Page 4 of Playing for Keeps

“Lewis, I hope you’re fixing that before we leave,” Coach Clark hollered from the end of the table, pointing at the reindeer.

“Sure thing, Coach,” I said.

My teammate Ali twisted round in his chair to look. He snorted, then muttered, “How come Rudolph’s getting more action than I am at the moment?”

“Well, he is better looking than you.”

Ali punched me on the arm and I smirked at him.

“As long as you don’t join the reindeer for a threesome,” Reuban said to Ali. “Our sex lives have already made enough headlines this year.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Aiden Jones deadpanned from the other side of the table, which caused everyone around him to fall about laughing. Yeah, not only was Jonesy the first New Zealand rugby player to come out as gay, he’d also revealed at the same time that he was in a relationship with Tyler Bannings, the Auckland Greens’ first five—and Jonesy’s main competition for the New Zealand starting spot.

“Hey, not sure if The Ice King is completely to blame. I’m pretty sure I saw Jacob’s ugly mug staring at me from a magazine cover recently,” Isaiah said.

Yeah, that had been another shock to the New Zealand rugby ecosystem. Jacob’s relationship with his new boyfriend had caused social media to blow up again, partly because Jacob’s ex-wife was a famous actress and he was the son of the legendary hard man of New Zealand rugby.

Jacob shrugged. “Couldn’t let Jonesy have all the fun.”

“Whatever floats your boat,” Scottie said.

“Think that might become our team motto,” Ali commented.

“But we’re drawing the line at screwing reindeers, just to be clear.”

Levi looked blearily at his phone. “Hey Coach, the New Zealand Telegraph wants me to comment on the Marauders signing Luke Hunter.”

My breath slammed out of me.

Shit. Even after all these years, just hearing Luke’s name was like getting stabbed in the heart.

A grin slid onto Coach’s face. “Merry Christmas.”

Zach raised an eyebrow. “We got Hunter?”

Coach nodded.

Whooping erupted around the table.

My heart pounded.

So, it was happening.

Ever since I’d heard the rumors about the Marauders looking to sign Luke, low grade nausea had decided my stomach was a great place to hang out. Now it morphed into a full-blown sinking feeling.

“Shit,” someone said. “Really?”

“That’s fucking fantastic.”

“Who’s Hunter?” Niko, one of the new squad members, asked.

“Awesome fullback. Plays in Japan. He’s one of the stars of their domestic league. There were rumors he was looking to come home. And now he’s coming to us.”

“Wicked,” Isaiah said.

I stood abruptly, my chair legs scraping the polished floorboards. I needed air.

Unfortunately, fresh air was in short supply in mid-December when the Canterbury nor’wester had pushed the temperature into the low thirties.