Page 64 of Icing the Play

“So damn cute.” My heart flip-flopped. I’d fallen so hard for him over the last month. Who’d have guessed coming here would end up like this?

“Jesus, Coop, you’re making me gag a little.” Eli scoffed a snicker. “You love him, don’t you?”

“I…” Sneaking a glance at him, I shrugged. Why the hell not admit it? “Yeah, I do.”

“Did you tell him?” He tilted his head, watching me.

“No, not yet.” I teased a fold in the jersey's hem. “I’ve never been in love before. When are you supposed to say it?” Valid question.

“When the timing is right.” He looked me over. “You dated all those chicks and never fell in love?”

With a shake of my head, I said, “Nope.” I rolled my lips. “Maybe I’m gay?”

He chuckled. “Maybe. Maybe you’re sexually attracted to women but only fall in love with guys?” He hooked a brow.

“Is that a thing?” I studied him. Now that I was a part of it, here was so much to learn about the rainbow spectrum.

“Sure. Everybody’s different.” He clapped me on the knee. “I’m happy for you, Coop.”

Glancing at the rink, my gaze chased the guys doing their pregame rituals, skating around in circles, batting pucks between their sticks, and what the fuck? I stared, my dick waking.

Myles was on his gloved hands and knees on the ice, rocking his hips and making little circles with his knees.

Oh, we were going to do that move in bed somehow. I licked my lips.

“What the hell are you staring at?” Eli followed my gaze. “Oh.” With a chortle, he shifted in his seat and picked up his water bottle. “Dude needs to loosen his hips. Hockey players need to keep their hips pliable.”

“By fucking the ice in front of everyone?” I threw my hand out and dropped it. Maybe I didn’t like everyone else seeing him in that position. It didn’t matter he had all those pads and shit on.

Two women in front of us turned and giggled, then whispered.

“Shh, keep your voice down.” He laughed and rubbed his eyes. “You have so much to learn about hockey.”

Halfway through the second period,the Devils were down by a goal. Myles grabbed the puck from a Michiganplayer, deep in their territory, and took off like a shot across the ice, shuffling the puck between the blades of his stick.

“Go, Cummings!” I stood. How the hell did he do that? The amount of coordination these guys had was incredible.

As Myles hugged the boards, Neuman came up on his left.

Out of nowhere, a Michigan player rammed Myles into the board and grabbed the puck.

Myles went down on his ass, skidding across the ice. “You fucker!” He jumped onto his skates and chased the guy with the puck.

Heat swarmed my chest. That guy hit my Myles. “Asshole! Did you see that, Eli?”

“Yeah, it was a legal hit. Cummings had the puck.” He grabbed my jersey and yanked on me. “Sit down. Nobody can see behind you.”

With a huff, I fell into my seat. “That had to have hurt.” I had a feeling I’d be icing him later. But who’d he have tomorrow night to help him?

“Coop, he’s a hockey player. He’s used to it. Didn’t you see him hop right back up? It’s no different from getting tackled in football.” He smirked at me. “He’s not glass.”

“Yeah, but they’re going so fast.” My eyes widened and my mouth dropped. Holy fuck, Myles was one hell of an athlete. Sure, I always knew he was strong and had stamina for days, but watching him play a college game was amazing. A team would surely pick him up this year, even a minor league team. Why was he so down on himself?

Eli swatted at my arm. “Hey, they’re looking to score.”

Neuman took the puck toward Michigan’s goal, the goalie sweeping from side to side on the edge of his skates.

Circling another player, Myles sped in from the side.

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