Page 111 of Cross Checking

The words slip out before I can stop them.

“I love you.”

I freeze up, and Luke gives me another glowing, heart-stopping smile. “I love you too, you goof.”

He hugs me, and my chest swells while my stomach plays jump rope with the rest of my insides.

“That’s nice, but I love you more,” I shoot back, pressing my mouth to Luke’s so he can’t reply.

Luke physically recoils and steps back, scoffing. “No,” he says, sticking his index finger up.

“No?”

“We arenotalready doing this kind of sappy shit. Not allowed.”

I smirk. “Fine, fine, we’ll get there eventually. After all, we’re going to live together, so buckle up.”

“Too bad. I changed my mind because I just remembered how bad you stink when you’re fresh off the rink,” he says sarcastically, managing a dry laugh.

“Nah, you’re stuck with me and my rink stink,” I reply, dragging him back into me. “You have a rink stink kink.”

He sputters and pushes me away. “Jesus Christ, you’re ridiculous.” We stare each other down before devolving into laughter mere seconds later. Luke never fails to put me in an amazing mood, and I can’t wait to have him with me all the time.

“Everything alright, Erik?” Richard asks, making me and Luke spin around. “Is there a reason why you’re being… very friendly with the delivery driver?”

“What? Delivery driver? This is my boyfriend, Luke.”

“Yeah, I had to stretch the truth a little,” Luke says to me. “Nobody here would let me get through to you.”

Richard narrows his eyes at us. “Yeah, the SHL would have provided us with your emergency contacts, and they’re the only ones who are allowed to contact you through the central switchboard.”

“And those would be your parents, right?” Luke says, and I nod.

Richard steps back. “Anyway, I’m glad you two are reunited, even if Luke here had to break into the camp.” He chuckles, turning around and heading back to the office.

I have the afternoon off, we’re alone, Luke is silent, and there’s something I need to chirp him about—that’s what he gets for loving a hockey player.

“I didn’t know your full name isLucas Gabriel Tremblay,” I say, rubbing his shoulders a little too hard.

He shrugs me off, smiling. “Shut up.”

“Why? That’s hot.”

Luke stops walking. “No it’s not. It’s so pretentious.”

I punch him right in the middle of his chest. “Whatever you say, Lucas.”

That earns me a punch in return.

“So, uh, welcome to the Elite Camp,” I say. “Do you want a tour of the marvelous concrete facilities?”

Luke stretches, and of course his shirt rides up, making my predictable mind go somewhere inappropriate.

“Can I put my stuff away first?” he asks. “You’re staying close by, right?”

“Oh yeah, right across the road.” I take his luggage, ignoring his protests that he can do it himself, and he follows me to the dorm room where the camp is putting me up.

I don’t even wait for the door to close before I grab Luke and crush my mouth onto his. He accepts me readily, coiling his arms around my back and slipping them under my shirt, sending tingles along my spine wherever his fingertips roam. As usual, my brain works on autopilot, and I push him onto the bed, making my intentionsveryclear.

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