Page 32 of Changes on Ice

“A few.”

Rusty bet Cross was being modest. With his money and looks and star power, he could date anyone he wanted to. Although he was reserved, maybe even a little shy, unlike most hockey players Rusty knew, so maybe not the other sort ofplayer.

Or maybe Cross didn’t want Rusty to feel inexperienced and was understating his past? Rusty could reassure him on that, at least. “I’ve been with maybe twenty guys since I left home. Mostly hands or mouths, you know? When I first came here I was like, whoa, this is a whole buffet compared to my small town where the only hot gay men were in an exclusive threesome. But the apps and parties got real old, real quick.” Was that TMI? Too late now. “And I didn’t have good luck dating. As you know.” He winced because he didn’t want Tyler in this conversation. Not yet.

“I guess Tyler would put a person off trying to date.”

“Off strangers, yeah,” Rusty was babbling, but he didn’t want Cross getting the wrong idea. “Not off dating a friend, like you.”Fuck, here goes nothing.He covered his face with his hands.

“I prefer dating a friend too.”

Rusty looked up.

Cross’s autumn-smoke eyes were fixed on his, and he leaned toward Rusty, not away. “Someone I’ve already gotten to know. I’m kind of weird that way.”

“Doesn’t sound weird.”

“I like to go real slow.”

“I can do slow.” Rusty’s breath went short but he tried to play it cool. “Whatever you want.Ifyou want.”

Cross was chewing his lip again. That shouldn’t have been hot, but his uncertainty made Rusty feel weirdly protective. Cross said, “I do but…”

Rusty waited out the long pause that followed, braced foryou’re too young for meorI’m really looking for a womanorI want someone more on my own level.

Instead, Cross said, “It’s been a long time. I guess I lost some confidence.”

“You sure looked confident standing up to Tyler. Twice.”

“Confident I can punch his ugly face in, sure. That’s not the same as dating you.”

“I should hope not. I’m not into brawls unless I’m on the ice.” Rusty smiled to show he was joking around.

Cross nodded soberly. “The last person I dated was a woman. Three years ago.”

“Okay.” Rusty took a moment to wonder ifdatedalso meantlast person I slept withbut surely not. Three years would be dying-of-blue-balls territory.

“She was lovely, super kind, and sweet. But, um.”

After another pause that was killing Rusty, he prompted, “Um?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t fit together right.”

Rusty’s ridiculous brain presented him with the image of a huge dick and a small woman, not fitting.

He thought he’d restrained his snicker, but Cross flushed and whacked Rusty’s knee. “Not like that. We didn’t have all that much in common.”

Was the sex at least good?Rusty wasn’t about to ask. “You and me seem to get along okay.”

“Yeah. I mean, my sister told me I should date a hockey player.”

“For the thighs and ass?”

“Hah. She has no idea. She’s not a sports fan. She meant because it’s all I talk about.”

“It’s not.” Rusty gestured at the screen. “We’re watching a movie with zero hockey involved. We talk about stupid pet videos and cars and other stuff. You went riding with Scott and Will a bunch last summer.”

“I guess. My girlfriend told me I was too intense.”

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