Page 119 of Breaking the Ice

“Really?” Hayes looked surprised. “Didn’t you tell me that those two are basically inseparable these days?”

Zach nodded. “And they’realwaysbetter together than they are apart.”

“He needs to just let them ride it out,” Hayes said.

It was what Zach kept saying, but he had a feeling Gavin didn’t want to wait and see. Wanted todosomething. Sometimes the toughest part of coaching was just doing nothing.

“I know,” Zach said.

“It’s not creating a problem between you, is it?” Hayeswondered.

Not yet it wasn’t. They talked about it, round and round, Gavin hardly sounding convinced either way, and then Zach would kiss him, and they’d melt into each other all over again.

“No,” Zach said.

“But you’re worried,” Hayes said astutely.

“We’re in a weird spot. I’m his assistant coach. I’m here to support him. Support his decisions.”

“Even when they’re stupid ass decisions?” Hayes chuckled darkly. “And no, you’re not just there for that, Zachy. You’re there to be a sounding board, to pull his head out of his ass when he shoves it in too deep. Not just to automatically agree with every choice he makes.”

And Zach did know that, but he’d also never imagined that he and Gavin would ever seriously disagree about how to handle something.

Not that they had.Yet.

“It wouldn’t be such a problem if the second power play team or some of the other lines could create some decent offense,” Zach grumbled.

“They’ll get there. They’re young,” Hayes said optimistically. “Remember what we were like when we were that age.”

“Stupid,” Zach said, and Hayes laughed.

“Not sure we ever grew out of that,” Hayes said. But he sounded lighter and Zachfeltlighter.

“Fair,” Zach agreed, chuckling now too.

“But it’s going good, you and your coach?” Hayes said. “I can see you’re in your office so I won’t make you give me aplay by play.”

“Oh, just ’cause I’m in my office, huh?” His doorwasclosed, but he wasn’t going to tell Hayes he wouldn’t have done it regardless. Hayes already knew it. Sharing details of meaningless hookups was one thing, but it was another to tell each other when it mattered. Zach had never gotten more than a few tight-lipped sentences out of Hayes about Morgan Reynolds and he wasfinewith that.

Hayes flushed. “Hey if one of us is having sex, I feel like it’s a responsibility to share. Some of us are going through the dry spell of a century.”

Zach shot his best friend a look. “You know that’syourchoice, Monty. You’re hot. You’re rich and famous. You’re single. You could walk into any bar in the LA area and get as much dick as you wanted.”

“Thanks,” Hayes said dryly. “I’m going to say that the next time a reporter asks me what specifically I’m doing to win games.Being hot. Being rich and famous. Getting as much dick as I want.”

Zach laughed. “You might’ve five years ago.”

Five years ago, they really had been young and stupid, practically rookies, barely over twenty-one, buzzing at just the thought they were playing in the NHL.

But the trade had settled Hayes’ outrageous streak, and then the A and then the C the Sentinels had bestowed on him had seemingly eradicated it completely.

“Five years ago,” Hayes said, rolling his eyes. “That feels like a fucking lifetime ago.”

“I’m serious though,” Zach said, “you have to get back out there.”

Hayes looked suddenly suspicious. “Is this your second attempt at an intervention?”

“No, it’s my attempt at giving a shit about you,” Zach said firmly.