Page 94 of Melting the Ice

I tried not to think about how fired up Josie got after my last fight. Fuck. It was going to be a long week. And then I felt like a dick because I truly was glad that my best friend was here. I missed hanging out with him during the season.

“Come on, let me get you a drink,” Ray said. “I’d buy a round for the team, but you know. Teacher’s salary.”

I laughed. “You’re not buying shit while you’re here. I got this one.”

“Yes. I’ll take a martini, thank you. Top shelf,” Sin said, walking up behind me.

“Get your own drink, ass,” I fired back.

I did quick intros between Ray and my teammates as we walked deeper into the bar. He’d met a few of the guys over the years, like Tally, since I’d previously played with them, but he hadn’t come out to Denver during last season since he’d spent his spring break with his now ex-girlfriend, Madison.

“What are we having?” Simone called out. “And great game, boys.”

But I only had eyes for Josie. She was tucking a strand of purple hair behind her ear, a move that I’d come to realize was one of the ways she fidgeted.

“Hey, Micah. Great game,” she said, her voice steady.

I wondered if she’d shiver under my fingers if I touched her.

Fucking hell.

Stop.

But as soon as Ray turned to answer one of my teammates’ questions, I moved in close to Josie and smiled at her widening eyes as I dragged my hand along the small of her back.

“Micah,” she admonished.

“Did you enjoy the game?” I asked calmly, still touching her.

Thank fuck for dim bar lighting.

I traced a finger down the outside of her hip, my cock already hardening as I tortured both of us.

“It was great. Nice fight,” she rasped. Then her tongue darted out, licking the corner of her lip, and I bit back a groan.

“Thanks for the win.”

“What are you two talking about?” Ray’s voice cut through my lust-filled brain, and my head shot up.

His eyes were narrowed as he looked between us, and I took a small step back, my hand leaving her body. Not that he could’ve seen me touching her.

“What? Oh, nothing. Micah was just thanking me for tonight’s win,” Josie said.

“What?” Ray asked.

“Oh, Micah thinks Josie’s a good luck charm. We always win when she shows up at home games,” Timmy said, his statement ending with anoofas Harper not so subtly elbowed him in the side.

“Wait? Are you going to a lot of games?” Ray asked his sister. “I didn’t realize you two were seeing so much of each other.”

I swear I heard someone—probably Sin—whisper,you have no idea, but luckily, his voice was low, and Ray didn’t hear him.

That man was a fucking pain in the ass.

“Oh, yeah, I guess it didn’t really come up,” Josie said, her voice sounding slightly off.

“I texted her after you said she was in Denver to tell her if she ever needed tickets, they’d be at will-call for her,” I said.

“I dragged her to a bunch of games, too,” Harper interjected, and I wanted to kiss that woman. It was clear she would always have Josie’s back, and I was grateful for that. Josie needed more friends in her corner.

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