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I knew Jerke worked hard behind the scenes to have possible successors for the older players who would be retiring soon. It was only a matter of time, and I got excited thinking about who he might be able to sign as people retired.

Rumours were circulating about the Gators wanting a change in their offensive line.

I get it.

Chase Harper was more of a liability than an asset these days. While he was a fantastic player—something I wouldn’t admit even under torture—he made tabloid headlines at least once a week for everything and anything you could think of. He got in fights. His seemingly countless hook ups gave scandalous anonymous interviews. Or inexplicably yet another deal he made with an underwear company.

But without Harper, their roster didn’t make any sense. I tilted my head up into the shower spray, letting the water run down my face and body.

I just hoped that Jerke stayed the fuck away from him. His position would fit our needs. Our right winger, Leo Schramm, turned thirty-six at the end of the year and would likely retire at the end of the season.

But fuck no. We didn’t need someone like him.

The game was hard won, but we ended ahead by two points, unfortunately, also with an injury for Nate. The Füchse’s new defenceman, Adin Williams, was lithe for a position that usually depended on bulk. But he made up for it with his wicked fast speed and ruthlessness on the boards. That asshole tackled Nate to the boards so hard that he smacked his head. Now, Nate was out under concussion protocol.

It was good that we didn’t play in Veitsreuth, or I was sure Vee would have dismembered Williams for hurting his precious baby.

Just like Jules threatened to hurt Lipponen.

I reclined on my hotel bed, headphones on so I didn’t have to hear Bo being all cute on the phone with Ollie.

Although, it barely bothered me these days. The only twinge of sadness I felt was that I couldn’t just call Jules, too.

Only one day to go.

I missed him like crazy, even more from five hundred kilometres away. One night here, a bus journey back to Veitsreuth, training, a good night’s sleep, and then I could suck and kiss the shit out of him—and he out of me.

Trying to steer my thoughts away from Jules giving me head, I snacked on a few handfuls of nuts, downed some water, and got ready for bed. I was fucking exhausted.

“I can’t wait to get home,” Bo said as we were about to leave the hotel the next morning. “I miss my man.”

“Yeah, same,” I replied without thinking and got a cocked eyebrow back. Then his face split into a grin, exposing his gleaming fangs to me.

“Nikolai, youfox! Are you dating someone?”

I felt my cheeks heat, and Bo’s grin widened.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about it. Is he hot?”

“So hot,” I muttered, unable to suppress my smile.

“Aw.” Bo clapped me on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you smiling again, Nik.”

Don’t start crying now.

“Yeah, feels better, too.”

“Where did you meet? Do we know him?”

“No. We met in the forest, actually. I lost my way, and he saved me from a storm.”

“Gods, that’s the perfect love story. You deserve it.” He clapped his hand to my shoulder again. Had I been a smaller man my knees would have buckled from the impact.

“Thanks, Bo.”

“Come on, let’s get back on the bus and home to our men.”

The bus ride back to Veitsreuth sucked. I usually didn’t mind it at all; it was a comfortable carriage, and we listened to music or read and some played cards or games on their handheld consoles.