Page 7 of Icing the Play

“No worries. Summers can be busy with family, eh?” Myles up-nodded at me. “Hey, Coop.”

“Hey.” My pulse wavered and my hands grew clammy. I wiped them on my shorts. Why was I nervous about this? “Shall we have a seat?” I held my hand out to the bench seating in the booth.

“Oh, yeah.” With a soft laugh, Myles slid on his bench while JJ glided in beside him, setting his backpack on the floor next to him.

JJ planted his elbow on the table and his cheek in his hand, turning toward Myles. “You look like you hit the gym hard last summer.” He squeezed Myles’s biceps. “Damn, look at you? Can you give me some pointers?” He wagged his brows at Myles.

With his cheeks pinking, Myles said, “Thanks. I’ve been eating a lot more protein. I think it’s helping.” As a smile dimpled his cheeks, he dipped his head.

My gaze flicked from Myles to JJ and back again. Could they be any more obvious? How did they get their signals crossed lastyear? My gut tightened, and I shifted in my seat. “Let’s order a pitcher.” I flagged down a waiter and ordered.

“So, are they putting you on first string this year?” JJ edged toward Myles and uncurled his arm on the back of the booth behind him.

“I don’t know yet. We’ll see.” Myles freed a long breath. “I’m sure you’re the starter again this year?” His gaze darted to mine, centered on my lips, and then swept to JJ.

Narrowing my eyes, I watched them. They seemed…awkward? I thought JJ had game? Could I help them out? “So, JJ, Myles tells me there’s a gay bar somewhere on this street. Have you been?”

The waiter dropped off our beer and I poured a glass for each of us. Why had I brought that up? Because it was something to talk about besides sports?

“Yeah, I know about the place. The Club on Mill.” JJ twisted his lips and drank some beer. “I’ve only been there once.” He turned his beer on the table.

“What’s the matter? Didn’t you like it?” Myles angled toward him.

“I don’t know if gay bars are my scene. Everyone’s trying to hook up and shit.” As he parted his lips, his gaze cut to Myles. “There’s nothing wrong with that, if it’s what you’re into.”

Was Myles the type of guy who hooked up at gay bars? He’d always seemed too mild-mannered for that. “I’m sure Myles?—”

“You’re right. There’s nothing wrong with it.” Myles pursed his lips and took a few gulps of beer. “Sometimes a good fucking by a stranger is perfect for taking the edge off.”

I spat my beer into my glass as a laugh erupted from my throat. “What?” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. No way Myles had said that.

With a hearty chuckle and shaking his head, JJ said, “You hockey players are something else.” He dropped his arm around Myles’ shoulders. “You are full of surprises.”

Myles eyed JJ’s hand as it rested by his neck and he leaned in, a coy grin on his mouth. “I can probably show you a thing or two.” He arched a brow.

“Can you now?” JJ came in closer, fixating on Myles’s lips.

Heat prickled inside me. That was fucking fast. Why were they going so fast? “Hey, uh, people?” I waved my arm around at the tables filling with students.

They both stared at me, Myles saying, “So? Nobody’s homophobic around here, from what I’ve seen.” He tucked himself into JJ’s side.

A knot wound in my gut. “Yeah, but…” But what? Wasn’t this what I’d wanted? But it was so fast. “Don’t make me the third wheel.” With a faltering chuckle, I drank my beer.

“Yeah, okay.” JJ unwound his arm from Myles’s shoulder and straightened, facing me. “We aren’t making you uncomfortable, are we, Coop?” He eyed me.

I forced a grin. “N-no, why would you hitting on each other make me uncomfortable?” I couldn’t have Myles thinking I was homophobic. I was almost queer, for fuck’s sake.

JJ cocked his head, his gaze roaming over me. “So, uh, tell me what you did last summer, Myles?” He shifted his focus on Myles.

“I hung out with my buddy Tyler and his new boyfriend, Rowan, a lot. They both got signed with the Blackhawks, eh.” His grin faded.

“Why do you not look all that happy about it?” JJ studied him. “If one of my friends ended up with the Bears, I’d be fucking ecstatic.” He sipped his beer.

Rubbing his index finger on the table, Myles said, “Oh, I am. I just miss them. Out of all the guys in the squad house, I was closest to Tyler.”

“But you said the goalie is still living with you?” Reaching across the table, I covered his hand with mine. “And two of your old friends are still here, right?” I leaned in. I didn’t want to seehim so gloomy. He’d always been a happy-go-lucky guy, except there were times, like now, when the light faded from his eyes.

His gaze snapped to our hands, and his jaw opened.

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