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The Games We Play
Conditioning Loan: The Games We Play - Season 2
When a hockey star asks him to dance at a club, minor league forward Taylor Wilson is thrilled. Maybe that cute teammate who laughed in his face was wrong after all, and he is good enough for someone.
But then that star loses interest and bails… leaving Taylor back at bruised ego square one.
The universe isn’t done, either—months later, that star is getting ready to return to his team after an injury. The last step in his rehab? A two-week conditioning loan to Taylor’s team.
Vasily Abashev is excited to play for the Everett Orcas because it means he’s one step closer to being reactivated. He just isn’t expecting that cute guy he met at the dance club last summer to be his temporary teammate. Or linemate.
This could either be the longest two weeks of their lives… or not nearly enough time to work up the nerve for a do-over from last summer.
The Games We Play - Season 2 is the second season of this multi-author minor league hockey romance series! All titles run concurrently through the same hockey season and the books can be read in any order, so jump in anywhere!
But then that star loses interest and bails… leaving Taylor back at bruised ego square one.
The universe isn’t done, either—months later, that star is getting ready to return to his team after an injury. The last step in his rehab? A two-week conditioning loan to Taylor’s team.
Vasily Abashev is excited to play for the Everett Orcas because it means he’s one step closer to being reactivated. He just isn’t expecting that cute guy he met at the dance club last summer to be his temporary teammate. Or linemate.
This could either be the longest two weeks of their lives… or not nearly enough time to work up the nerve for a do-over from last summer.
The Games We Play - Season 2 is the second season of this multi-author minor league hockey romance series! All titles run concurrently through the same hockey season and the books can be read in any order, so jump in anywhere!
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2025
83 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Witt
219 books2,750 followersL.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.
Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 17, 2026
When a hockey star asks him to dance at a club, minor league forward Taylor Wilson is thrilled. Maybe that cute teammate who laughed in his face was wrong after all, and he is good enough for someone. But then that star loses interest and bails… leaving Taylor back at bruised ego square one.
The universe isn’t done, either—months later, that star is getting ready to return to his team after an injury. The last step in his rehab? A two-week conditioning loan to Taylor’s team. Vasily Abashev is excited to play for the Everett Orcas because it means he’s one step closer to being reactivated. He just isn’t expecting that cute guy he met at the dance club last summer to be his temporary teammate. Or linemate. This could either be the longest two weeks of their lives… or not nearly enough time to work up the nerve for a do-over from last summer.
Taylor has decided rg=that he needs to go to a club. His self-esteem has taken a beating thanks to a former teammate who is now playing for a team on the other side of the country. He wasn’t exactly happy about being traded from Vegas to Everett, Washington, but at least there's Seattle’s gay scene for him to explore. When he decides to rake himself to the club, he sees someone there that he never expected to see.... Vasily Abashrv.
Vasily was a shining star on the Vegas team but was traded to the Seattle team. He and his ex... who was also a teammate... had a really terrible, really public breakup that caused Vasily to be traded. His ex was very different from him...he had a pedigree and lots of money, so of course it was Vasily who had to go. He’s now going to "test the waters" and go out the first time. At the club, a gorgeous young guy catches his eye. They dance. They kiss. They leave the dancefloor and Vasily realizes he can't so this...he's not ready for this yet... he leaves. What he doesn’t realize is that Taylor, the man he left, takes this rejection very personally because of course, he has baggage of his own.
We now fast forward to the next season. Vasily has been injured...a severe knee strain. At the end of his rehab, he’s sent to Everett, Washington for a two-week loan in order to get time on the ice before returning to his team. Vasily feels like there is something very familiar Taylor Wilson, who goes by the nickname of Wils. Finally, he realizes that Wils is none other than the guy he had danced with in Vegas. Taylor is furious and shares just how bad he felt that Vasily didn’t recognize him. When Vasily shares just how bad his breakup was, Taylor realizes that they were really neither one in a good headspace and the whole thing has probably worked out for the best.
The coach puts them on the same line and eventually they start to get it together and begin to bring out the best in each other. Eventually, the attraction between them comes back...but just when they are getting closer and decide to maybe give a relationship a try, well things go south again.
I really did enjoy the story in spite of all the on again off again drama. Both guys see in each other something valuable. This was a fairly good M/M romance. It had enough heat and spice in it to make the "Happy Ever After" a good one. The 4-star rating had nothing to do with the way the story was written, I just don't really care much for sports stories but didn't want to just give up on it.
