Page 29 of Her Puck Daddies

Cecille: That explains why we didn’t see you at the game. ??

Ava: Yeah, haven’t seen her in a while. Be nice to catch up.

Cecille: How about you bring her to coach’s party instead?

Ugh. All I wanted was a quiet space to catch up with Leighton—not a damn party. I'm really not in the mood for this.

Ava: It’s ok. I think we’re going for low key tonight.

Cecille: You’d better get up to it. Coach wants you there. I’ll come grab you guys in an hour.

Dammit.

Ava: Fine.

I quickly blast off another text to Leighton.

Ava: Change of plans. We’re going to the coach’s party in his suite instead.

Leighton: That would have been fun, but our closer just called in sick and I’m not off the hook. I have to pull a double.

Ava: So, I won’t see you tonight at all?

My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach.

Leighton: I don’t think so. Sucks. I’ll have to catch you the next time you’re in town, or I’ll have to find a way to make it down to you. Have fun at the party. Be safe.

Ava: I will. Talk soon.

Well, now I'm not in the mood to do anything. But I don’t want to make a bad impression on coach, so I have to dig deep and push through.

I swap my casual jeans and sweater for a simple black dress—something I’ve learned to always pack while traveling because you never know what might come up. After brushing through my hair and adding a quick swipe of makeup, a knock sounds at my door. It’s Cecille.

“Ready? Where’s your friend?”

Not really. But I say, “She got stuck at work. Looks like it’s just us.”

“Bummer. I wanted to meet her.”

“Tell me about it,” I sigh.

When we arrive, we’re handed champagne and are immediately surrounded by hockey players, most of which are in casual attire. But for some reason, maybe because they appeared with our publicist at the end of the game, Sven, Eric, and Levi are in their suits. Granted, Sven has his tie undone, and both Eric and Levi have their jackets off, ties loose, and their shirts rolled up to the elbows, but damn.

I raise my eyebrows at all the male eye candy—and try not to drool—but I can’t help picturing each of them as they looked the night we had our free-for-all.

“Mmm-mm, love me some hockey players in suits,” Cecille drawls.

“They are handsome,” I agree.

“Oh, girl, this is nothing compared to when the whole team poses for photo shoots. Especially for the annual calendar.”

“There’s a calendar?”

“Actually, there are two. One of them all dressed up and a more uh… NSFW version. The first one is sold to the masses while the other… Well, let’s just say we only post it on our vendor site where you have to be eighteen or older to make a purchase.”

I’m totally intrigued by this new piece of information.

“Are they nude or something?”