Page 6 of Game On

Rolling his eyes, Dorian huffed a breath. “You’re right. We’re being stupid.”

Now Jamie laughed outright. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face said it all.”

Well. That was probably true.

“Come inside,” Dorian said, perhaps finally registering that they still stood in the foyer. “Take a load off. I’ll give you a tour of the house.”

“I’ll head out then.” Coach turned to Jamie. “You good?”

“Yeah. Thanks again, Coach.”

“I’ll pick you up for practice in the morning since you don’t have wheels yet.” Coach squeezed Jamie’s shoulder. “Welcome to Vancouver, Jamieson. I’m glad to have you on my team.”

“Happy to be here.”

Coach raised one blond eyebrow.

“I know, I know. New trades are basically required to say that whether they mean it or not. But I do mean it.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, Jamie shrugged one shoulder, sending his duffle bumping against his hip. “I was in desperate need of a fresh start, and you came knocking exactly when I needed you to.”

Hell, when rumour had reached him that the Orcas were interested in adding him to their defence, Jamie had practically begged his agent to make it happen.

Coach eyed him critically, his brow furrowing. “Are you okay? Do you need help or?—”

“Nah. I’m good, Coach.” Tired. It’d been a long fucking day, and it wasn’t even dinner time. But he felt good. Like he could breathe for the first time in months.

“My door’s always open if you need to talk,” Coach said quietly. “And you’ve got my number if you need it.”

Jamie swallowed the knot in his throat. “Thank you.”

“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow. Dorian.” Coach pinned him with a look. “Be nice.”

“What?” Dorian threw his arms up, sending both his top and Jamie’s pulse skyrocketing upward. “What is it with people today?”

Coach leaned closer to Jamie and whispered, “You let me know if it doesn’t work out here and I’ll find you a new place to stay.”

“Oh, for the love of... Okay, bye, Matt.” Planting his hands on Coach’s shoulders, Dorian marched him forward. “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.”

Coach’s rumbly chuckle got cut off when Dorian slammed the door behind him. Turning back to Jamie, Dorian muttered a fond, “Family, am I right?”

“I get the feeling you’re close.”

“Yeah.” Dorian said it in a way that was both warm and disgruntled. “He’s one of the best people I know. You’ll like playing for him. So. How about that tour?”

Jamie tossed him a tired but game smile. “Sure.”

“Actually...” One up-and-down glance later and Dorian was picking up Jamie’s carry-on. “Why don’t I show you to your room so you can decompress, and I can give you a tour when you’re ready?”

Grateful for the thoughtfulness, Jamie nodded. “Perfect.”

CHAPTER TWO

Jamie’s new room was directly across the hall from Dorian’s. The second floor—the whole house as far as Jamie could tell—was done in what looked like pale hardwood but was probably some kind of washed-out laminate. His room was painted a dove grey, and other than a bedspread in black-and-white plaid and a nightstand with a lamp, the only nod to home décor was a five-piece mountain landscape painting done in moody shades of blues, greens, and greys.

It was a large corner room, with windows on two walls that would no doubt let in tons of light if it weren’t such a gloomy day. In the closet, Jamie found shelves and drawers as well as rods set at two different heights for hanging clothes. The west-facing window gave him a view of the neighbour’s house. The north-facing window looked out over the backyard, and in the distance, the North Shore mountains, hazy and indistinct through the rain.

Below, the backyard was completely covered in stone pavers. The only grass to be seen was along the outer edges, where there was about two inches of space between the pavers and the fence.

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