I checked my phone once I’d changed out of my gear, the mood in the locker room subdued after our loss. We’d played a damn good game, but they got us in the shootout. It was hard to be too disappointed with that kind of loss, but the goalies always took it the worst.

Ludo came up and slapped my back. “We’re going out to drown the loss in beers and puck bunnies. You guys coming?”

I could use a beer, that was for sure, but it wasn’t really worth the effort of fighting off the pawing women in the bar. I shook my head. “Nah man, I’m beat. We’ve still got Tampa Bay and then Florida, and I feel wrecked already.”

Ludo shook his head at me. “You’re getting old, Rig. Aw well, I’ll get more options if your pretty face isn’t there stealing all the hot ones.”

I rolled my eyes at him, stripping off my gear and giving it to the equipment manager. He was new to the team, and young, but he knew his shit and I could respect that. Finally, I slipped into my post-game suit. I was ready to get back to the hotel. River was stuck doing post-game press, so I’d just meet him back at our room. We bunked together even now, because it was much easier to put up with the habits of a guy I already knew than Ludo’s inability to shut the door when he took a piss.

I caught the minibus back to the hotel with all the other players who were straight-laced enough not to party on a game night. Or the ones with wives and families who just wanted to go to bed and call them.

I stopped at the convenience store across the street and picked up a six-pack. Not enough to have a hangover, but definitely enough to help me forget the aching parts of my body. I moved quickly through the lobby and into the elevator, mashing the button for our floor. Pulling out my phone, I sent a message to Nova.

Me: Missed you at the game.

Nova: We watched you on the TV. You guys played great.

I also texted Dev in the group chat I had with him and River.

Me: Are you being nice?

There were the three bouncing dots of a reply incoming for a moment, and I wondered if he was writing me a novel. In the end it was only a sentence, but man, it was a twist I didn’t see coming.

Devan: Nova and I had sex.

Air hissed out of my lungs, and I stared at the phone screen, trying to figure out how I felt about that. The doors opened and closed to my floor while I stood there stunned by the revelation, and I cursed softly.

Me: Well, I guess that counts as being nice.