Page 33 of Icing the Play

Shaking my head, I said, “No, that’s not cool and people always get found out, eh.” I gnawed at my lower lip. We couldn’t let JJ stop us, could we? But Cooper had only met JJ this year. “How bad would it be for you if we dated even without his blessing? Like would the entire team turn on you?” Placing my hand on his thigh, I faced him.

“Shit, I don’t know.” He stared across the room and rested his hand over mine, still on his thigh. “Let’s just see what he says tomorrow.”

My gaze crept to his. I’d better not get my hopes up, just in case. “Okay.”

“With me moving in here, I’m afraid he might think we got together behind his back.” He pulled at his earlobe and scoffed.

“He did ask me if anything weird happened the night of the party.” I sank my teeth into my lower lip. Had he sensed our attraction?

With a wince, he said, “Did you tell him I tried to kiss you?”

“No.” I huffed a laugh. “I figured you were too drunk to mean it, and it wasn’t worth mentioning.” I wouldn’t have told him even if Cooper hadn’t been drunk, but that was beside the point.

“Okay, good.” He entwined his fingers in mine and held up our hands, watching them. “For the record, I meant it. I almost lost my mind at the party when I saw you and JJ together.” He shook his head. “Fuck, was I jealous.”

“You were?” I narrowed my eyes. “But you were with that cheerleader. What was her name, Danica?” My chest pinched. “Did you ever text her?”

“Hell no. And I won’t.” He curled his fingers around my hand. “I wanted you that night, not her. She wouldn’t leave me alone.” He huffed a sigh. “That’s why I got too drunk.” His gaze caught on mine, and he held it. “I wanted you.” Leaning in, he pressed a lingering kiss on my lips. “Still do.”

My heart burst with warmth. This was too good to be true. Or was it? I deserved to have what all my friends had, didn’t I? Holy shit, Ace and Zoma were right. “Ace and Zoma told me you might be attracted to me, but I didn’t believe them.”

“You should listen to your friends more. They know things.” He touched my nose with his index finger and a smile broke out over his face. “Is there anything else we should talk about?”

“Living together and, and dating.” I sucked in a breath. “I’ve never lived with a guy I was dating.”

“Me neither, but then I never dated a guy.” Dipping his head, he freed a soft snort. His gaze wound back to mine. “How do you want to handle it?”

I rolled my lips, thinking about it. “I don’t know. But I want to avoid getting on each other’s nerves, you know? Or be attached at the hip.” I ticked my head. Whatever that meant.

With a tsk, he said, “Myles, when your season starts, we’ll be traveling to games on top of practicing and studying. I don’t think we’ll have time to be attached at the hip.”

“Oh, yeah.” I leaned into him, his body heat warming my insides. Leaning my head on his shoulder, I said, “It’ll just be nice to have someone to come home to. Someone to relax with.”

“Don’t make us sound like an old married couple. I want to take you places.” He kissed the top of my head. “We’ll figure this out, Myles. We can do it our own way.” He scoffed. “Unless JJ doesn’t like it.”

“What?” I lifted my head, snapping my gaze to his. I was over worrying about JJ.

“I’m kidding.” He lifted our hands and kissed my knuckles. “He’ll be fine with it. If he isn’t, he’ll just have to get used to it.” His gaze softened. “I won’t let JJ tell me who to date. I’ll try to get his blessing, but ultimately, I won’t let him stand in our way.”

Nodding, I pressed a hard kiss on his mouth. “Good.” I hoped JJ wouldn’t be a dick about this.

He yawned. “Anyway, been a long day. I’m going to head off to bed.” He gave me a coy grin. “I’d ask you to join me, but we should probably get used to being roommates first, right?”

“Right.” I stood from the couch. Hehadlistened to what I’d said and was taking it to heart. “Okay, I’ll let you use the bathroom first. I’ve got a chapter to read.”

“Sure.” He rose, wrapped his arms around my neck, and pulled me in for a toe-curling kiss. “We’ll save the rest for another time.” He freed me and strolled toward the hallway to the bedrooms, whistling.

After grabbing my book from my backpack, I settled on the couch and opened it in my lap to the chapter I had to read.

Zoma tiptoed from the hallway, a pair of black pajama bottoms hugging his narrow hips.

I looked up from my book. “Hey, Zoma.”

Holding a finger over his lips, he shushed me and glanced behind him. In a harsh whisper, he said, “I don’t want Cooper to hear us.”

I dropped my mouth open. He knew. They’d somehow heard us or walked out on us and hid.

With a sly grin, he sat cross-legged next to me and grabbed both my hands. “So you and Cooper will date?” His eyes twinkled.

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