Page 96 of Icing the Play

“Right on. I have a boyfriend anyway.” Nodding, heat rushed my cheeks. I’d never let my teammates know about us.

“You do?” He lifted his brows.

“Yeah, Cooper Hayes from the football team.” I nodded slowly, stuffing my hands into my gloves. We’d be going out any second.

“Damn, dude. You scored.” He held his gloved fist to mine, and I bumped it.

“I did.” I caught our line moving toward the boards and Coach tapped my shoulder. “Let’s put the last nail in this coffin, boys.”

“Hell yeah.” I hopped the boards and skated onto the ice, focused on the puck. As I rounded a corner, I smashed their D-man into the glass and grabbed the puck from him.

“Cummings, here. Let’s try the one-two.” Neuman was on my left.

We’d only practiced that shot, but it got the puck past Sutton every time. I skated toward him, shuffling the puck with the blade of my stick. “Go, I’ll be right behind you.”

He took off toward the Providence goal, their goalie crouching and readying for us.

As we reached the blue D-line, I blasted the puck at Neuman.

With a quick flick of his stick, he tossed it back at me.

Glancing at the goal, I angled my stick just so and the puck crawled through the goalie’s five-hole. The red lamps and horns went off.

I pumped my arms in the air. “Fuck yeah! Take that Mr. Fucking Lockwood.” He’d be stupid not to sign us both after seeing that move.

Neuman and Pieterick piled on me with slaps on my back and side-hugs. “No way they’ll win now,” Pieterick said.

After all the post-game rituals,I drove home. We’d won, but I was exhausted and only wanted to talk to Cooper. Plus, Ace and Zoma were home, and I knew they’d have my celly shot waiting for me.

I burst through the door and threw my duffel on the kitchen floor. “Fuck U of A.”

“Damn right, Cummings. You were perfection out there tonight.” Ace stood at the kitchen island with three shots poured on the counter. He handed me one. “You and Neuman are giving me Hopkins, Boehm vibes.” He grabbed another shot and handed it to Zoma, who was smiling and standing next to him.

“That’s quite a compliment, Ace.” Holy fuck, I think I finally believed what they’d been telling me. I held up my shot and my phone buzzed in the breast pocket of my jacket. “Hold on.” I answered a FaceTime call from Cooper.

“Babe, I heard you wereen fuegotonight.” His bright smile lit my screen.

“I did pretty well.” I showed him the shot glass. “Ace made Fuck U of A shots.”

Ace leaned his face into my phone. “We gotta keep the tradition alive.”

“That we do.” Cooper snickered. “While you guys drink your shots, let’s hear what Myles has to say about the scout.”

“Sure.” Ace and Zoma held up their shots. We tapped them together and in unison, said, “Fuck U of A.”

After downing the shots, we plunked the empty glasses on the counter.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as the tangy but sweet liquor lingered in my mouth. “So, about the scout.” I threw each of them a smile, holding the phone’s camera on my face. “Turns out they’re evaluating if they want to bring me to Seattle with Neuman. They like us as a team.”

“I knew it.” Ace pumped his fist and stepped to the refrigerator. “Beers?”

“I’ll take a wine, please.” Zoma’s gaze chased his boyfriend.

“That’s great, babe. So, it means we’ll have a friend to move with us to the great Pacific Northwest?” He grinned into the phone and behind him, the waiting area of the airport came into view.

“It does. Neuman’s a good guy. He’s not queer, but I won’t hold that against him.” I grabbed an opened beer can from Ace.

“So, what’s next? I don’t know much about how hockey contracts work,” Cooper asked.

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