Page 120 of Breaking the Ice

“I don’t think you have much room to talk. You got the guy after what, only six months of pining?” Hayes waved a hand. “That’s fucking nothing.”

He didn’t sound angry or bitter or even jealous.

“Monty,” Zach said quietly.

“I’m just going to be single forever,” Hayes said. Which was stupid because Zach was right—he was acatchand wasting his whole life pining away after Morgan fucking Reynolds was practically criminal.

“Don’t do that to either of us.”

“The least you can do is tell me if it was worth the wait,” Hayes said, ignoring Zach’s reproving comment.

“I already told you that.” Via text, several times.

Hayes huffed in frustration. “Seriously that’s all I’m getting?”

“It’s . . .it’s not what I expected, in a good way. In agreatway.” Zach wasn’t going to go into any more detail than that. But it was safe to say that the power dynamic between them cranked him up more than he’d ever dreamed it would.

“No more widower freakouts?” Hayes asked it lightly but it was impossible to miss the worry in his gaze.

“He seems to be . . .all-in, I guess? We’ve even been on a few dates. He keeps saying he’s going to tell our boss. With things being the way they are with the team, we haven’t discussed telling them yet, but I think that’s only a matter of time.”

“Good, I hoped he’d treat you right ’cause I really didn’t want to come all the way there just to kick his ass,” Hayes said.

Zach rolled his eyes. “Like you could.”

“Hey, I’ve been in like . . .what . . .three fights?”

“Yes, three fights in seven-plus years in the NHL. You’re practically a goon, Monty.”

“I think one of those was actually an accident.” Hayes grinned goofily then, suddenly looking years younger. Zach wanted to reach through the screen and hug him.

Convince him, any way he could, that his life hadn’t ended. That he wasn’t just playing hockey games and marking time.

But what else could he say that he hadn’t said already? Hayes had to decide for himself that he was done waiting.

“Well, you can come here, and ‘accidentally’ stumble across G if he ever fucks up,” Zach said.

“Good, I’m gonna.” Hayes hummed in approval.

For a second, they were both quiet. Sometimes when they’d played together, when the noise of the NHL got too intense, they’d hide together in dark arena corners, in their hotel room, and just sit in silence. Soaking up the comfort of each other’s presence.

They were a long way from being those rookies, but Zach discovered it worked the same way.

But before the quiet could drag on too long, there was a soft knock on his door.

“Oh, I think Gavin’s here with lunch,” Zach said, suddenly feeling awkward. Should he keep Hayes on the line? Should he say he had to go?

“Oh, good, I can give him the shovel talk now, then,” Hayes joked.

Zach flushed. “Monty,” he warned.

“I’ll be nice.”

“Accidentally or on purpose?”

Hayes laughed out loud as Zach called out, “Come in.”

Gavin stuck his head in. “Hey,” he said, “I thought I heard you talking to someone.”