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I grit my teeth "We ran into each other recently and hooked back up She's cool and--"

"She's got aand he's never seen this side of me, but stillI can't have that

"I like her," I tell him, and that's the truth I've liked her froed about that "So we're going to see each other and I'll figure it out from there"

"Well, good luck, brother," he says as he grabs his shave kit and turns to the bathroom

"Where did you go tonight?" I ask his retreating back

"Some titty club," he mutters

"Who all went?" I ask, only slightlywith o to a titty bar, because I so can and not be unfaithful, but wellI don't want to go

This is fucking weird

Van stops at the threshold to the bathroom "I went by myself"

"Why?" I ask, because several of my teammates would have been all over that

"Haven't you figured it out by now?" Van tells htest "I'm not a people person I don't want to sit around with the boys and talk about pussy and tits I hang with you because you're tolerable--"

"Gee, thanks," I mutter

"I like ood friend"

And fuckthat kind of makes me sad for the dude I mean, I kneas a bit of a loner because he doesn't co pretty daood

"You've been a decent friend so far," I tell hi to make him feel better or some shit

Van shakes his head and his eyes are hard "Like I saidyou're tolerable But you're my teammate and my roommate, and that's it"

My eyes narrow at his back as he retreats into the bathroom, as this is a side of Van I've not seen and I actually suspect he ht be a little drunk He's a total beast on the ice and can get a little vicious with the opposing team, but that's the nature of a lot of hockey players He can be a cranky bastard, but we all have our days, right? We've not been bosoh to know this is strange behavior

This isn't the Van I know, but he's definitely putting th

I et his take

Looking back to my phone, I pull up my app and send my first ever text to Stephy

Sweet dreams

Her reply isn't iood on Facebook I flip over when I hear the chiroan

Leave me alone I can't text and use my vibrator at the same time

I turn on my side,onto redden your ass for that

She sends me a smiley face in return and I let that be what takes me into sleep as I set my phone on the mattress beside me and close my eyes

Chapter 6

Stephanie

I sit on s curled up under me, and stare out my apartmentI don't even knohat to do today Luc said he was flying back last night and he wanted to do soain since his call after the Breakers gaot was last night after I'd gone to sleep

All it said was, Boarding plane See you soon

I know I should get up and get ready, because that "soon" could be anytiy because I can't drink coffee and it takesnowadays without my beloved caffeine I also feel a little off Not sick, but nancy, or perhaps it's the fact I tossed and turned all night, having funky dreaave birth to a baby hippo and I was so proud of her, butto do with her Not any type of surprise there, really