Page 21 of Unrivaled

Grady mumbled something inaudible. Okay, good, he was still alive. Max wanted to have sex with him again someday and he wasn’t into necrophilia.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

A long, resigned sigh. Grady made no move to sit up. “I said I hate going on dates.”

Max blinked. “Okay, well, I think we pinpointed your problem.”

“It’s just—it’s so normal to go out to eat on a date. But I do that eighty-something times a year. I don’t want to eat any more restaurant food. But I don’t want to cook with a stranger in my house either.”

Huh. Max hadn’t expected to get an answer he related to, but he also got sick of catered and restaurant food. Things tasted better in his own kitchen. “I mean, I think that’s why people get coffee?” he said. “Also because if they suck, you can chug your drink and run away.”

Grady lifted his head. “Speaking from experience?”

Max quirked a smile—automatic, not even on purpose. Unlike some people, he didn’t mind laughing at himself. “I’m not telling you from which side.”

“Ugh.” Grady flopped back again. “Maybe I should become a hermit.”

“Which is different from now how, exactly?” The guy’s sister had set him up with a hookup app. That was telling. “Just say mini golf or something. Having something to do gives you something to talk about, you get to move around a little, and if they’re terrible, you can accidentally whack them in the shins.”

“You’re putting a lot of thought into this,” Grady said after a moment.

Yeah, thanks, Max had been trying not to notice. He was supposed to be laying the groundwork for his own sex life, not giving half-decent advice. “Don’t let it go to your head. It would be a shame if your dick went into early retirement. I’m only looking out for my community.”

“You’re all heart.”

That was the second time Grady had accused him of that. Sarcastically, but still. Max noticed. He felt weird about it, so he deflected with “And elbows.” He finished the questionnaire and scrolled back up to fill in Grady’s biography details with something approximating the truth. “Done. All you have to do now is set your geographical area and decide what you’re looking for in a man. Other than someone who doesn’t mind the occasional expedition to remove the stick from your ass, I mean.”

“I take back every nice thing I ever said about you.”

Max huffed. “404 error. File not found, buddy.” Thatall heartthing didn’t count. It might be true, but Grady didn’t mean it. He closed the app, but before he put the phone down, he navigated over to the contacts and added himself. Then he sent himself a text message. Now he could live rent-free in Grady’s headandhis phone. “Well. This has been fun, but I’ll leave you to your inevitable crisis.” He handed the phone back. “Best of luck with dating. Hope you choke in the preseason.”

Grady’s expression went from annoyed to closed-off. “Yeah, go fuck yourself.”

“I meant on my dick,” Max said cheerfully. “But I can bring the tools for that too.” He heaved himself off the bed and shoved his shoes on. He’d spent way too long in Grady’s bed already. He was starting to get comfortable. “See you next week. Bring your A game.”

He was halfway to the elevator before he realized his shirt was still smeared with come.

First Period

MOST OFthe time, Grady loved being right.

This was not one of those times.

“He’s going to be really good,” Coop said. The preseason would start tomorrow, and they were enjoying the mild September weather by sitting on his back step with his low-calorie beer.

“Yep,” Grady agreed.

“In, like, another season or two,” Coop finished.

“Yep.”

Management had been promising a goaltender upgrade for years. They’d finally gotten one in Colton Barnes, a twenty-year-old who’d just left college. But he’djust left college—hadn’t finished, just joined the show because he could. He was green. Grady thought he’d be a Vezina contender eventually, but by that time, Grady could be retired.

“He could surprise us,” Coop offered.

“Stranger things have happened.” Like Grady hooking up with Max at the World Cup.

Twice.

---