Page 35 of Waiting Game

He nods. “That’s what brought you to the city?”

“Uh-huh.” I jump off the machine and head over to the small fridge in the corner. Snagging us both a bottle of electrolyte jizz, I toss one at him before I climb back aboard the elliptical. “It was weird.”

“Weird good, weird freaky, or weird epic?”

I ponder the classification for far too long before presenting my conclusion: “Weird epic.”

His brows lift. “Really?”

“Yup.” I take a deep sip of the drink. “It was the craziest thing. I was waiting at the rink for my figure-skating coach to show up?—”

“You finally decided to go through with lessons, then.”

I nod. “Watching you and Lewis on the ice told me I needed to up my game.”

“Yeah, wearethe best.”

“Only if you bring home the goods,” I snipe. “Anyway, I was watching your game and then I got this notification onHooked-Up.I check out my match’s profile, it sucks, but after swiping left, I find this one who’s hot as fuck so, of course, I swipe right, and as I do, a cell dings in the arena.” At Liam’s confused look, I clarify, “I swiped right on my figure-skating coach.”

His confusion fades and is replaced with amusement. “Only you, Cole.Tabarnak.Luck of the gods.”

“You know it.”

“That’s who you banged last night—your coach? That time with the masseuse really should have taught you not to piss where you eat.”

I huff. “I’m a different man now.”

“You’re an older one.”

“Precisely. Smarter. Quicker reflexes.”

“Slower, more like,” he mutters, but I ignore him.

“I see her, think about giving her some of the Korhonen charm?—”

“You felt like terrifying her, then, huh? Or were you hoping to scare the shit out of her with that hoodie you’re wearing?”

“Fuck off. She bursts into tears.”

“I would as well if I weren’t immune to your wardrobe choices.”

I flip him the bird. “Turns out, her uncle died yesterday morning.”

That has Liam hitting the STOP button. “Wait, so in a matter of minutes, you met your figure-skating coach?—”

“For the first time,” I insert.

“—on a dating profile, and as you swipe right, she comes into the building, and when she sees you, she starts crying, and somehow, you end up getting laid before the night’s through even though her uncle died? Fuck, Cole. You’re a classy piece of ass.”

“Don’t I know it.” I dismiss his snort.

“I can see why you said it was weird.”

“Weirdepic,” I remind him. “She’s like Gracie. The banter is sexy as fuck.” When his eyes narrow, I raise my hands. “Not that Gracie’s banter is sexy. Mia’s is. It’s like that but without the fact she’s my sis and I’d poke out my eyes before I thought about having feelings for Gracie.”

“Nice save.”

“I thought so too,” I say wryly as I scratch my chin. “So, you heard of Marty Charles?”

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