The Puck Bunny

Twenty-Four

CARTER

I don't know how it had happened, but I'd fallen asleep in Luke's bed. I'd initially left his room when he left for practice. But then I found myself needing his smell to sleep. I'd slept like crap the last few nights thanks to my general distaste for falling asleep, my attempts to put some distance between Luke and myself, and my shocker of a week so far.

So I used the key he'd given me to come and just lay down. Falling asleep wasn't part of the plan, but then all of a sudden I was waking up to Luke in the room, one eyebrow raised as he looked at me in his bed.

"I'm sorry, I just needed to sleep"

"Don't apologise. Explains why you didn't answer your own door just now" He said with a shrug as he walked over to me and pressed a kiss to my lips.

"I need to shower, then I'll tell you about practice"

I nodded as he gathered his things for his shower. I didn't notice any blood on his knuckles, or shirt, or anything really. So my mind was put at ease as I straightened out my hair and made his bed for him.

Almost five minutes later, Luke re-entered with only his towel around his waist.

"Look away, you perv" He joked as I laughed and covered my eyes. I didn't remove them, only when two hands took my own and pulled the away.

"So, practice?" I asked and he laughed, sitting down next to me and leaning against the wall like I was.

"Well I didn't punch him"

"That's a good sign"

"But I did threaten him"

"Not so good"

"Don't worry Pruitt, Cooper didn't even scold me for it. I just told him how it was"

"And how was it?"

"I mentioned that if he kept being a prick, he wasn't going to have any friends. He had a smartass answer about how he doesn't need any, and I told him once the shit between us hits the ice, Coop will get him cut. He's got too much to lose"

"So you think he's going to be nicer?"

"Who knows? Hopefully. Maybe he can stay, and I won't feel like knocking him out every time I see him. Besides, he's fucking amazing on the ice. We could use him"

"Just not his personality"

"Not now, not ever" I looked up at Luke and smiled.

"Thanks Bennett"

"It's nothing"

"It's something to me. I was so scared this was going to ruin everything"

"You think I'd let that happen? Oh! I almost forgot to tell you the funniest part"

"Did you make him wet his pants?"

"Not that funny, god can you imagine? No, I totally said that you were my girlfriend in front of the whole team" He laughed, I chuckled nervously.

Why was that funny to him?

"I mean, seriously. We've known each other a week" He continued.

"Would you not want me to be your girlfriend?"

"No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying we've been friends for a week, to know that now would be kind of ridiculous, don't you think?"

"I guess" I muttered, my stomach beginning to feel queasy.

"You're not upset by that, are you?"

"Well, kind of. I like you Luke and I thought you liked me too. In that way"