Page 115 of Slew Foot
They stared at each other awkwardly for a few minutes before Rafe held out his arms. “C’mon, bring it in, dude.”
Logan laughed and hugged him, relief written all over his face. Logan left after they said their goodbyes, and Mickey turned to look at Rafe.
“Look, I’m sorry if I—if I got too jealous and acted like?—”
But Rafe stepped forward, bending his head to kiss him deeply. “You know,” he said, his cheeks turning a little ruddy after, “I’m not mad about it. It’s actually kinda …hotwhen you get all protective of me.”
Mickey reached up, curling his fingers around the back of Rafe’s neck and kissing him just as thoroughly. “You probably shouldn’t tell me that,” he whispered when he pulled away. “Or I might get myself in a lot of trouble.”
Rafe laughed, pressing their foreheads together for a moment.
“Should we go out there?” Rafe asked, looking a little apprehensive as he straightened.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Mickey admitted. He was not looking forward to the teasing he’d get from their teammates orthe lecture he’d probably get from the coaching staff and head office. But there wasn’t much he could do about that now.
When Rafe and Mickey left the room, they found Gavin and Thad standing guard outside.
Gavin’s gaze flicked across them before he nodded and clapped them both on the shoulders. “Glad you got things worked out. Now, let’s get out of here.”
Cheers rose from the guys waiting in the lobby and Mickey groaned internally as he saw Jesse and Tanner saunter toward them, wheeling over the luggage Mickey had abandoned in the middle of the lobby when he got in an argument with his boyfriend’s ex.Ugh.
He hardly recognized himself anymore.
“So,” Jesse said with a grin as he handed over Mickey’s laptop bag. “It’s really nice not being the one causing all sorts of drama in the hockey world. Thanks for that, Mouse.”
Mickey groaned and took the bag and suitcase from Jesse. But as he followed the rest of their teammates toward the bus, he caught a glimpse of Rafe out of the corner of his eye and thought the tradeoff was definitely worth it.
Unsurprisingly, their teammates gave them shit thewholeway to the airport.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Rafe’s cheeks were hot but he couldn’t stop smiling as he got off the bus on the tarmac and headed toward the plane.
The team had spent the bus ride absolutelyroastinghim and Mickey about everything from the marks on Rafe’s neck to the fact Mickey had nearly caused a fight in the middle of the lobby with Logan.
It was embarrassing, but honestly? Rafe kinda loved it. He’d never fit in so well with a team and this was a sign he was unquestionably one of the boys.
Mickey looked less pleased.
Especially when Crawford slung an arm around Mickey’s shoulder and grinned at him. “I’m so fucking proud of our Mouse,” he said theatrically as he shook him a little. “He’s finally turning into a man.”
Mickey gave him a disgusted look and shrugged his arm off. “Getting in fights does not make me aman. And I only did it because Rafe deserves to have someone stand up for him.”
Rafe smiled at Mickey’s words. God, he was going to be thebestboyfriend. And now Rafe knew what the hell had been going on with Logan, it all made a lot more sense. He still wished they hadn’t started the conversation in the middle of the hotel lobby and all that, but …
“You were soquietwhen you came to us. You hardly said a peep. And now you’re getting a reputation as a fighter.”
A horrified look crossed Mickey’s face. “I certainly hope not.”
“Oh, just you wait. A little more time with this team and you’ll be exactly like me.” Crawford winked.
The look on Mickey’s face made Rafe choke with laughter.
“I feel like a proud papa,” Crawford said smugly, adding a fake sniff like he was tearing up.
In the background, Rafe could hear the other guys cracking up.
“No onewants to be like you, you asshole,” Connor said drily. “Hell, we don’t wantyouto be like you.”
