Page 42 of Back in the Game (Pride in the Game #1)

Arlo was nearly as tall and broad as Harrison, with the Killinger temper to match. Whatever Montreal had taught him during training camp was working, because unlike their summer game, Arlo was playing for real and to win.

“You’re annoyingly fucking fast,” said Arlo’s panting voice beside him.

“I imagine the scowl has something more to do with the fact that you just battered his boyfriend, Townsend.”

“You guys are gross,” said Arlo. “After all the shit I went through to get you two together, you owe me dinner tonight. ”

“Arlo!” Montreal’s captain, étienne Leroux, was already waiting at center ice as they came to a stop. “You’re up. Talk later.”

Jett still had another minute left of his shift, so he took his place next to Wolf as they braced for the puck drop.

“It’s fucking weird,” said Wolf. “Killinger and Townsend might as well be twins.”

“Focus, Wolfy,” Jett told him.

The puck dropped.

The Sunbursts won 3–2, and it sure as hell wasn’t easy. Montreal always brought their A-game, but there was something impressive about how Arlo and Leroux played together. It didn’t feel like Arlo was a rookie—it felt like Leroux had been receiving passes from him his whole career.

Their goalie was a huge pain in the ass too, but Jett had outsmarted him in the end, winning the game with a buzzer beater that he scored from behind the net.

The D-man chasing him tried to start a fight, but Leroux quickly stopped it, dragging his teammate away like he was a child in need of scolding.

The Montreal captain was so calm and relaxed. He stood out in the group of testosterone-charged puckheads that all wanted to kill each other. Jett envied the way he stayed so cool in every situation. Arlo needed someone like that to keep him in line and make him a better player.

Jett’s skates barely left the ice when Coach pulled him aside. The music blasting overhead was deafening, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the word interview.

Great, that was just what he needed. He and Harrison had been lucky to avoid all the awkward questions people had been dying to know until now. It looked like that luck had run out today.

“Bracken will be with you,” said Coach, finally audible again once they entered the hallway leading to the locker room.

“Keep the focus on the game and your career. If they start getting pushy, tell them you don’t want to answer the question and move on.

The PR team has your back, and they’ll shut it down if no one takes the hint. ”

They rounded the corner, and Jett lit up when he spotted Harrison leaning against the wall, looking as grumpy as ever. People milled around them, so he didn’t rush over and kiss him the way he wanted to—but the heat in Harrison’s gaze said he knew exactly what Jett was thinking.

“I got this, Coach.” Jett gave Adams a reassuring smile, which did nothing to erase the frown from the man’s face. “I won’t let them pester me about Harrison, trust me.”

“I wouldn’t give a fuck either way,” said Harrison. “If they want to be stupid and not do their job just to get some gossip, that’s their choice.”

“I like this guy,” Coach stated suddenly, gesturing for one of the staff to hand Jett a face towel to clean up before striding away.

Jett couldn’t remember coach ever saying he liked someone before.

He mopped up the sweat and accepted his cap from Harrison, using it to hide his mess of curls so he didn’t look half as gross as he felt. “No time to shower, huh?”

Scowling, Harrison took a water bottle from one of the female staff and shoved it into Jett’s hands. “Nope.” He flicked Jett’s cap, his features softening as he looked at him. “No rest for Toronto’s superstar.”

Jett made a sound of disgust and paused for a drink. “How’s your leg after standing by the ice for so long? I never had a chance to check in on you.”

“Don’t fucking start with me.” Harrison shoved him down the corridor in the direction of the locker room. “It was wrapped in thermal shit, and that Danny jackass checked in on me every ten minutes. I almost punched him in the face.”

“Aw, don’t do that,” said Jett. “Danny has such a pretty face.”

When Harrison gripped the back of his neck and gave him a playful scruff, Jett’s knees nearly gave out. But they had to keep things professional for the next few hours, so he swatted Harrison’s hand away and did his best to ignore the blush rising on his cheeks.

He had less than a minute to take his gear off and throw on pants and a spare jersey before he left for the conference room.

It was already packed by the time Jett arrived.

He left Harrison by the doorway to join Ryan at the table, keeping his eyes glued to the dark polish of the wood.

A few flashes from cameras lit the space around them, but Jett ignored the eager faces staring at him .

The murmuring in the room was loud enough that Ryan wasn’t overheard when he leaned close and whispered, “Things are about to get real awkward, real fast.”

“Why?”

