed.

  “Easy Lex . . . Sorry, Alex. It’s not that big of a deal. Just a bunch of hockey players and their significant others drinking a crap-ton in costume.” He was trying to downplay the whole thing. Plus, it was sweet how he caught himself calling me by my old nickname and apologized. Everyone else just kept calling me Lex or Lexi without even attempting to catch themselves. It showed me that he cared.

  “I know, but you invited me to be your date and I love Halloween and I haven’t done anything the past couple years. So I’m super excited.”

  “Jeez. If I’d known it was this big of a deal and would make you this giddy, I would have flown you out the last two years to spend it with me.”

  I really had no idea how to take that last comment. There were times he would say something like that where it made me think the feelings of love weren’t one-sided. But I was probably fooling myself thinking that way. Of course it was one-sided.

  He said, “Just pick out what you want us to wear for Halloween and send it to my place. Text me if you need my size. You still run in the mornings with your dog, right?”

  “Yeah, at 5 a.m. Why?” I was confused. Why was he asking if I ran in the mornings? I’d been doing that with my dad as a way to hone my stamina and help with the dogs for years now. I only took out Sophie, a pit bull my dad got to replace his beloved Chloe when she passed away. Dad used to run with me, but he didn’t join me as often now that he’d retired and Backup, our other dog, passed away last summer.

  “I’ll join you. You can give me the card back in the morning. That is enough time to order costumes, right?”

  I nodded. I was feeling super happy that he was giving me attention again.

  3

  Klaus

  I’d just gotten home from practice and walked into the house when I saw a package sitting on the counter. As I inspected the label, my dad said, “It’s your package. Any clue what it is?”

  “It should be the costume that Alex ordered.” I lifted up the box so I could head to my room before he started to ask too many questions. Hell, I didn’t know what it was and I was curious what she’d picked out. The mischief on her face when I asked her to the party told me that I was either going to love it or hate it. I’m sure she would have told me if I’d asked, but I think she liked the idea of surprising me.

  Dad grabbed my bicep, preventing the escape, and said, “Not so fast. What are you two up to?”

  “We’re just hanging out and going to the Halloween party together.”

  My dad cocked an eyebrow and nodded to nudge me along. There was no getting out of this discussion. “Come on Klaus, talk to me. I know you aren’t a kid anymore, but . . .”

  “Alex is practically a kid,” I filled in for him. It wasn’t like I hadn’t reminded myself of that at least a hundred times during every lifting session and run we’d done together over the past week. “Honest, Papa, I am being smart. Scotty asked me to train with her. So I am.”

  “What about Halloween? Is this a date? Did you finally take a chance with her?”

  “Yeah, I guess it’s a date, but it’s just the team party. It’s not that bi
g of a deal,” I said, trying to be pretty chill about it. I didn’t even know if it was a proper date.

  “Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”

  “Yeah, I did grab a room at the hotel in case I get too drunk to drive us home, but I haven’t told Alex. I don’t want to freak her out.”

  “You should do the real deal with her. Sweep her off her feet. At least you guys are going to spend Halloween together. Are you having coordinating costumes like from the good old times?”

  “I think so, but I’m not sure. I let her take care of ordering our costumes, so I know nothing. Can I go upstairs and find out what it is in peace?”

  My dad smiled as I turned to walk upstairs. I went up to my bedroom and tore open the box. The first thing I saw was pants that looked so small they were practically tights. Then I saw the puffy white pirate-like shirt. And a vest. I was starting to wonder what Alex had picked out, and then I saw the wig picture and it was clear as day. It was the Goblin King from Labyrinth. One of her favorite movies. Seriously, we had to have watched that Dance Magic Dance and the ballroom scenes a billion times together. I should have known she would want to dress up as Jareth and Sarah one day. I picked up my phone to let Alex know I got the costume.

  K: I swear you only picked this costume so you could see my package.

  A: Package?

  I couldn’t tell if she was being dense or just teasing. So I decided to be just a little clearer.

  K: My dick

  A: It is certainly a perk . . . Do I get to see it on now?

  K: Give me a sec.

  I could have sworn she was flirting with me, and it made me smile to myself. I went ahead and changed into the costume, hoping to God that I didn’t look like a fool. Thankfully, everything fit all right. It was frillier than I would have chosen, but it worked. I knew it would make her happy. I just shoved the wig over my own hair without pulling it up, which made me look a lot more like David Bowie’s character then I ever thought I could. I snapped a photo and sent it over. Before I could pull the wig off, there was a knock on the door.

  I knew it was my dad wanting to know what the costume was. I opened it without saying a word, and he started laughing before saying, “Well, it appears someone has to keep himself in check.”

  “Real supportive, Papa.”

  He just continued to laugh, “I am. You might actually get the girl. She’s doing you a favor making you dress like that. However, your team is going to give you so much hell. I almost want to be there.”

  I groaned. I was not going to the party with him. Sadly, he was right. Webs and Shoresy would have a field day making fun of me. I said, “Guess I’ll need to use some of your old tricks to keep them in line. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take this off.” I shut the door but could still hear my dad’s laughing down the hall.

  I switched back into my joggers and T-Shirt. I was happy to just relax. I heard my phone ping. Here was the moment of truth from Alex.

  A: OMG! That is lit!

  But I have to do your makeup on Halloween.

  K: Fine but no touching my brows.

  A: Don’t worry. I won’t.

  A: This is going to be so epic!

  I could practically see her bouncing up and down in excitement with that huge grin and her ponytail going side to side. That smile and her giddiness was the reason I let her choose our costumes. I regretted not hanging out with her that day, but I hadn’t lifted with her since I needed to rest for the night’s game.

