Page 69 of Pucking the Team

We ate together. The hockey game had been replaced with a music channel that was easier on my ears. The paella was perfect—the rice al dente and the flavors rich. There were many compliments.

“Where’d you learn to cook?” Eduardo asked.

“My mother, she was a chef, taught me something most days.”

“Great skill to have,” Ben said. “I can make eggs and throw a pizza in the oven and that’s about it.”

“You chopped the onions brilliantly for this paella.” I laughed.

“Not doing that again, my eyes still hurt.” He pulled a face.

“But go ahead and cook this again.” Dylan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his flat abdomen. “So good, much better than a takeout.”

“Better thanCiao!?” I asked.

“Actually…” He nodded. “Sure is, but don’t tell Benita, I don’t think I’d survive her wrath. She might be little, but she’s damn fierce”

Eduardo glanced at his watch. “I’m going to love you and leave you all. Tomorrow is big practice day.”

“It is?” Theo asked.

“Yep.” Ben raised his eyebrows. “Coach wants us all to do ten miles before we start the practice session. Apparently, we’ve been sitting on planes and buses too much lately.”

“Fair enough.” Theo shrugged. “Got to be done.”

“Ah, damn, I forgot about that.” Dylan stood. “Let’s clean this up. I gotta get some sleep if we’re hitting the gym pre-practice.”

“I’ll sort this out.” I gathered plates. “I haven’t got anywhere to be tomorrow.”

“Nah, we’ll help.” Dylan picked up the giant paella pan from the middle of the table.

“No, really,” I said. “I insist. You head off.”

“Yeah, you guys go, we’ll help Pippa,” Ben said, standing. “And there isn’t much to do.”

“You sure?” Eduardo, who was sitting to my left side, said.

“Yes, of course.” I smiled at him.

He pressed a kiss to my cheek, his scent wrapping around me for the second time that day and bringing back sexy memories. “I’ll see you tomorrow,ma choue.”

“Goodnight.”

Dylan rested his hands on my shoulders. He kissed the top of my head. “Sleep well, and don’t worry about anything, okay?”

“I won’t.” I rested my hand over his. “Or at least I’ll try not to.”

“You do that.”

Eduardo and Dylan left. It was dark outside now and the pool area lit with blue lights that reflected onto the kitchen ceiling in shimmering waves.

Ben was stacking the dishwasher. Theo was putting things away in the refrigerator. He paused for a moment and removed his fleece, tossed it onto a barstool to the right of the island.

In the creases of both of his elbows were small white Band-Aids.

I frowned. What on earth was going on?

He’d been acting very strange, like a weight was on his shoulders, and now I had a feeling it was to do with his health. But I wasn’t one to pry. If he wanted to tell me, he would.