Page 41 of Breaking the Ice

“And you figured out that’s why he did it,” Zach finished.

“Yep. I agree. That kid could probably run a small country. Why not have him run the team?”

“Exactly,” Zach said. He stretched out, back cracking as he pushed his arms as far above his head as they could go.

When he was done, Gavin was still flushed. From remembered embarrassment? Or the flash of skin Zach had given him when his shirt had ridden up?

Patience, Hayes had told him, but he didn’t feel patient at all. He already felt like he was splitting apart at the seams.

You’re just going to have to get used to it, that Hayes-voice in the back of his head reminded him.

“You’re okay with it, then?” Gavin paused. “I didn’t mean to just do it without talking to you first—”

“We talked about it, and this isyourteam, Gavin,” Zach reminded him. But it made him all warm and tingly and fuckingseenthat Gavin had made sure he was on board.

“Only ’cause you gave it to me,” Gavin said quietly, meeting Zach’s eyes and the warmth inside tripled then quadrupled, turning from a sweet heat to a whole fucking conflagration.

He wanted to confess, and to yell, and to hug and to kiss.

But he didn’t do any of those things. Hayes would be proud of how he just shot Gavin a smile and said, “Of course I did. Nobody else I’d trust with it.”

Chapter 7

Gavinhadbeenputtingthis off, but he knew he couldn’t anymore. He’d met with Finn two days ago, and he liked the kid already—but the dad was going to be a problem, and there was nothing to do about it but to deal with Morgan.

He dialed the number he’d gotten from his agent and waited as it connected, ringing over and over again.

Considering Morgan’s stature, he wasn’t surprised when he never answered and the call went to voicemail. He kept it short and sweet as he left a message, explaining that he was the new coach of the Evergreens and he hoped to chat with him soon.

Maybe someone else wouldn’t have called him back right away, but Gavin wasn’t particularly surprised when less than ten minutes later his phone rang.

He’d known that was probable if not guaranteed, so he’d deliberately not started any projects in his office that he wasn’t going to finish.

In fact, he’d been sitting there, in his chair, staring at the window, thinking of how attached it would make him look if he texted Zach.

They’d started texting—or to both of their surprise—calling each other at the end of every day.

Even on days they spent the whole day together, it didn’t feel like it had been a good day if he didn’t get to talk to Zach while they both lay in bed.

They dissected the day. Talked about future plans—both long-term and what tomorrow would bring—and about other things, too. What stupid movies Gavin was watching. The classes Zach was thinking of taking during the next semester. How Gavin had burned his toast this morning because he’d been too busy watching (again) the video of Elliott and Mal playing together.

It was everything and it was nothing, and Gavin liked it so much he was worried he should stop—but it was harmless, wasn’t it? They were just making friendly conversation. It was totally okay that Zach was becoming his favorite person. Your assistant coachshouldbe someone you liked. The job was hard enough on its own, without Gavin having to deal with someone he didn’t give a shit about.

“Hey,” Gavin said, picking up the call.

“You called me,” Morgan said.

Typical Morgan response. They didn’t have alotof experience together, other than the national tournament he’d coached five years ago, when he’d been an assistant and Morgan had captained the USA team. He’d fed Hayes Montgomery that gorgeous pass so he could score the winning goal in the championship game.

“I did,” Gavin said. “You got a minute?”

“Wouldn’t have called you back, otherwise,” Morgan grumbled. “Before you say anything, I want to make a case for Finn starting this year.”

Gavin wanted to say he was surprised, but was he?

No. Not really. This was why he’d called Morgan in the first place. This was the whole fucking problem.

“Don’t you think Finn’s made a good case on his own for starting?”