“Probably not.”

A hint of a smile appears, and he nods. “Not sure why I bothered asking, since I know you well enough by now to know that’s true. What’s the deal with you and Stevie?”

“She’s rehabbing me.”

“Come on, man. Was it really an accident that you had her on speakerphone tonight? You know how that looked to the rest of the team, right?”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah, it was an accident. I swear. Besides, they don’t know I’m talking to Rook’s sister. Unless Rook has been bitching about it, the only people who know she’s working with me are Rook, Coach, my therapists, and you.”

“Okay, so it was an accident, but how much longer are you going to be able to keep whatever’s going on with the two of you under wraps?”

“Nothing is going on.” Yet, anyway.

“Just be careful, Bishop. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Sure. Yeah.” I don’t know what I need to be careful about, but I agree anyway.

We change into swim shorts and head down to the pool. The room is empty, as is the sauna and the hot tub. I take a selfie of me in the sauna room—no dropped towel—and another one of the hot tub and send them both to Stevie. I don’t expect a response, because it’s late and she has to be up early for work, so I leave my phone with the towels and slip into the hot tub.

The aches from getting back on the ice for the first time are starting to set in, as is the muscle stiffness. I have a massage and a PT session tomorrow once we land in Minnesota, but they’re never as good as the sessions I have with Stevie.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” Kingston is sprawled out across the other side of the hot tub, head resting on the edge.

“Say you were taking a woman to a formal work function. Would you get her flowers or something?” I’ve gone on my fair share of dates, had a few relationships, but I’ve never been one for hearts and flowers or any of that bullshit. I’m thinking I might need to do that with Stevie, though, since she’s been screwed over pretty hard.

Kingston is the kind of guy who would show up with flowers and chocolate on a first date, looking to make a good impression. He’s also the kind of guy who doesn’t sleep with random women for kicks. Even when he was drafted to the NHL and bunnies threw themselves at him, looking to tarnish his golden-boy image, he never got sucked in. Or off, for that matter. But then, he’s had the same girlfriend since the end of college. She’s out in Tennessee, so they’ve been long distance, but still, it seems to work for them. His loyalty is probably part of that.

“Is this a date or a favor for a friend?”

“I guess she thinks I’m doing her a favor.” At least that was the impression that I got when I offered to go with her.

“Is that actually what you’re doing?”

“Yes and no.”

“Can you give me a little more to go on?”

“Her ex is going to be there. He’s an asshole, and I don’t want her to go alone.”

Kingston taps on the edge of the pool. “You don’t want her to go alone because you’re worried he’ll be a jerk or he’ll try to take advantage of her?”

“Sure, yeah, that’s part of the reason.”

“Instead of me dragging the information out of you, why don’t you lay it down for me?” Kingston uncaps the bottle of water he brought down from the room and drains half of it in two long swallows.

“So, Stevie—”

“Hold up, we’re back to Rook’s little sister?”

“Who else would I be talking about?”

“I thought you said there isn’t anything going on between you, and now you’re taking her to some kind of work function? That’s not a favor; that’s a date. Does Rook know?”

“It’s none of his damn business.”

“I’m not sure he’ll see it that way.”

“Well, he doesn’t have control over her or what she does, or what I do.” I’m agitated now. “She’s not going to that thing alone. I don’t trust that ex of hers, and I don’t want her to end up in a situation she doesn’t like.”

Kingston tips his head to the side. “Dang.”

“What?”

“You like her.”

“Well, yeah, I like her.” What’s not to like? She’s gorgeous, there’s no bullshit with the PT rehab, and she’s funny and feisty; her body is rockin’; and she’s fun to be around, super chill, and genuinely selfless.

“Like you actually want to date her, though.”

I shrug, because what am I going to say? The answer to that is yes, I want to date her, but the timing needs to be right. “I don’t want the ex thinking he has another chance. He’s stupid as fuck and can’t take a hint.”

“You really love complicated situations, don’t you?”

“They just tend to find me, is all.”

“When’s this event you’re supposed to take her to?” King asks.

“Saturday.”

He frowns. “We get back at noon on Saturday.”

“It’s in the evening.”

“You better hope our flight isn’t delayed.”