“Rick fuckhead is here.”

Oh god. Jett felt nauseous.

Rick was one of the most aggressive reporters Jett had dealt with and was a known homophobe. He had been called out for conduct during several conferences with other teams, targeting their queer members in stupid attempts to stir up drama.

“He’s been warned,” said Ryan. “He gets one shot, and if he says anything offensive to you, he’s getting banned from this arena for life.”

Jett nodded and fiddled with his water bottle. He didn’t know what to say and wouldn’t know how to say it without throwing up anyway.

Tony from PR stood next to them and held a hand up to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, let’s keep this quick and professional, fellas. These boys played a great game, and I’m sure they want to celebrate with their teammates.”

It was the longest five minutes of Jett’s life. Most of the questions were basic and hockey-centric, but there was one about Harrison’s presence on the team and how Jett felt to be coached by his idol, which he passed on.

Yeah, because he definitely wanted to be reminded of how much he used to gush about Killinger back in his junior years.

He didn’t take a breath until Tony wrapped up the interview and he stood to leave, but his relief was cut short when an angry voice sliced through the commotion, silencing everyone instantly.

“Why did you think it was appropriate to broadcast your relationship on live TV?”

Jett finally looked into the crowd, expecting to see an angry, middle-aged man glaring at him, but Rick hadn’t directed his question at Jett.

Harrison stood by the doorway, as surly as ever. He stared down the cameras and the eyes fixed on him, his expression bored and unreadable as everyone waited for him to say something.

“All the other Sunburst players can control themselves around their partners, so why couldn’t you? ”

“Rick,” said Tony. “You were warned—”

“I haven’t said anything offensive,” Rick said, cutting him off. “I’m simply wondering why your star player doesn’t have to be professional like his teammates. Is it because he’s dating his new coach?”

Jett watched Harrison’s eyebrow arch slowly, knowing exactly what was coming. He braced himself to see Rick get verbally torn apart until Ryan shoved his chair back and let out a sharp, aggressive sigh, cutting Harrison off before he could speak.

“Jace! Get your ass in here!”

The room was so quiet that Jett could hear ringing in his ears. Not ten seconds later, Jason appeared in his casual clothes, freshly showered. He stepped around Jett and stood next to Ryan, grinning at him like an excited puppy.

Jett didn’t have time to prepare himself before Ryan ducked down and pressed his lips against Jason’s, kissing him with more heat than necessary. It didn’t last long, and both men appeared smug as they turned to look at Rick, giving him a sarcastic wave.

Tony was going to have a heart attack.

“There,” said Ryan. “How was that for professional?”

Nearly everyone in the room started laughing, except for Rick, who was turning purple as he glared back and forth between Harrison and Ryan. Tony took over after that, ushering them out so he could deal with the room of reporters on his own.

Ryan cackled and swung an arm over Harrison’s shoulders as they stepped back into the corridor. Jason was right behind him, his big arms wrapped around Ryan’s waist from behind in a bear hug, making it hard for them both to walk. They were laughing so hard they were crying.

“Did you see his face?!” Jason said through gasps of air. “He looked like he shit his pants.”

Jett closed his open mouth, his eyes darting between the three men. “You guys…planned this?”

Harrison—who rarely laughed out loud—was red-faced and grinning when his blue eyes locked on Jett. “Fuck yeah, we did. I’ve been waiting years to get revenge on that prick after he called me a queer online.”

“We were happy to help,” said Ryan. “Anything for a teammate. ”

“You certainly looked happy to help,” Jett muttered. He had seen less steamier kisses between main characters in a romance movie. He didn’t know if he would ever understand Ryan and Jason’s friendship.

The two idiots hadn’t heard him; they were too busy hanging off Harrison and each other. Jett shoved his elbow into Ryan’s side to get his attention.

“Dude, come on. We need to get showered and cool down.”

“Don’t forget physio,” said Harrison. “We need to report for stretching and medical checks.”

Right, Jett was still on watch because of Blanchard’s cheap wrist shot. He was fine, and it hadn’t bothered him during the game, but their coach was a menace when it came to injuries. If he didn’t follow his physio’s orders, he’d be hearing about it.

“Arlo takes forever in the shower, so we won’t have to worry about being late,” said Harrison. “My well water almost didn’t survive that brat.”

Ryan tried to hide another bout of laughter behind a cough. “You sound like an old man. Did you also yell at kids if they walked on your lawn?”