Page 93 of Cold as Ice

“Thus the Halloween party,” Mal said, suddenly understanding his friend’s sudden and vehement insistence they take Ramsey up on his invite.

Jane nodded. “I don’t want him to think I’m just sitting around, waiting on him. I have a life. Agoodlife. A future. I don’tneedhim, but I . . .” She sighed again.

“You want him,” Mal said. AndGod, didn’t that ring true for him, too.

In some ways, Elliott was a fucking terrible idea. He was a teammate. A line mate. They depended on each other on the ice. And then next year, Mal would be in Toronto, and Elliott would probably be back here, though it was certainly only a matter of time before whoever drafted him in the spring brought him to their developmental camp.

He was too good to stay in college for the full four years.

“I do want him.” Jane laughed, self-deprecatingly. “I can’t believe I told you that Ben was probably gay. Good thing I wasn’t planning on hooking you two up.”

“Good thing,” Mal said wryly.

“Not that it would’ve worked. You’ve only had eyes for Elliott forever.” Jane patted him on the shoulder as they climbed up the stairs to their apartment.

Maybe that was true. Maybe it was also true that he’d been in such deep denial that it had taken getting closer to realize that the guy was ultimately irresistible.

Mal unlocked the door and as soon as they were inside, Jane was flopping down on the couch, leaning over to unzip her stiletto-heeled boots. “Ugh, my feet are killing me.”

He knew what she wanted, and he joined her, pulling her small but impossibly strong foot into his lap, massaging it gently but firmly the way she always needed.

Jane sighed happily. “Thanks. What am I gonna do without your foot rubs next year?”

“Fly to Toronto?”

“Not an option. Speaking of that, what areyougoing to do?”

Mal tensed. Knowing what she was asking, but barely ready to think about it yet, nevermind discuss it with Jane.

“You know what I’m talking about,” Jane said. Pressing the way she always did. “What are you going to do with Elliott? He’s being drafted in the spring, right?”

“Yes,” Mal said.

“Well, if anyone’s built for the long-distance thing, it’s probably you.” Jane waved her hand. “You’d be stoic and loyal in the face of anything, forever.”

But Mal didn’twantto be stoic and loyal in the face of anything,forever. That sounded like it would really freaking suck.

“Or,” she said softly, leaning back against the couch cushions, “he could end up close. Even really close. Like Toronto-close.”

That was a pipe dream.

Still, for a second, Mal let himself imagine it. Let himself really believe it could happen.

Playing together on the ice with Elliott during the day. And sharing his nights, wrapped up with him in bed.

Enjoying his bright smile in person, not just over a phone screen.

“Maybe,” Mal said and was relieved that Jane decided to leave it at that.

Chapter 12

The game was wellinto the second period when Elliott lost it.

There’d been a defender riding their asses the whole fucking game. He’d annoyed Elliott plenty, but Elliott was quicker and could dart out of his reach, but Malcolm, while being a fast skater, astrongskater, didn’t have the elusiveness of someone with a slighter, shorter build. Elliott knew he’d been taking the brunt of it most of the night.

Ivan had spent the whole game complaining about it, but Mal’s pissed-off face made Ivan look downright happy about the situation.

“Goddamn.” Mal exhaled sharply as they returned to the bench, his body thumping down onto it next to Elliott. “Are the refs fucking blind out there?”

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