Page 130 of Breakaway Goals

“How’s it going?” Hayes asked under his breath.

“The interrogation I’ve already been subjected to about why you’re coming to dinner almost made me break twice,” Morgan hissed. Hayes slipped out of his shoes and then he handed Morgan the bottle of wine he’d brought.

Morgan gave it right back. “Give it to Jacob. He likes wine. It’ll make you look good with your future step-son-in-law,” Morgan advised.

Hayes flushed. “Don’t you think—”

God, Morgan wanted to kick himself. Two dates in, and Hayes thought he wasproposing.“No, no, I mean, they’re going to get married, aren’t they?”

Hayes nodded enthusiastically. “I’m sure they will.” He patted Morgan on the shoulder. “They’re great together.”

Morgan straightened up. “I guess . . .no choice but to do this,” he said.

“I’m following your lead,” Hayes said under his breath before they walked into Jacob and Finn’s kitchen.

Both Finn and Jacob greeted Hayes with enthusiasm and hugs. Jacob seemed pleased by the wine, and Hayes let himself get pulled into a conversation about different New Zealand varietals and vintages. Morgan helped Finn finish setting the table.

“This is nice,” Finn said, tilting his face towards Morgan as he set the salad onto their kitchen table. “It was a good idea to invite Monty.”

“Good. I thought so, too,” Morgan said, trying to sound normal and not like a man wildly in love who desperately craved approval on his life choices.

“He’s a good captain,” Finn said. “Different than you, but good, still.”

“I might’ve been pretty tough on guys, sometimes. There’s more ways to go about things than just being a hard-ass all the time,” Morgan said. Ten years ago, he’d have never said that—wouldn’t have eventhoughtit. But he’d mellowed. Learned that there were more things out in the world than just hockey.

Sometimes he thought what would have happened if he’d had that realization sooner. But he’d won two Cups with the Bandits because he’d been hard on everyone—starting with himself, but definitely not ending there.

“Dad, look at you,” Finn teased. “It’s like you’re a real person now!”

“Shut it,” Morgan said, reaching over and messing up Finn’s curls.

He’d thought maybe he should save the big revelation but he’d also had the perfectly legitimate concern that it would be awkward to keep it until after dinner. That they wouldn’t have anything to talk about without it.

But he shouldn’t have worried. Hayes was too good, natural and practiced and also ridiculously charming, drawing Finn and Jacob into the conversation effortlessly, probably like he’d done with dozens of rookies since he’d become captain. Morgan always thought he was amazing, but watching him laugh with Finn and Jacob, he was reminded again of how goddamn lucky he was that Hayes had forgiven him, that Hayes was still willing to give him the time of the day.

They were nearly all the way through dinner when Hayes shot him a meaningful glance under his long eyelashes.

Morgan knew what it meant.

It’s time, baby.

Also,good fucking luck.

God, Morgan loved him.

“So . . .uh . . .Finn, you asked why I asked Hayes to dinner,” Morgan said. He wasn’t nearly as good at this as Hayes was. Another reason he was grateful Hayes was around.

“Yeah?” Finn barely looked like he was paying attention. Morgan was pretty sure he was playing footsy under the table with Jacob. Normally he might’ve thrown a fit about this gross disrespect—or at least given Jacob shit about it—but he didn’t want to get derailed now that he’d finally decided it was time to confess everything.

“You know we knew each other.”

Finn shot him a look. “Yeah, Dad. We all know. The fucking saviors of US hockey. We’re aware.”

Morgan ground his teeth together. “Right. Yes. We played together at the Four Nations tournament six years ago.” He risked a glance over at Hayes. His expression was perfectly neutral. Maybe a little too neutral, like he was holding something—or everything—back. “The only time we’ve ever played together.”

“And I was there too. Let’s not forget that,” Jacob said, laughing.

“True,” Morgan said, even though Jacob’s presence on Team USA was not why they were having this conversation.