Page 68 of Keeping it Real

“What’s that supposed to mean?”Alek kept his voice low.

“Just a guess here, but I’d bet my left nut Hattie wasn’t the one who gave you that love bite last week.Or the scratches on your back.Don’t worry,” Gus said when Alek took another frantic look around the room.“The guys think you’re getting some action with Finn’s teacher.I know that’s not true because my son gossips more than a teenage girl.Which can only mean one thing.You and Jamie’s little sister have progressed from roommates to bedmates.”

Letting go of a few choice words, Alek snatched a towel from the shelf.

“Hey, I’m not complaining.Especially since you seem more grounded.More focused in the net,” Gus continued.“Except things were already complicated between you two before you added sex into the mix, you know?I don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”Gus spread his arms wide.“You’re my best friend, man.No one wants to see things work out for you guys more than I do.But three hearts are in play here.And one of them has already taken quite a few body checks.Tread carefully, that’s all.”

With those pearls of wisdom delivered, Gus headed to the showers.Alek’s phone rang before he could follow.His agent’s face popped up on the screen.

“Hey, Col,” Alek answered.

“That was some headline-grabbing goal keeping tonight, Bergeron.Kellogg better start counting his money because I see a performance bonus in your future if you keep this up.”

A performance bonus that would net Collin fifteen percent.

“It’s a long season,” Alek replied.“Don’t go spending it yet.”

Collin chuckled.“Oh, I have no doubt we will both be hearing a little cha-ching come playoff time.But listen, I didn’t call about that.An opportunity has come up for you to score some great name recognition in front of a national television audience.”

“Yeah, what’s that?”

Players were beginning to file back in from the showers.

“The Growlers have a game tomorrow night in front of a nationally televised Thursday night audience.Luke Kessler is doing one of his Adopt a Doggie promos before the game.I got you an invite.”

“Me?Why me?”

“For fuck’s sake, Bergeron, don’t you even look at social media?Your dog is famous.”

Alek made his way to the showers.“Finn’s dog.”

“Yes.And people are eating up the charity he and his cute little teacher thought up.Look, Kessler is really grateful for all the donations of dog toys you’ve given to the shelters he supports.He wants you, Finn, Hattie, and the teacher to join him on the field pregame so he can recognize your contributions.Here’s our chance to give pro hockey its moment in front of fans who might not otherwise watch the sport.”

“Wow.Finn will eat that up.”

“I know, right?”Collin paused.“There’s just one teensy problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Sheridan.She says no go because”—he pitched his voice higher—“it’s a school night.And Alek and I have rules.”Collin groaned.“Christ, man, you two are much stricter than Jamie and Madison ever were.Finn has spent half his life in a bar, for crying out loud.”

His agent’s comment had Alek halting in the middle of the hallway leading to the showers.He could hear Valentine butchering a Drake song while the Swedes tried to drown him out with their rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

“Were they happy?”Alek had no idea what made him ask the question.

“Werewhohappy?”

“Madison and Jamie.”

Why the hell do you even care?

Collin didn’t reply right away.“I guess?I mean, I didn’t see them that often after he left Boston, but they always seemed fine.”The line beeped.“Hey, I have to take this call.You’ll work some magic with Sheridan and convince her to say yes?”

Oh, he was planning on performing quite a lot of magic on Sheridan.

Gus arched his eyebrows and tapped his finger against his wrist with the universal sign to hurry things along.

“Consider it done.But I’ll need two extra tickets,” Alek told Collin.“Finn will want to bring his best friend and his dad to the Growlers game tomorrow night, too.”