Page 55 of Back in the Game (Pride in the Game #1)

“Oh my fuck.” Jett threw his head back and laughed. Harrison saw the moment when the switch finally flipped, and Jett gave up on hating the Ottawa player. “Where did you learn to swear like that? I know you grew up in Canada, but goddamn…”

Satisfied that Jett and Harrison no longer wanted to run away, Park got out of his seat and joined his captain on the opposite side of the booth so he could look at them.

“It’s called junior hockey in Ontario,” said Park. “I have the hoser accent too, I just choose not to use it. I’m good at languages, so it was pretty easy to pick up on the dirty shit you Canadians say all the time.”

Harrison had read that somewhere. Park knew like…five languages or something equally crazy. It was impressive compared to his two.

“We would have done this sooner, but the timing was off. I’m glad we caught you after the game today, Jett—and Harrison too. I didn’t think I would ever get a chance to meet you,” said Holt.

Harrison’s hand clenched firmly around his bottle of water.

It was still weird to hear people say things like that, but it was the curse of being a Number One Draft Pick.

Everyone in the hockey world knew who he was.

Every player in the league had expected to play against him at some point.

Every hockey fan had watched his stats as he climbed to the top.

It didn’t make it any less uncomfortable, but he understood the reasoning.

“I didn’t figure you were looking for friends,” said Jett to Park. “You’re always such an asshole.”

Park took another drink from his glass. “Yeah, well…get fucked.”

Holt put his hand on the back of Park’s head and forced him into an apologetic bow.

“Allow me to translate. Jin knows he sounds like an asshole, but he’s actually a sweet guy who’s a little rough around the edges.

He doesn’t have any friends on our team because they’re all chasing girls or are married with families, so he’s been lonely.

He would really appreciate it if he could have your number so he can strike up a friendship with you, and finally have a reason to stop complaining about only having his captain saved in his contacts. ”

Park smacked his hand away and sat up. “Joke’s on you, smartass, you’re not even saved in my contacts. You’re just a number, but Evie has a name and all kinds of hearts next to it if you’re wondering.”

“I wasn’t, but thanks.”

Scoffing, Park pulled his phone out of his pocket and set it on the table, sliding it toward Jett for emphasis. “Number, blondie. Let’s go.”

“I’d tell you to suck my dick, but you’d like it too much,” Jett shot back, but he took the phone and input his number.

Harrison smiled until Jett passed the phone to him and gave him a pointed look. He didn’t bother arguing; he just took the phone and did what he was told.

“Okay, I’m a romantic,” said Holt, drawing the attention back to himself. “How did you guys fall for each other? I know it has something to do with that practice game in Nova Scotia, but there has to be more to it.”

Harrison placed his arm around Jett’s waist, unable to keep from touching him. It was driving him crazy that they had to act professional in public to avoid ending up in some news article the next day, when all he wanted to do was claim Jett’s mouth in front of everyone to show who he belonged to.

“He followed my cousin from the rink onto my private property and harassed me to be friends with him until I gave in.”

Holt’s mouth went slack with surprise.

“That’s not—” Jett spluttered and smacked Harrison’s arm. “Dude, that’s not exactly how it happened. You make it sound like I forced you into it.”

Harrison raised his water bottle to his lips, staring at Jett until he cracked.

“Jesus, okay, it was just like that,” said Jett, turning to look at Holt. “But drastic measures had to be taken. He was becoming one with the trees out there, his beard was more alive than the wildlife living under the porch, and he’s too hot to go down like that. I did the world a service.”

That was…a colourful way to word it. Harrison didn’t disagree necessarily, but damn.

“My wife would call that the forced proximity trope,” said Holt, holding his fist out for Jett to bump against. “You gotta do what you gotta do. ”

“Exactly!” Jett accepted the gesture, bumping his knuckles to Holt’s bruised ones. “And look at him now! Killinger is the hottest guy in this city.”

Jett was tipsy. He was getting touchy, sliding his hand up Harrison’s chest to squeeze his left pec. “All these muscles, and this hair—"

Harrison wasn’t quite fast enough to dodge Jett as he grabbed his hair tie and slowly pulled it out. He sighed and placed his face in his hand, groaning in exhaustion as Jett worked his fingers in between the strands and tugged.

“How the fuck is he ten times hotter now?” he heard Park ask loudly. “That’s not even fair.”

“Right?”

“Settle down, guys,” said Holt. “You’re making poor Killinger blush.”

