Me: You look so fucking beautiful. I can’t wait to see you in five days. Literally counting down the hours.

Nova: You’re not mad?

Me: Fuck no. As long as you are happy, I’m happy. Though if Dev is a two-pump chump, I’m more than happy to kick him in the dick for you.

Nova: I’ll keep that in mind haha.

I finally made it into my room, pushing through the door and flopping down onto the bed. I didn’t even bother waiting until the door was completely closed before pulling off my tie and taking off my jacket and heavily starched shirt. I draped it all over the back of a chair, knowing I’d have to wear it again the night after next.

I placed the beer on the nightstand and cracked one open, leaning against the headboard on the too firm bed. I didn’t really want to talk to her about Devan; what was between them was just that—between them. So instead, I texted her about Huey, about the game, about the chocolates she was going to make me. I texted her even though she was in bed with Devan and he probably had her naked body pressed against his.

I was still texting her when River walked in, and I quickly flicked to the other group chat. There was a little note that said Seen by everyone. So he knew. But his face was way more impassive than I thought it would be.

I looked up at him expectantly as he threw his bag at the end of the bed and grabbed a beer.

“Good game tonight. Fucking shootout sucked. You know Coach Soukal is going to ride Virtanen’s ass for letting that goal bounce off his skate and back into the net.”

I winced. I wouldn’t want to be our goalie, Virtanen. The kid was tough. He was from Finland, and he didn’t take much crap from the press or the fans. But anyone would wither under the sheer disapproval of Coach Soukal.

I narrowed my eyes at River. “You don’t want to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?”

I snorted. “You know about what. Don’t be an asshole.”

“You mean about Nova and Dev? Wasn’t that the point of this whole thing? Did you really believe they weren’t going to have sex at the first opportunity they had to be alone? Because the opportunities for privacy living with two other dudes and a baby are slim. I’m not surprised they decided to take the step while we were on the road.”

He drank half his beer in one gulp and I did the same. “You don’t think it was a little quick?”