Irresponsible Puckboy (Puckboys, #2)

by Eden Finley

“Is this a commiseration breakfast or a hungover one?” “Can’t it be both?” Dex takes a seat on a stool in my kitchen and lowers his head to the marble counter. “I can’t believe we lost last night.” As a goalie, it’s really hard for me not to take the blame for a loss. It’s a team sport, and I know it’s not my fault, but I’m the one who let those goals in last night. “I can’t believe I let Anton score in the last two minutes,” I say. “We could’ve gone into overtime and won it.” Dex leans in and whispers, “Don’t tell the rest of the team, but I’m kinda happy for Anton and Ezra.” “Of course you are.” And I am too. Dex and I won the Stanley Cup three years ago, and even though the competitive side of me is crushed, I can’t deny I’m happy for Ezra’s first-ever win. I’d still prefer it to be me, but hey, if I had to lose to someone, I’m glad it was to a team that has queer players. Anton and Ezra are the first-ever couple to take home the Cup. There’s only a handful of us out in the league, so we have our own clique outside of our teams. It’s good to have people to talk to who understand what it’s like to be a hockey player with all the extra crap we have to deal with as out athletes. Dex has been there for a lot of the stuff I went through—like derogatory remarks, the media focusing more on my sexuality than playing—but he still doesn’t understand. Not completely. The only ones who do are the guys in the Collective. It’s why we stick together.