Page 87 of Breaking the Ice

“Bingo,” Hayes said morosely. “I was at the party downstairs. Couple guys with rooms next to each other. Had some drinks, played some video games. It was . . .well, you can tell how much I enjoyed it.”

“Sounds like it wasn’t the party, butyou, dude.”

Hayes made a dissatisfied noise.

“Let me give you Marcus’ number,” Zach said.

“You forget that healsodoesn’t live in my zip code,” Hayes said.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t be against a little career advancement, not if it meant he got a chance with Hayes Montgomery.”

“Why would I want to drag someone else into this fucked up bullshit?” Hayes asked tiredly, and Zach was tempted to answer, but he had a feeling Hayes hadn’t really wanted an answer.

He’d tried that before, and while the guy had been a douchebag, Zach wasn’t entirely certain if his douchebaggery had been solely personality-based or because he’d gotten tired of Hayes being hung up on someone else.

Maybe Hayes had a point.

Zach grabbed his wallet and keys and let himself out of the apartment, jogging down the stairs. The arcade was only a few blocks away.

“Monty, I say this with love, but you gotta try to get over it,” he said gently.

Hayes sighed.

“Someday,” Hayes said, clearly making an effort to sound lighter. “You see your coach since Christmas and the epic cuddle session he didn’t want to have?”

“It wasn’t—” Zach broke off. “He just fell asleep on me. It wasn’t anything.” But it had re-lit the hope inside him, even as he’d tried to extinguish it.

Maybe Gavin didn’t want to date again, but they were already practically dating, without all the physical benefits and Zachreallywanted some physical benefits.

Even if that was just cuddling on the couch.

“Don’t downplay it, Zachy,” Hayes said sternly. “You’re allowed to be excited that you’re gonna get that happy ending.”

“That’s not a guarantee. He still freaked out.”

“But ithappened. And it’s probably gonna keep happening. You seeing him tonight?”

“Yeah, we’re hosting the guys at the arcade. Trying to keep them out of trouble,” Zach said. It wasn’t like Gavin was going to kiss him at midnight, but they’d be in the same room, and that was more than he’d even known to hope for, before.

“You didn’t answer my question before. You seen him since Christmas?”

“Of course I have.”

“Not for practice. Or in his office. I mean not for work.”

Zach sighed. “No. But we still talk all the time. It’s for work but it’s . . .it’smore,too.”

Christmas and the last week—the clear affection in Gavin’s eyes, the way he was touching him more casually now—was making Zach believe that somethingmightbe happening, no matter how much Gavin denied it.

“Lean into it,” Hayes told him.

“But—” He didn’t want to push Gavin too hard. Make a move Gavin didn’t wanthim to make.

“You want him or not?” Hayes interrupted.

Zach couldn’t help his exasperated groan as he turned the corner, nearly to the arcade. “You know I do.”

“Then don’t let him deny you,” Hayes said.