Page 19 of Unmasking Love (D.C. Renegades #1)

They’ve stolen moves from all the top boy band videos from the early 2000s and a few line dance elements.

Based on the number of phones recording us I have a feeling this is going to be everywhere.

Luckily, I am somewhat competent on the dance floor, even if it is a talent I rarely share.

My min d starts to drift to the image of Harper dancing with me in a club. Or even better, for me in the bedroom.

I snap out of it when Bryson bumps into me and I realize I stopped moving. Get it together man.

With a few grapevine steps right, a twirl, and a heel kick (this was the line dance heavy portion), Boris/Bobby Pickett’s voice fades out and the room erupts in applause. The giggling kids and their delighted parents bring a smile to my normally neutral face.

I look over at Bryson who is breathing heavily like he just completed a dance number on broadway and when he turns to me his eyes fucking sparkle.

“Dude! That was amazing!” He claps me on the shoulder as I walk back towards my locker.

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun.”

“We gotta make sure we do it early at the party because if I’m tipsy there’s no way I’m going to hit my marks.” He says, totally serious. No hint of humor or sarcasm to be found.

“Right,” I reply because I’m not sure what else to say. Thankfully he continues.

“And, with GT there I really want to do well.”

“Who’s GT?” I ask, not familiar with this nickname.

“E.T.'s Grandma Turner!” Duncan chimes in. “She’s the freaking best. She comes to the Halloween party every year.”

“It’s her favorite holiday.” Emmett mutters.

“I can’t wait to meet her,” I say as I finish undressing.

Luke helps to gather up my equipment which will be taken over from the practice facility to the arena for our game.

As starting goalie, Gavin has a separate set of pads he uses for practice so those stay here, it helps keep his game gear in top condition.

I d on’t have to worry about that since I only see the ice once a month, at best.

The bike ride home is the reset I needed.

I left practice feeling a little down that I won’t be playing, again.

Some days it takes a mental toll to practice and condition so I’m game ready but knowing it won’t matter.

But the sunshine on my face, the wind in my ears, and the steady pedaling got me out of the funk.

After a quick mermaid bowl for lunch, I send Harper my midday check in.

How often do you bake cakes?

I head to the bathroom and strip down for a shower before my nap and when my phone pings I instinctively cover my cock with one hand as I read Harper’s text with the other.

Occasionally. I’ve been baking more bread lately.

The teamwork aspect of it is nice for those of us who aren’t professional athletes.

What does she mean? Is she baking with someone? And why am I texting her about baking while naked.

What do you mean?

Me and my oven. I mix, he cooks.

Kind of like “I’ll wash, you dry”?

Exactly! See, you get it.

You said “he” - why is your oven a man?

Because boys name their cars after women so I wanted to name my oven after a man. I’m not riding him but he is a fan of my muffins.

I chuckle. She knew that one was innuendo. Right? I lean a hip against the counter only to jump back in surprise at the cold. I forgot I was texting her naked. One last one and then I’ll shower. I can text her when I’m out and in sweats.

What’s the muffin man’s name?

I go to set my phone down but see that she’s typing. So I reach in and start the water while I wait.

Jared

Jared…

IYKYK

Clearly I don’t know because I can’t figure out who she is talking about. The only Jared I can think of is the sandwich guy and I vaguely remember him getting arrested and falling from grace. I doubt that’d be the guy.

I spend my shower racking my brain to think of who she might have named him after. Appliance brand? No. Famous character? Not from any movies I’ve seen. I doubt she went down a hockey rabbit hole and is naming him after an ECHL hall of famer, Jared Bednar.

Before I climb into bed I give into my curiosity and ask.

Okay, I give up. I don’t know.

LOL! Have you been stewing this whole time?

Stewing and showering.

No fair, you’ve seen me naked but I have to try and work up that image.

She wants to see me naked? Does she know that all she has to do is ask? That I’m hers for the taking?

I’m sure we can level the playing field sometime.

I pull the sheet up over my chest. Seeing me naked will lead to more questions than she can even imagine. She has no idea what hides against my skin.

Promise?

Pinky promise. But who the hell is Jared?

I’ll tell you after I see you naked.

***

I try to make the most of sitting on the bench. I watch for kids who scramble to the tunnel and toss towels or practice pucks their way whenever I can. I also enjoy my little jump seat during the games but I haven't enjoyed it nearly as much since Harper sat on the other side of the glass.

Tonight the Forever Home puppy people are there again but this time it’s a blond guy and a brunette with a high ponytail holding the dogs.

I admit the little black dog with a white spot between his eyes and two white front paws, like he stepped in paint, is cute.

And the way he bumps his nose along the glass and then sniffles to clear his nostrils is adorable.

