Page 22 of Cold as Ice

He was too much work. Too difficult. Too prickly.

Elliott ignored the voice that said what he was really afraid of was trying and failing,again.

Chapter 4

Elliott’s decision held firmall day.

He woke up and silenced the quiet voice that claimed he was just a fucking coward, and set out for his morning of classes with optimistic determination.

This was the right call.

He and Mal didn’t need to fuck this out.

They could just . . .agree to disagree.

People did that all the time. Disagreements didn’t always have to end in fucking or fighting.

He gave his number to the cute new barista at the Koffee Klatch when he stopped by to grab a cold brew just after lunch.

Told himself he’d go out with the guy when he inevitably texted.

But he already worried, that voice in the back of his head growing louder, that he wouldn’t.

That he wouldn’twantto. That he couldn’t, not until he figured out this thing with Mal.

You did figure it out. You’re going to let it go.

But had he?

Elliott was sure he had, at least that was what he kept insisting to himself, until he walked into the locker room and there was Malcolm, back to him, stripped down to the waist, and his body froze.

But instead of going up to him, instead of saying something that would inevitably make him turn around, make Malcolmtalkto him, even if it wasn’t positive, Elliott went quietly to his locker and began his game prep.

He didn’t need to prod the beast. Not if he wasn’t going to take advantage of it.

A few minutes later Ramsey wandered in, glanced over at Mal, and then much to Elliott’s frustration, sauntered over to where he was stretching.

“I took you for a lot of things,” Ramsey said under his breath, “but not someone who bows out before they even try.”

“I’m allowed to decide it’s not worth it,” Elliott muttered.

Ramsey raised an eyebrow. “And since when has he not been worth it to you?”

“Since I realized it’s just sex. He’s just another guy.” Elliott paused. “Thought you’d be happy to know it’s not going to end in fuckingorfighting.”

“What? That it’s just going toend? Peacefully? Amicably?” Ramsey rolled his eyes and smacked Elliott on the shoulder. “We both know it can’t. It won’t.”

“It’s going to end how I say it’s going to end,” Elliott said.

“What’s going to end?”

He looked up, and Mal was standing there, that all-too-familiar arrogant blankness on his face. It made Elliott want to smack him. It made Elliott want to kiss it off him.

But he took a deep breath and didn’t do either one.

He just said, “Nothing. Ramsey and I are having a pointless philosophic discussion that he’s losing.”

“Pointless but it still matters that I’m losing, huh?” Ramsey teased.

---