Page 30 of Wake Me Up (New England Bay Sharks #5)

“Y ou’re, like, weirdly happy today,” Kolt says, eyeing me over. “I don’t get it.”

Kolt is the most like me on the team, except he looks way more terrifying than I do.

He’s covered in tattoos, and he has a way of scaring the fuck out of our opponents without saying a word.

He’s got this icy stare that goes with his huge-ass muscles, and I think I least expected him, out of everyone, to get injured to the point of being out the entire season.

“Am not,” I toss back. “That’s all you, brother. Don’t feel bad. If I had a wife and she returned to play nurse for me when I got hurt, I’d be a happy fucker too.”

“Yeah, I mean, having a heart attack kind of sucked, but it did bring Paige back to me … so can I really be angry at the dude who hit me or my ol’ ticker?

” He pats his chest. “I think not.” His expression turns serious when he narrows his eyes.

“Back to you, my friend. Why is your face doing this strange thing I think normal people call smiling?”

“It’s not.” I lace my right skate up tightly. “You’re just happy so you think everyone else is too, bud.”

“Wouldn’t have anything to do with that doughnut lady, would it?” he drawls, popping a Starburst in his mouth and keeping his eyes set on me. “Because you seemed pretty fond of her, and also … I’ve never had anyone bring my ass an assortment of baked goods.” He chuckles. “Not even my wife.”

“Nah. Didn’t you hear?” Smith chimes in from God knows where.

“Talmage and Sterns rescued her when her tire was flat. She wanted to repay them.” His voice stops from behind me.

“Though I will say, she’s wife material.

Did you try one of her scones? Fucking life-changing.

And don’t even get me started on the cinnamon rolls. ”

“That’s right. I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time.” I shrug casually. “She’s a nice lady and wanted to thank Logan and me for helping her out.” I raise a brow. “And then all of you greedy fucks reaped the benefits by stuffing your faces.”

Kolt doesn’t seem to be buying anything we’re saying, even though, in Smith’s defense, he doesn’t know I’ve kind of become a bit infatuated with this woman or just how deep I really am.

Finishing up my left skate, I stand up. “All right, enough gossiping, you lazy fucks. Let’s get to work.”

“We still on for drinks tonight?” Smith calls behind me as he follows me out of the locker room.

“Yeah, you’re buying,” I utter. “I’d ask Kolburne, but he’s gotta rush home to his nurse. I mean, wife.”

“Fucking right I do,” Kolt grumbles in his true Kolt voice. “If you had a woman like Paige, so would you.”

I don’t even answer because I know, hands down … that fucker is right.