Page 74 of Breaking the Ice

Zach nodded.

“Yeah, you probably should. They’re really into Elliott. And well . . .the idea of keeping this going.” Gavin gestured at the screen, where Elliott and Malcolm had thrown themselves into each other’s arms. On the ice was the one place they really seemed to gel, though Zach kept insisting there was more going on these days.

Well, that had been the idea, anyway. There were other tutors that Gavin could have picked to help Elliott pass his class, but Mal had been the perfect, if potentially risky choice.

He still remembered when, after he’d broached the subject, Zach had told him his pet theory. They’d both been flushed, not because either of them were even remotely into the idea of their left and right wingers fucking, but because of thefucking.

Gavin tried very hard not to think about sex and Zach in the same thought, at least when he was right in front of him.

It was bad enough that it happened every night, when he was alone.

“It’s hard to know whether I should push him to tell me what’s going on.” Zach sighed. “He should be talking tosomeone, though.”

“Maybe he’s talking to Elliott,” Gavin offered optimistically.

Zach looked incredulous. “If what’s happening is what Ithinkis happening, talking is the last thing on their minds. You were twenty once.”

God, he didn’t even need to be twenty anymore to let even the idea of sex consume him. But the last thing he was going to do was confess that to Zach.

“Please, I really don’t want to think about Mal and Elliott that way,” Gavin said, scrubbing a hand over his face.

Zach grinned. “Whether you think about it or not, it’s probably happening.”

“God,” Gavin groaned.

In some ways, Zach bringing it up and Gavin having to shut him gently down had been the best-case scenario, because he’d sworn to himself there would be no more mixed signals. No more almost-kisses. He’d toed the line, because anything else was unthinkable. He couldn’t lead Zach on that way.

It was enough of a miracle that Zach hadn’t gotten fucking pissed at him. Hadn’t quit. Hadn’t stopped being his friend.

They even still talked every night. Nothing had changed, except that he’d extinguished the hope in Zach’s eyes.

Yeah, ’cause that didn’t really fucking suck.

“I’ll talk to him. Feel him out,” Zach said. “After the game on Friday?”

“Maybe we should have Ramsey do it.”

“He already pushed hard enough.” Gavin heard the uncertainty in his voice. He’d told Ramsey not to get involved, and he hadn’texactlyfollowed that directive, but Ramsey claimed he’d only given Elliott a much-needed nudge.

And they were still scoring goals. More than ever, in fact.

Gavin didn’t need anyone to tell him, because he had plenty of emails from the Toronto scouts in his inbox.

Other scouts too. Sidney was practically foaming at the mouth, he was so goddamn excited.

Everyone was half in love with Elliott Jones, these days.

“Trust me, I’ve got this,” Zach said, getting to his feet and on his way towards the doorway, he stopped next to Gavin’s desk and put a friendly hand on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. Like touching was totally normal. Like it was No Big Deal.

Gavin had to give Zach full points for returning them to the status quo after The Conversation.

He wasn’t sure he’d be able do it—or to do it so effortlessly—but Zach had managed it. Like maybe it hadn’t mattered after all. But Gavin knew that was a friendly, easy lie to tell himself, because he’d seen the disappointment swamp Zach the second before he buried it.

“Thanks,” Gavin said. “You’ll let me know how it goes?”

Zach rolled his eyes, his smile affectionate. “Of course. When haven’t I?” He gave Gavin one more shoulder pat, and then Gavin was watching his back as he walked out.

It was getting late, and he should head home, but he didn’t want to let himself have what he cravedthateasily, so he made one more perusal of his inbox.