A shadow passed over Frankie’s features, but he crouched down. “You know, Teddy taught me a lot over the years. Maybe I can keep helping you where he left off.”
“Really?” Luca asked.
“Really.” Frankie held out his knuckles for a fist bump.
Luca returned the gesture, grinning. “You better fuel up. My mom brought all her best stuff from the bakery, but the cupcakes are my favorite!”
Frankie straightened and patted his stomach. “I never say no to baked goods.”
As Frankie headed for the bakery table, my gaze connected with Marcus’s. There was no warmth there. “Figures we’d have to swoop in to save your ass.”
A muscle in my cheek started to flutter, but before I could say a word, Arden stepped forward just as Gretzky let out a little growl from her arms. “Just consider it returning the favor for that time he savedyourass when you lost the puck in the game against Phoenix.”
Marcus’s green eyes flashed in annoyance and something else. Surprise, maybe?
Luca giggled at my side, not reading the underlying tension in the exchange. “He did save you.”
Marcus’s gaze flicked to Luca, and I braced. I had a feeling both Arden and I would take him down if he was unkind to Luca. But Marcus shot him a grin and crouched so he was on the boy’s level. “I bet you would’ve done a better job of getting me out of that jam. Would’ve stolen that puck a heck of a lot faster, too.”
I clapped a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “There’s no doubt about that.”
Luca grinned up at me. “I can’t wait to make it to the pros.”
“Oh, my fucking cupcake gods,” Frankie mumble-yelled around a mouthful of cupcake. “This is heaven in baked form. There are Oreos in this.” He held up a non-half-eaten one. “And look at the little hockey dude on top.”
Everyone turned toward him, a few teammates picking up treats and taking bites.
Frankie turned to Sutton as he swallowed. “Please, tell me you’ll move to Seattle and open a bakery. Hell, move to Seattle and marry me.”
One of the enforcers choked on a laugh. “Uh, Frankie, you may wanna reconsider those words. Reaper looks like he’s about to straight-up murder your ass.”
Frankie shoved another bite of cupcake into his mouth. “Don’t care. It would be worth it.”
Sutton blushed and shot me a look, shaking her head.
A flash of red hair caught my attention, and I winced. I should’veguessed that Linc would want Angie here, but I hadn’t thought about Angie and Sutton being in the same space for a prolonged period.
She crossed to me, a warm smile in place. Even in her sharp business suit with a pencil skirt and high heels, she still had to stretch up onto her toes to kiss my cheek.
Fuck.
I instantly stepped back, but Angie didn’t read the move. She just beamed up at me. “How are you, Cope?”
“Good, Ang. You?” I asked, but my gaze flicked to Sutton.
Sutton busied herself at the bakery table, but I didn’t miss how her expression had gone impassive. Not mad or hurt, just…nothingness.
A hand landed on my forearm. “Cope, are you listening at all?”
“Sorry.” I moved out of Angie’s range again. “What?”
“I thought it might be good for you to give the reporters outside a few minutes. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
I couldn’t help the scowl that rose to my mouth. “Don’t you think that completely contradicts the whole point of this? We’re supposed to be getting eyesoffme and on the rest of the team. Have a couple of the other guys do it. Marcus and Frankie. They’re good in front of the camera.”
And maybe between that and Luca’s charm, Marcus would chill the hell out for a while.
Angie’s lips pursed. “They want to talk toyou. I’m not sure they’ll be happy with Marcus and Frankie. I can guide the conversation away from your friendship with Ms. Holland.”