The universe isn’t done, either—months later, that star is getting ready to return to his team after an injury. The last step in his rehab? A two-week conditioning loan to Taylor’s team. Vasily Abashev is excited to play for the Everett Orcas because it means he’s one step closer to being reactivated. He just isn’t expecting that cute guy he met at the dance club last summer to be his temporary teammate. Or linemate. This could either be the longest two weeks of their lives… or not nearly enough time to work up the nerve for a do-over from last summer.
Taylor has decided rg=that he needs to go to a club. His self-esteem has taken a beating thanks to a former teammate who is now playing for a team on the other side of the country. He wasn’t exactly happy about being traded from Vegas to Everett, Washington, but at least there's Seattle’s gay scene for him to explore. When he decides to rake himself to the club, he sees someone there that he never expected to see.... Vasily Abashrv.
Vasily was a shining star on the Vegas team but was traded to the Seattle team. He and his ex... who was also a teammate... had a really terrible, really public breakup that caused Vasily to be traded. His ex was very different from him...he had a pedigree and lots of money, so of course it was Vasily who had to go. He’s now going to "test the waters" and go out the first time. At the club, a gorgeous young guy catches his eye. They dance. They kiss. They leave the dancefloor and Vasily realizes he can't so this...he's not ready for this yet... he leaves. What he doesn’t realize is that Taylor, the man he left, takes this rejection very personally because of course, he has baggage of his own.
We now fast forward to the next season. Vasily has been injured...a severe knee strain. At the end of his rehab, he’s sent to Everett, Washington for a two-week loan in order to get time on the ice before returning to his team. Vasily feels like there is something very familiar Taylor Wilson, who goes by the nickname of Wils. Finally, he realizes that Wils is none other than the guy he had danced with in Vegas. Taylor is furious and shares just how bad he felt that Vasily didn’t recognize him. When Vasily shares just how bad his breakup was, Taylor realizes that they were really neither one in a good headspace and the whole thing has probably worked out for the best.
The coach puts them on the same line and eventually they start to get it together and begin to bring out the best in each other. Eventually, the attraction between them comes back...but just when they are getting closer and decide to maybe give a relationship a try, well things go south again.
I really did enjoy the story in spite of all the on again off again drama. Both guys see in each other something valuable. This was a fairly good M/M romance. It had enough heat and spice in it to make the "Happy Ever After" a good one. The 4-star rating had nothing to do with the way the story was written, I just don't really care much for sports stories but didn't want to just give up on it.
October 15, 2025
3.5 stars
Pretty sweet novella ...
Although it started with misunderstanding but Taylor and Vasily communicated enough to understand what happened when they met at the dance club prior to Vasily joining Orcas on conditioning loan. Yes, they talked about it, so I was happy with it.
Then the author actually hold off their sex scene, because apparently Taylor could be cluless about Vasily's flirting, that I ended up wanting it so bad which didn't happen often 😆
I wasn't happy about the ending though. I mean - Yeah, thus not solid 4-stars for me.
Pretty sweet novella ...
Although it started with misunderstanding but Taylor and Vasily communicated enough to understand what happened when they met at the dance club prior to Vasily joining Orcas on conditioning loan. Yes, they talked about it, so I was happy with it.
Then the author actually hold off their sex scene, because apparently Taylor could be cluless about Vasily's flirting, that I ended up wanting it so bad which didn't happen often 😆
I wasn't happy about the ending though. I mean - Yeah, thus not solid 4-stars for me.
February 24, 2026
This book had a lot of potential and a good start. And then it was a whole lot of nothing. And of course in the end they both have a wonderful comeback and they lived happily ever after. This story was less interesting than my parents love story, and that story is very boring from their child’s perspective, since you know, parents… Yet, still way more interesting than this book.
I’ve read so much more interesting stories from this author. I don’t know why this was such a dud. Maybe it was the multi author thing in this series?
Vasily had a good relationship with his mother, who was fine with him being gay. He had a toxic relationship in the past that he couldn’t get away from, and he whines a lot about his ex, but it wasn’t that bad. Taylor is very insecure and gets dumped a lot, but in the end he’s not that bad either. No real trauma, no big things in both their pasts. And then a big thing happens but we only read 1% on page and the rest is referred to.
So… why did I finish this? I don’t know. I thought things would happen at some point. Or at least it would be on page. It was nice that there was no homophobia, only maybe a little bit internalized (although that was more them not really ready to share I think).
