Page 137 of Cold as Ice

“You’re going to give him a fucking heart attack. God, can’t you just keep it in your pants for ten seconds?” But he didn’t seem to be talking to them, anymore, more like exclaiming, pointlessly, to the sky.

“We’re young, and we’ve got needs,” Elliott said matter-of-factly.

“Of course you do,” Zach said, sarcastically with a tinge of bitterness.

“Are you okay?” Mal asked.

“No! I’m not okay. I’m . . .this is going to fuck it up. Fuck him up. You know that right?”

“I don’t think Coach is going to be all that surprised,” Elliott ventured.

“Maybe surprised that we’re just showing up and telling him bluntly,” Mal said.

“He’s—” Zach stopped abruptly, like he’d almost revealed too much.

“He got over Brody and his hulking big boyfriend. He even got over Brody not wanting to play pro hockey,” Elliott offered.

But Zach didn’t look reassured. He was pacing now, back and forth on the concrete courtyard in front of the entrance. “It’s just one more thing,” he muttered, barely loud enough for them to hear.

“Is he okay?” Elliott asked under his breath.

Mal shrugged.

“I don’t think Coach is going to go round the bend over me and Mal falling in love?” Elliott tried next.

Zach just threw his hands up and his look said that he really thought Coach Blackburn might.

“He seems pretty even keeled,” Mal agreed.

“Seems.Seems. Did you know—” Zach stopped abruptly again. “No, you wouldn’t. And he wouldn’t want you to.”

He and Mal exchanged glances. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, everything’s fucking peachy,” Zach muttered.

“Well. . .uh . . .we’re gonna go do that thing,” Elliott said, gesturing towards the building. “If you’re not going to stop us?”

Zach frowned but waved them on.

“What the fuck was that about?” Mal wanted to know as he held the door open for Elliott.

“Hell if I know,” Elliott said. “It was weird though. Do you think Coach . . .”

“No, he’s alright. I know he hasn’t always been.” Mal hesitated. “But he seems solid now. This isn’t going to send him spiraling or anything. He handled Brody’s shit just fine.”

“Why do you think Zach is so intense about him, then?” Elliott wondered.

Mal shot him a knowing look, and Elliott gasped.

“No, you don’t think so? Do you? Oh my God.”

“I mean, I don’tknow. But it’s a theory. Being so intense over someone usually doesn’t mean you’re indifferent to them.”

Elliott grinned. “Firsthand experience with that?”

“Just a bit,” Mal said with an amused chuckle.

The door to Coach B’s office was open, and he was sitting on his couch, watching some game film of their upcoming opponent on the big screen TV mounted on one of the walls.

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