Page 89 of Breaking the Ice

“Two alpha dogs, who love working together, who can barely stop looking at each other? Oh yeah, you’re both sharks and you’re fucking hungry.” Ramsey nudged him with his shoulder. “Please tell me there’s some blood in the water, soon. ’Cause the sexual tension isthick, man.”

“That’s . . .that’s Elliott and Mal,” Zach argued, even though it was a fucking weak argument. Yeah, Elliott and Mal had their share of sexual tension, but after they’d gotten together it had calmed considerably.

They only looked like they wanted to eat each other alive maybe thirty-five percent of the time now.

Ramsey cocked his head. “Not the same.”

“Sure,” Zach said as Ramsey led him to the bar. He ordered a beer and tilted his head towards Ramsey, who nodded back. Zach added a second one to his tab.

Ramsey leaned against the bar after the bartender slid two bottles across the wood.

“Ell knew he wanted Mal, though he certainly didn’twantto, because Ell’s got an ego. On the other hand, Mal was inmajor denial mode.” Ramsey tapped his fingers against the bar, off-rhythm with the music playing. “You and Coach are different.”

“We shouldn’t be talking about this,” Zach said sternly.Especially not here.

“Oh, I know. He’s my coach, etcetera etcetera.” Ramsey absently waved a hand, like this wasn’t a big deal. Like he was used to getting chastised for saying more than he should. Andwell, he probably was.

Zach rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we’re both your coaches, asshole.”

“Hey, if you need a push in the right direction, I’m still gonna do it.” Ramsey paused. “Doyou need a push in the right direction?”

“Isn’t that something you’re supposed to be telling me?” Zach muttered.

Ramsey grinned. “Okay, let me rephrase. This is me pushing you in the right direction.”

“A common theme tonight,” Zach said morosely.

“Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one,” Ramsey said. He nudged Zach. “He’s over by the pinball machines, probably trying to stay between Elliott and Mal so they don’t run off and fuck in the bathroom.”

Zach sighed. “Remember when McCoy was the responsible one who never took a step out of line?”

“I do. And it was a damn shame,” Ramsey said.

Zach wanted to argue with him, but he could see Ramsey’s point, too. That Malcolm had been penned in by his own expectations, by his own rules, and maybe he was a little wilder now, but he was also freer.Happier.

“Yeah.”

Ramsey shot him a knowing look. “What are you waiting for, dude? Go distract him from his task. Everyone’ll be happier. You. Coach. Definitely Elliott and Malcolm.”

If he wandered in that direction—and that was a bigif,still—would Ramsey take that as silent approval of everything he’d said? Of course, Zach had always intended to find Gavin, at one point or another tonight. They always circled each other, and he knew New Years Eve wouldn’t be any different.

Like two horny sharks, Ramsey’s voice supplied in Zach’s own head.

It wasn’t like Hayes had been particularly subtle, but Ramsey had been evenlesssubtle. Which tracked, really.

“I guess I should go say hi to everyone,” Zach said and Ramsey shot him an incredulous look like they both didn’t know exactly who he’d be looking for.

He found Gavin exactly where Ramsey had said he would be, leaning against a wall by the bank of pinball machines. Elliott was racking up major points on a Star Wars themed one, Mal practically pressed up against his back as Ell’s fingers flicked over the controls, nearly too quick to make out.

Jacob Braun was standing next to Gavin, and Zach wasn’t particularly surprised to see him there. He’d heard around the grapevine—though Finn hadn’t come to them and told either of them specifically—that they weren’t just coaching now, but dating. Zach might’ve been more concerned, but it was so obvious how much the new relationship suited Finn. His smiles came quicker, bloomed easy as breathing across his face, and hisplay had never been more confident, like he was finally figuring out how to exist in his own skin.

If Jacob had anything to do with that, then Zach wholeheartedly approved.

“Hey,” Zach said, approaching them.

“Hey,” Gavin said, and Jacob nodded.

“Good to see you, man,” Zach directed at Jacob.