  K: I know this will be a late night for you but any chance you will come to my game tonight and hang out after?

  A: Sure!!!

  That made me smile. It had been great hanging out together again. I felt dumb for staying away from her. Now it was time to introduce her to the guys on a more personal level. She knew them by name and had met them at team events, but she wouldn’t actually have socialized with the guys much. Plus, her being there would give me a reason to play my very best. I rolled over in my bed to take my pre-game nap.

  Alex

  I walked into the family section of the Sound. I grew up in this box. I’d watched my dad play and then gone to some of the games he coached. But tonight felt different. It was the first time I wasn’t going to watch Dad or his team. I was there to watch K play.

  Unsurprisingly, my mom was already there and talking to some friends. Almost immediately, she motioned for me to head over to her. I put on a smile and pulled my hair over my right shoulder. I was used to Mom wanting me to talk with her friends. I would be expected to update them on my own skating career.

  As soon as I came up, my mom pulled me over to one of the beverage areas so the two of us could talk. She got a beer while I just got a bottle of water. She smiled. "I didn't think I would see the day!"

  "What do you mean?" There wasn't anything super special about the day. Okay, I had been wickedly turned on when I saw K in his Halloween costume and he was bigger than I ever imagined. I highly doubted he put on his cup just to try on the costume. Which meant that boy was hung like a horse, but there was no way my mom was going to know about that.

  "You have Lager Jr's jersey on." It was funny how she would call him Lager Jr. She was one of the few people to do so.

  "So?" I didn't see the big deal. Sure, it was a new jersey, but Klaus had only started to play the Sound at the beginning of the season. I'd only been to a handful of games this year, but surely I’d worn it before instead of my dad’s number or generic Sound stuff?

  "You two have spent a ton of time together the past week and now you wear a jersey without the Wheiland name on the back for the first time. Is something going on with you two?"

  "You're crazy. There’s nothing going on. No matter how much I would like it to happen."

  "You keep telling yourself that." My mom just shook her head. She took a sip of her beer and muttered under her breath. "Not like you two aren't perfect for each other."

  I turned my attention to the ice. K was on the right side of the faceoff circle after the icing, but he wasn't in line with Weber, the centerman taking the faceoff. He was higher up on the circle, so he was likely going to take a shot on net. The puck dropped, and Weber won the puck and sent it straight to K. He did a clapper, a hard slapshot, right onto the goal. The puck went past San Jose's goalie. It was the perfect shot. What surprised me the most was he immediately looked towards the family section. I swore we locked eyes as he was getting head taps from his team mates, but he wouldn't have been able to see my eyes.

  I drank my water and focused my attention directly on the ice. I had fun watching the game. I was surprised that my mom stayed by my side the whole game. The two of us were catching up. It seemed like we weren't on the same schedule anymore. We had one more week where she would work a lot before she would travel with me to Japan for a Grand Prix competition.

  Mom said, "Are you going to be heading straight home after the game?"

  "No. I told K that I would go out with him after."

  "Don't stay out too late. You have that 6:30 ice time."

  "Not to mention my morning run. I know, Mom, and so does K. I am not going to give up on my training." I wanted to tell her it was why I was drinking water. I would have loved to get something else, but I needed to hydrate and keep to a strict diet. I couldn't risk putting on weight if I wanted to please the judges.

  As the game went on, it became clear just how strong a game K was having: a goal and four assists. Mom turned to me. "Looks like Klaus is going to keep you waiting tonight."

  I nodded. I knew he would have to talk to the media, which was never fun, but it was expected. At least there was a lounge to hang out in downstairs.

  Afterwards, I headed down through the labyrinth to get to the lounge underneath the arena seats. I ran into Dad on his way to his office between the team meeting and the press conference. "Hey, Kiddo. I didn't realize you were coming tonight."

  "Yeah. Last minute decision."

  "I bet you don't have anything to do w
ith K getting hot tonight," he said with a wink.

  "Why do you and Mom keep thinking there's something going on with me and K?"

  "No reason." My dad was the worst liar. Before I could press him, he gave me a peck on the cheek and said, "I'll try to see if I can get him out of the press a little sooner. But no promises.” And then he was gone.

  I nodded. I knew the routine and understood the need for Klaus to talk to the media. I sat in one of the chairs and sprawled out with my back against one arm and legs over the other. I started to watch some TikTok videos, looking for fun ideas for my next video. I was so absorbed in my phone that I didn't notice K come into the room, let alone sneak up on me, until he stuck his hands in front of my eyes and said, "Peek-a-boo." When he took his hands away, his smiling face was looking down at mine. "Ready to go?"

  I nodded. He held his hand out to help me up.

  4

  Klaus

  It was the Halloween night, I couldn't wait to pick up Alex. I had a little surprise for her since she didn't get any of Jareth's props. Initially, I thought about getting a couple crystal balls to twirl around, but I would have smashed them at the beginning of the night and I didn't want to do that. I knew she would flip seeing the goblin masquerade mask, and I was able to find one pretty easily.

  I drove the ridiculously short distance to her house, although that was more because we had to drive to the hotel and I didn't want to make her walk to my house.

  Ringing the doorbell, I peered through the window panes to see who would answer it. If it was Alex, I would put the mask to my face, but it was the coach who answered. He said, "Holy shit, you guys are going all out tonight, aren't you?"

  I shrugged my shoulders indifferently. I didn't want to make too big a deal out of the fact that my costume showed off pretty much everything. It was something from Alex's fantasies, even if there wasn’t a sexual component. I was curious about which version of Sarah she would dress up as: would she wear the ball gown or the outfit she wore going through most of the maze? Given Scotty's statement, I was guessing it was the ball gown.