“Your man is coaching your team,” Park continued, ignoring Holt. “That has to make things hot in the bedroom. Does he coach you there too?”

Holt cackled and nudged the arm Harrison had resting on the table. “Sorry about this, Killinger. Jin’s never really learned what boundaries are.”

“It’s fine,” said Harrison. “Neither does Jett. Hence, the stalking.”

“He does,” said Jett, answering Park’s question. “It’s hot.”

Harrison shot a look at Jett that promised a not-so-fun punishment once they were back at the hotel, but Jett only smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

“See how cute they are?” Park shoved his captain, nearly toppling the larger man over. “So much better than you slobbering all over Evie.”

“Evie, my wife.”

“Evie, my friend.”

Jett gently tugged Harrison’s hair to bring him closer so he could speak into his ear. “I think I like Park. Please tell me I’m crazy.”

Harrison couldn’t. He liked the feral pink-haired man too.

“You better hope all of her pretty genetics overtake your ugly ones.”

“Bro, I’m not even ugly.”

He wasn’t. Harrison looked Damien Holt up and down, weighing his attractiveness.

He wasn’t stunning like Park and Jett were, but he was handsome.

Dark brown eyes, black hair, and neatly kept stubble.

He had nice arms and a charming smile, but he was a little too boy-next-door cute for Harrison. Park was totally being an asshole .

“You’re staring,” Jett said into his ear again. “See something you like, or…?”

Harrison shook his head. “Definitely not. He’s missing a few curls, not drop-dead gorgeous, and his eyes aren’t the right colour. Also, he’s married. To a woman.”

They were speaking quietly enough that Park and Holt couldn’t hear them, but if they caught wind of what they were discussing, that would change.

“No threesomes?” Jett gave him a cute little pout. “You’re so possessive, Killinger.”

He was, there was no denying that. The thought of another man putting his hands on Jett’s body, or trying to distract Harrison from pleasuring Jett? No, he could already feel jealousy rearing its ugly head.

No, there were no threesomes in their future.

Fuck, now all he wanted to do was bring Jett back to their hotel room and remind him why he didn’t need anyone else but him . Harrison took another drink of water to stop himself from voicing his thoughts out loud.

He almost choked when he felt a hand touch his thigh, squeezing before it slowly slid up. He shot Jett a look, raising an eyebrow in question.

Jett gave him an innocent smile. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, I know what that look means,” said Holt, smacking his empty beer bottle on the table. “We’re going to take off and let you guys enjoy your night. Thanks for giving Jin your number. I owe you one.”

Park narrowed his eyes at his friend. “What look? What are you talking about?” His gaze shifted to Jett and Harrison, but he still appeared confused.

Holt pushed him out of the booth and followed him. When they were both standing, he swung an arm over Park’s shoulders and gave him an affectionate shake. “It’s past this one’s bedtime. He’s a rotten bastard if he doesn’t get his beauty sleep before the next game.”

Park elbowed Holt viciously, muttering curses in several languages.

“Sounds good!” Jett waved at them with the free hand that wasn’t dangerously close to gripping Harrison’s cock. “I hope you guys lose against New York. ”

“Fuck you,” said Park. “I hope you lose every game and don’t make the playoffs.”

Jett and Holt both gasped dramatically, the former roughly slapping a hand over Park’s mouth.

“Please ignore how awful he is.” The captain of the Ottawa Conclaves looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Text him, I’m begging you .”

Jett started sniggering as the two men walked away, bickering loudly and wrestling. Some Sunburst players stopped their conversations to watch the spectacle, clapping and jeering until they made their way out of the bar.

Jett turned his attention back to Harrison, his cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling with mischief. “Do you want to play some pool? You might get lucky and win a car tonight.”

Harrison pulled him closer, placing his hand on Jett’s cheek and tilting his head, making it look like he was going in for a kiss. He stopped just before their lips touched, and even over the noise of the bar, he could hear the hitch of anticipation in Jett’s breathing.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Fraser. Tread carefully.”

He watched Jett’s pupils dilate, black nearly swallowing all the gold.

“Killinger, I thought I told you that I like playing with fire.”

To emphasize his point, Jett moved his hand and cupped the rigid line of his cock through his pants, squeezing it.

Fuck . Would they even make it to the room at this point?

“You’re drunk,” said Harrison.

Jett made a dismissive sound. “I’m not drunk. If I were, I would already be under this table sucking your cock.”

Harrison closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. “We need to leave. There are bags to pack and planes to catch.”

Jett’s answering grin was all the response he needed.