I've managed to only watch the pup during stoppages like this one. He spotted me this time so we're pawing at each other through the gl ass.

The crowd giggles and "awwws" at something on the jumbotron and so I look up to find my face on the twenty foot screen.

I blush under my D.C. Renegades special edition hat and I turn my attention back to the team who are also cooing at the image.

Felix skates over to the glass to get the pup's attention.

"I wish I could sit on the bench and play with puppies. You've got the best job in the world, Young Gun."

"Yeah, it's all fun and games over here." I mutter. If you consider living in perpetual fear you'll be traded again, fun. Or if managing the pressure of being the guy your team relies on in an emergency you can't plan for, a game.

The ref whistles us back from the TV timeout and I pivot towards the ice.

We've got twelve minutes left in the period and it's tied 1-1.

This could go either way. Both goals were scored in the first so neither team had a momentum swing going into the third.

This is grind it out, get pucks to the net, dirty hockey.

The boys cycle through their lines, Coach is moving everyone through quickly to keep legs fresh.

He'll put the first string on for the final minute and a half so the final ten minutes of the game are broken down into thirty second increments for the defense and twenty for the offense.

Gavin is playing smart and holding the puck for a whistle at the right time or shuffling it out to the boards when they're changing lines.

Hockey is a game of constant motion. Even when play is stopped the boys are moving around. The puck never stops moving and when your team is in control the world feels hopeful.

Like now, with three minutes left in the game, Emmett and Bryson hop over the boards and break up the play at center ice, pivoting it towards our offensive zone.

Bryson fires it across the ice to Emmett who takes it into the zone. He's pulled both defensemen to him and I see the goal as it unfolds.

Bry son moves straight to the net and Emmett lines up in what looks like a shot.

Their defenseman drops to a knee to try and block the shot but instead it flies past him on his backside, through the second defenseman who just now remembered to cover Bryson.

Boder redirects with a quick wrist flick and the puck sails over the diving goalie's shoulder and into the back of the net.

The buzzer sounds, Renegades starts to blare from the speakers, and the boys pile on Bryson to celebrate.

The final two minutes of play feel like a penalty kill. They've pulled their goalie for the extra man. We're protecting the crease and they can't get the puck down low. Bryson blocks a shot up high but can't quite scramble to the rebound.

Another shot gets fired and Gavin knocks it down to the side with his blocker. We let one of their guys hold it behind the net and scramble to cover the other men on the ice. Our guys stick to them like glue. Getting into the passing lanes.

Twenty seconds left and this is their final chance. They swing the puck out wide to the far side. A shot from the slot gets blocked and the puck ricochets to the corner where Felix protects it, killing time, keeping the puck in place under his skates so they can't get a final shot.

The game buzzer sounds and the tension melts off the bench as we all exhale.

It's October hockey, there are sixty eight games left but you'd think we just won the first game of the finals.

That's the level of intensity this team brings to the ice. Every game.

But it's countered by the playfulness and camaraderie off the ice.

Bryson gets selected for the "Star of the Game" and has to give a quick interview. I catch it on the screen as I get to the locker room.

"What went through your mind ahead of the game winning goal?" The reporter asks.

"Co ach was barking for me to line change, so I'd be fresh for that final push but I saw how both defensemen were pulling towards E.T.

and I knew there'd be an opening." He drags his hand through his sweaty hair.

"I felt like a kid flying on the pond giving the play-by-play for his breakaway.

It was fun and I'm proud it got us the win. "

"How are you going to celebrate? Happy Birthday, by the way."

Bryson laughs, "Thank you! Yeah, I don't know what we're going to do but a shower and post game meal are my top priority."

"Thanks Bryson," the reporter starts and then I hear "whoa!"

I look back at the camera to see Felix and Duncan squirting Bryson, and the reporter behind him, with water. It's the hockey equivalent of dumping the gatorade cooler.

The locker room is buzzing. There’s talk of tomorrow’s Halloween party, the guys with kids promising they’ll stop by for trick or treating. The single guys asking Felix if he’s invited any girls.

My mind flies to Harper and our texts from earlier. It was definitely flirty and while I still don’t know who Jared is I don’t really care. She wants to see me naked and I want to find a way to make that happen.

“Young Gun, you in?” Bryson asks from across the room.

“For what?” I have to ask because I wasn't listening to them. I was thinking about Harper, naked.

“For the club tonight? French Fry is going to drive and he called ahead to get a table in the back. We’re celebrating the win and my birthday!”

“Yeah, I’m in.”

“You can rack your bike on the back of my car!” Felix says with excitement in his eyes.

I laugh, “Will do, Bud.”