Page 59 of Icing the Play

“Out with his friend, Nova. We hit a few bars in Scottsdale that she wanted to try.” He grabbed a frying pan from a bottom cupboard and set it on the stovetop. “How was the gay bar with Cooper?” He glanced toward the hallway leading to the bedroom.

“Good.” A smile crept over my lips as I poured creamer into my coffee and stirred. “We’re boyfriends now.” I glanced at Ace.

“Are you?” He side-hugged me and patted my back. “That’s great, Myles. You two seem so happy together.” He lifted bacon out of a package, set it in the frying pan, and it crackled.

“Is Zoma at the rink already with his kids?” I sipped my coffee, and it warmed my insides. Zoma was fast becoming the figure skating coach he’d always wanted to be.

“Yep. He left me to fend for myself again.” Ace gave me an exaggerated sigh, lifting the back of his hand to his forehead.

“Oh, no.” I rolled my eyes.

Cooper stepped out of the hallway, his black shorts hung low on his hips, his gorgeous muscles on full display and his hair a dark mop. He rubbed his eyes. “Do I smell bacon?”

“You do.” Ace set more bacon in the pan and cracked eggs over another one. “Help yourself to a bagel and I’ve got coffee made.”

“Oh, good. I’m starved after the game last night.” His gaze crept to mine, and a smirk worked over his mouth. “And the after party.” He dropped onto a stool at the kitchen island counter.

“I’ll make you some coffee.” I poured him a cup, added creamer, and handed it to him. Here we were, behaving like an old married couple again, and it felt so natural.

“Ace, I have a question for you.” Cooper blew over his coffee and then sipped it.

“Yeah? Shoot.” With a glance at Cooper, Ace flipped bacon in the pan with a fork.

“My parents want to come for Thanksgiving, and I thought it would be nice to have them.” He twisted his lips. “Is that okay? Like, what plans do you and Zoma have?”

Ace twisted around, holding up his fork, and eyed Cooper. “Do they know you’re living in sin here with Myles? Are you out?” His gaze darted between us.

“N-no, but I plan to come out to them soon.” Setting his cup down, he straightened. “I discussed this with Myles last night.”

Ace’s gaze landed on me. “Myles, areyoucoming out to your family?” He hooked a brow.

“I…am.” I breathed, calming the tightness in my chest. How had this become about me? “After I get signed by an agent.”

Shaking the fork at me, Ace said, “It’s about fucking time.” He flipped more bacon and pushed the eggs around with a spatula. “I don’t have plans with Zoma yet. But with the hockey season starting, I’ll only have Thanksgiving Day off and I’m traveling the night before, so…” He shook his head. “We have no plans.”

“Would you mind if I had my parents here?” Cooper held his hand out to me.

Taking his hand, I stepped next to him, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. Did he realize how much affection he showed me? I edged closer to him, his body heat warming me.

“I don’t mind at all.” Ace threw me a smirk. “Especially if they have no problems with you and Myles being together.”

“I don’t think they’ll have a problem with it.” He hugged me to his side. “In fact, I think I’ll call them today.” With a grin, he drank his coffee.

I sputtered as my heart about stopped. “Today?” Holy fuck, this was coming at me at breakneck speed.

“Yeah, let’s just do it.” He planted a sloppy kiss on my belly. “Right?”

“Right.” Quirking a brow, Ace gave me a pointed look. “I like this guy, Myles.”

Following breakfast and cleaning,Cooper texted his parents to arrange a call. He thought today would work, since his mom didn’t have a shift at the hospital. As he sat at the dinette, finishing an assignment for one of his classes, his phone buzzed. He picked it up.

I glanced at him from the couch. I’d been finishing a chapter in one of my books and Ace had gone off to the gym for a workout.

After tapping his phone, he met my gaze. “Hey, Myles, my parents are ready to talk now.”

“Now?” I hopped off the couch with my book in my hand, my pulse sparking to life. “I’ll be in my room to give you some privacy.” I didn’t want to be privy to negative comments, and who knew what they’d say? No, this would be a family moment he needed to have alone with them.

“Okay, but come here first.” He held out his arm.

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