Page 143 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“He despises the idea of being left out,” Damien adds.

“But…” I don’t want to say it, but then again, I can’t ignore the truth screaming at me “He’ll never be true to himself if he’s so embarrassed at the idea of liking men, too.”

We’re all quiet, experiencing a moment of silence for the friend we used to know.

“It’s in his hands now,” Damien concludes. “All we can control is what happens between us.” His hand wraps around the front side of my neck, moving up enough to encourage my head to drop back so I can look up at him. “Right, Mikayla?”

“Right,” I whisper and bite my bottom lip.

“What do you wanna ask?” Damien speaks even quieter, yet his eyes know what I want.

“One… more kiss.” I manage to ask, and it gives me an odd, giddy feeling because I haven’t been bold like this for a long time.

Since I was the riskier-taker teenager wishing to be seen by the world.

Damien doesn’t delay laying those soft lips on mine, the two of us sharing a scorching kiss that makes me shiver.

“Man,” Maddox whispers, and we notice the way his cheeks are burning red while he glances away. “You guys can’t taunt me like that unless we’re in a closed space. Can’t be sporting a hard-on in a hospital.”

I blush at his honesty while Damien chuckles and moves his hand from my neck to my chest.

“So, why don’t we go to my place and continue what we started?”

I don’t even know what to say, so I look to Maddox to see if he’d be down for it.

I haven’t been to Damien’s house before…

“Okay,” Maddox states with a slow nod. “It’s close by. We wouldn’t need to drive back to the dorms or suites. Plus, our practice tomorrow is canceled.”

“Because of the incident?” I whisper.

“Mhmm,” Maddox replies. “I think both teams are too stressed to be on the ice. We’ll just go hard next week before the game.”

“That sounds doable,” I note and sigh. “I’m tired.”

Damien releases me when Maddox takes my hand.

“Let’s get out of here. I know you don’t like this place,” Maddox acknowledges, squeezing my hand. “Damien, you finish what you had to do here?”

“Yeah. Ace’s grandma is in the program now and just needs to be assigned a night nurse. That should be sorted by tomorrow, so Ace can stay back at the dorms. I also signed us up for a fundraiser event. Should help us upgrade to the suites.”

“So, you guys will each have your own room?” I ask glancing between them.

“That’s the end game, but honestly, we’re thinking of buying a place. A house of sorts that has five or six bedrooms. Just makes more sense than getting multiple suites. It will mean us living off stadium grounds, but the current placement isn’t very comfortable,” Maddox admits.

“It’s not? Why? Is the other team bothering you guys?”

“Nah, not really,” Damien begins and looks annoyed with the topic. “Someone’s been threatening us. Well, Felix in particular.”

“Threatening?” I gasp.

Maddox tugs on my hand so we can start walking while Damien grabs my bag that has my prescriptions.

“He’s openly gay and not everyone likes the news of that. Doesn’t help that some of the Pincers are being douches. Either way, I think the team will continue being registered in the dorms, but we’re going to get a place elsewhere. We don’t have to live on stadium grounds. It’s not in the contracts. It’s out of convenience,” Maddox explains.

I’m surprised when Damien holds my other hand, the three of us walking, hand in hand.

“Aren’t you guys worried?”Because I’m worried.“If they find out about us—”

---