Page 89 of Breakaway Goals

“Chill, Monty. I get it. You hate me on sight, you wish I was a thousand miles away. I know.”

But Hayes didn’t like that either. How easily Morgan accepted those things as the truth. Should they be true? Probably, but they didn’t feel that way.

Morgan re-racked the weights and wiped down the machine, moving onto the treadmill as Hayes set down his shake next to the leg press. Tried to get his shit together as he prepared for his workout.

Even though Morgan clearly didn’t agree, turning away from him like the conversation was over, Hayes couldn’t shake the persistent thought that Morgan’s comment deserved some kind of answer, but fuck if he knew what it was.

He agonized over itandevery moment they were in the same gym, breathing the same goddamn recycled air, doing his utmost to ignore the sweat dripping down the side of Morgan’s face. How it soaked into the collar of his ancient T-shirt. Made the curls at his temples darker.

Hayes finished his leg reps and was profoundly annoyed he hadn’t managed to use his normal focus and the physical exertion to block Morgan out.

Tugging his ear pods out, he finished his protein shake and turned to Morgan.

“I’m only thinking about how you being around so much impacts Finn,” Hayes finally said. Ignoring how Finn himself had told him only a week ago that he was okay having Morgan around.

Morgan hit a button on the treadmill and slowed to a steady jog. Shot him a dubious look, which smarted somewhere deep inside Hayes. He’d thought he’d done a fairly decent job at not seemingthatbothered by Morgan’s presence in Florida.

“That’s all it is? You’re worried about Finn?”

“Of course,” Hayes said self-righteously.

“I’m not trying to be in your hair,” Morgan said apologetically. “Or in Finn’s hair.” And what the fuck.What the fuck.

Morgan had never evensoundedapologetic in his whole life. Why was he starting now? And could Hayes erase it from it from his brain so he wouldn’t over-obsess about what it meant during his next sleepless night?

He said he was trying.

Hayes pushed that thought right the fuck out before it could take root any further.

“You’re doing a very good job of acting like a real human father,” Hayes muttered.

That was kind of shitty but he wasfeelingkind of shitty.

“Isn’t that what everyone wants?” Morgan retorted dryly.

“It isn’tyou,” Hayes burst out.

“Well, you said it yourself. You don’t know me anymore,” Morgan said mildly. Like the fact of it didn’t hit Hayes right where it hurt.

Hayes shoved a hand through his damp hair. Maybe this conversation was inevitable. They’d only had half of it in the bathroom at the bar. Morgan had left before they could do anything more than bristle at each other. At the time, that had seemed like the smartest idea, but from Hayes’ years as a captain, he’d learned that leaving shit unsaid only guaranteed that it would fester and then infect everyone.

They could not afford for this cold war to affect Finn.

Not when Hayes wanted a new contract and another Cup. Not just for him, but for every guy on this team.

“Listen, I’m glad you’re here for Finn.”

Morgan slowed the treadmill further, down to a walk, and then hopped off. Further ruined Hayes’ day by lifting his T-shirt up again, wiping away more sweat. He didn’t come any closer to where Hayes was leaning against the bench press, but his gaze was intent.Interested.

“What about you?”

It was not what Hayes had expected him to say, and he floundered.

“I’m not—this isn’t about me. This is about Finn.”

“I told myself that when I showed up, you’d be cold, unfriendly. Unbothered.” Morgan wet his lips. “But you’re not.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Hayes said.Unbothered? Honestly, what the fuck. Yes, it had been six years, but surely Morgan had understood how into him he’d been. Head over heels, logic thrown right out the window, building dream castles in the hotel rooms they’d shared.