Page 72 of Stick By Me

“You going free agent out of school?” As I turned sausage in a pan, I glanced at him. The guy was the starting goalie. Should he have already been drafted?

“Yeah, have to.” Ace stood up and strolled through the kitchen as the coffee maker spattered with the last of the water. “They don’t draft goalies before college. We need time to mature and age.” He chuckled. “Like a fine wine.” He poured coffee into a cup, then added creamer that Archer had placed on the counter.

“Oh,” I said with a nod. I’d never figure out how this all worked. “So, where are you from, Ace?” He had sort of a country drawl I couldn’t place.

“Montana.” Ace leaned with his ass against the counter.

“Yeah, his family owns a ranch up there.” Archer took his seat at the kitchen island and held his coffee cup in both hands. “Probably why he’s so big and so quick. He had to outwit the fucking cows.”

Ace gave a quick snort. “My dad started me on hockey when I was six. He thought I was too sissy and figured being hit with a puck over and over would toughen my ass up.” His eyes twinkled. “Best thing dear old Dad ever did for me.” He sipped his coffee. “Also gave me the reflexes I needed to dodge the bullies who wanted to beat on me for being gay.”

“Shit, really?” I flipped a pancake and faced him. “I’m sorry. That’s not cool. My brother got beaten up once in junior high.” With my chest heating at the memory, I said, “I tore the fuckers up. They never touched him again.” But Axel had never been the same. It was when he’d taken on his cocky, give-no-shits personality.

“And we saw him play in juniors and knew we had to bring him with us.” Archer set his coffee on the counter. “With him being as good as he is, it wasn’t a problem.”

“And don’t forget all the hard work my dad did to get us here.” Tyler strolled out of the hallway, his dirty blond hair swaying at the top of his bare shoulders, his sweats hugging his hips at the bottom of his washboard stomach. Tattoos littered his chest and shoulders.

“There’s our star.” Ace shook his head with a sharp laugh. “His dad helped all of us get here.”

“Yeah? How’s that?” I poured more batter into the pan, then made myself a cup of coffee.

“Tyler’s dad is a coach in juniors and his brother is in the NHL. Plays for the Rangers.” Archer held out his arm.

Tyler walked into Archer’s side, then kissed his head. “How ya doin’, man?”

“Great. Leo is making us a banquet this morning,” Archer said, wagging his brows.

“So, Tyler comes from a hockey family?” I eyed him. He got alot of ice time, too and played right defense when Archer wasn’t playing.

“I do. I’m holding all the scouts back though. I want to weigh all my options and hit the NHL when I’m ready.” Tyler left Archer’s side to walk to the coffee machine.

“That’s your brother talking.” Ace huffed a laugh, then drank more coffee.

Myles stepped into the room wearing a black fleece and joggers, rubbing his eyes, then stopped and focused on us. “Damn, sure smells good.” He strode into the kitchen and peered over my shoulder at the stack of pancakes on a plate on the counter and the browning sausages. “Fuck, am I hungry.” He raked his fingers through his longer blond bangs.

“Tell Leo your story, Myles.” Ace arched a brow at him.

“What?” He stared at Ace for a beat. “Shit, is that coffee?” He rushed over to it and poured himself some, then eyed inside the cup. “You didn’t let Archer make this, did you?”

“Oh, fuck off, Myles.” With a scoff, Archer shifted in his chair.

I set a pancake on the stack. “I uh…” I glanced at Archer, then leaned in close to Myles. “I poured some of the beans out of the filter before he made it.”

“Thank God. The dude almost killed us off one time.” He poured creamer into his coffee and took a sip. “Mmm, good.”

“Myles.” Ace tagged Myles’ arm. “Tell Leo your story. We’re letting him get to know us better.” He threw a swift grin at Archer. “For Archer, since they’re all lovey-dovey now.”

With a glance at me, Myles said, “I uh, I’m from Canada, eh?” He chortled. “Vancouver. My dad does legal stuff for the NHL, draws up contracts and shit.” He sipped more coffee. “God, I needed this.”

“His dad pulled some strings to get him here, but doesn’t know he wanted to be here because of us.” Archer pursed his lips.

“I’m not out to my dad.” He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a gallon jug of orange juice. “Anyone want some OJ?”

“Oh, hell yes.” Tyler said and grabbed some glasses out of a top cupboard.

“Myles’ gayness is the best kept secret there is around here.” Ace wrapped an arm around Myles’ shoulder and squeezed him to his side. “We’re letting it be for now.”

“Sounds like my brother’s friend Gabe.” I plated the sausage and turned around. “When Gabe came out to his dad, it was a bit of a shitshow, but it’s all good now.” I perused the dinette. “Food is ready. All we need are the fixings and shit.”

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