Hockey With Benefits

“Dude.”

Wes said as he swung into the seat next to me. I’d picked the middle range on purpose. Not in the back where guys tend to play their music or video games, and also not up in front where one of the coaches might see me and pull me in for a chat. They liked to connect with their players when they could, but not today for me. It’d been fucking phenomenal with Mara last night, but she had warned me. I needed sleep, badly. We had a good four-hour ride before our pre-game skate so I was planning on using it.

“Dude, move.”

“What? You serious?”

I gave him a nod. Loved the guy. He was my floormate too, but I was meaning business today. Wes liked to chat. I was not into that today.

He studied me a second before sighing and nodding. “I’m seeing what you’re putting down, but I’ll stay till the rest of the guys sit and then switch.”

I gave a nod, holding up my fist.

He met it with his, settling in and pulling his phone out.

I had mine out and put in headphones, slipped on my shades, and sat back to start sleeping asap.

I had a game to rest up for.