Not going to reread, and I don’t recommend, even if you enjoyed any other books in this series (I did in the previous one). No need to be a completist on any of the series.
I’ve read so much more interesting stories from this author. I don’t know why this was such a dud. Maybe it was the multi author thing in this series?
Vasily had a good relationship with his mother, who was fine with him being gay. He had a toxic relationship in the past that he couldn’t get away from, and he whines a lot about his ex, but it wasn’t that bad. Taylor is very insecure and gets dumped a lot, but in the end he’s not that bad either. No real trauma, no big things in both their pasts. And then a big thing happens but we only read 1% on page and the rest is referred to.
So… why did I finish this? I don’t know. I thought things would happen at some point. Or at least it would be on page. It was nice that there was no homophobia, only maybe a little bit internalized (although that was more them not really ready to share I think).
Not going to reread, and I don’t recommend, even if you enjoyed any other books in this series (I did in the previous one). No need to be a completist on any of the series.
October 6, 2025
Very sweet, though I didn’t enjoy the ending - it dragged and the HEA didn’t sit well with me given Vasily’s backstory.
Did Not Finish
October 13, 2025Not feeling it at the moment. May come back to it later.
November 12, 2025
When Taylor’s hockey crush appears at the same club as him and asks him to dance, he can’t help but be thrilled. But when suddenly, Vasily walks away before anything more can progress, Taylor can’t help but feel the hurt at the sting of rejection. Months later, Vasily is sent to Taylor’s team on a conditioning loan after recovering from an injury. Vasily is surprised to see Taylor after what had happened between them but quickly clears the air of what happened that night. It’s well known that Vasily had a private relationship with a teammate that turned very public when they broke up. Putting himself out there again was hard and that night he met Taylor, turns out, he wasn’t quite ready. Clearing the air helped both of them, but the new problem? The attraction between them is still there and getting stronger the more they spend time together on and off the ice. But are either ready to put their hearts on the line once more? I really loved Vasily and Taylor’s dynamic. Their chemistry was great and it was so sweet to watch these two flirt and be the last to really realize they were doing it so obviously. I loved watching their friendship turn to more. A sweet story all around!
October 30, 2025
Taylor & Vasily have met once before, in a gay club last year... but they only shared a kiss, nothing more.
Now they’re together temporarily, playing on the same team for a couple of weeks... & maybe they can get a do-over? Maybe things can actually work for them, but for longer than a night or two?
I would have liked Vasily to confront Drew, seems like this was something that could have made the story more well rounded. Still, this was a great story to read.
I love this author, & although I don’t like any sports, she’s made me love hockey with all her books on this topic... <3
Now they’re together temporarily, playing on the same team for a couple of weeks... & maybe they can get a do-over? Maybe things can actually work for them, but for longer than a night or two?
I would have liked Vasily to confront Drew, seems like this was something that could have made the story more well rounded. Still, this was a great story to read.
I love this author, & although I don’t like any sports, she’s made me love hockey with all her books on this topic... <3
October 24, 2025
hockey flirting
Wow, Taylor just doesn’t think he is relationship material but that doesn’t stop his crush on Vasily. Vasily just came out of a horrible relationship that had so many red flags, says Vasily. Watching them hockey flirt is so adorable.
Wow, Taylor just doesn’t think he is relationship material but that doesn’t stop his crush on Vasily. Vasily just came out of a horrible relationship that had so many red flags, says Vasily. Watching them hockey flirt is so adorable.
October 8, 2025
3.5 stars
mm-ok-r
October 10, 2025Rokp
October 11, 2025
3.25⭐ (rounded off)
Read
October 19, 2025DNF ~58%
Dynamic just wasn't doing anything for me.
Dynamic just wasn't doing anything for me.
Did Not Finish
October 27, 2025Too much narrative compared to dialogue. A me problem.
October 30, 2025
I expect more a more interesting story from this author.
Read
November 16, 2025So much telling, not enough showing. I'm DNFing at 33%.
November 25, 2025
3.5 stars
Too much telling, not enough showing. Don't tell me they're talking about topics; let me read their discussions. Let me see their relationship develop.
Too much telling, not enough showing. Don't tell me they're talking about topics; let me read their discussions. Let me see their relationship develop.
February 15, 2026
Okay but it didn't keep my interest and felt sort of oddly paced.
March 9, 2026
3,75⭐️
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews