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The next morning, I fluttered my eyes open to sunshine streaming through my window. Fuck, what the hell had I done last night? A sharp pain lit up behind my eyes. I drank too much, that was what I did. And hadn’t something happened with Myles ?

“Oh, shit.” My eyes popped open. I’d tried to kiss him in the bathroom. I groaned and rolled to my side. And I’d gotten a boner while he tried to help me piss. Not cool.

My gaze snagged a half-full water bottle on the nightstand, and I smacked my dry lips.

“Water…” I propped on an elbow, snatched the bottle and drank it all down.

I was moving today. I needed to get my ass in gear and pack the rest of my shit.

I’d been able to get a good portion of it done yesterday before the game.

But then, it wasn’t like I had very much shit.

I looked down. I was only wearing my boxer briefs. Had Myles taken me home? And if so, had he undressed me or had I done it myself? I was never drinking like that again.

My phone buzzed on my nightstand, and I picked it up, squinting to see the screen. A text message from Myles scrolled across the top.

Myles

Let me know when you’re ready for us to come over. Ace has a big-ass truck we can use to move you.

That was great. Between Ace’s truck and my own, we’d make quick work of today. If I could muster the strength to get out of bed. I typed my response.

Cooper

I’m up now. Come over whenever you can.

I threw my legs over the side of the bed, scrubbed my face, and stood.

After loading the trucks with my stuff, I stepped into my apartment. I should at least say goodbye to Tony. Even though he’d said barely a hello to my friends while they’d been here. “Hey, this is it. ”

Tony stood from the dinette off the kitchen, which was his. “I’d say I was sorry to see you go, but I’m not.” He smirked at me, planting his hands on his hips.

“Yeah, well. Same.” I glanced at the spot my leather sofa had been in.

The carpet was pretty stained around where it had been.

“Your buddy has a couch I take it?” I’d already left a lot of my cooking supplies, since, you know, he’d wrecked them.

But I wasn’t letting him have my couch, even though he’d tried to ruin that, too.

“Yeah, he’s got one. He’ll be over in a few hours.” He lifted his chin. “See you.”

“Okay.” With my brows lifting, I left my key for the apartment on the table and strolled out, shutting the door behind me.

Myles jogged down the path to me. “All set?” He stopped and raked his gaze over me. “You okay?”

Between the alcohol last night and the heat of the day, I was sweating like a pig.

I swiped droplets from my eyes. “I’m fine.

He’s as happy to see me go as I am to leave.

” With a tsk, I snickered. I hadn’t had time to talk to Myles about what happened last night.

Maybe after the move was over. As I patted Myles’ shoulder, I said, “Come on, let’s go home. ”

We unloaded the trucks in only half an hour, and within the next hour, Ace, Zoma, Myles, JJ, and Casey reassembled, made my bed, and unpacked all my boxes. It was an immense advantage to have elite athletes as friends when you had to move.

After putting the last of my clothing into a drawer in my dresser, I broke down the box and headed into the main room with it. All the guys were in various positions in the kitchen and on my couch, now set up next to the sectional. Everyone held a beer in their hand.

“Hey, where’s mine?” I glanced at Ace, standing next to the refrigerator .

“You sure you want one after last night?” Ace sniggered.

My eyes widened. Fuck, Myles must have said something. My gaze swung to JJ, a smirk creeping across his lips, as he sat next to Myles on the sectional. “After all that puking you did last night, I figured you’d be better off with water and Gatorade,” JJ said.

Myles sipped his beer, the edges of his lips twitching.

“I puked last night?” A hazy image flashed in my brain of bushes with spikes. My cheeks warmed. “Oh, yeah, guess I did.” I strolled into the kitchen and pulled out a Gatorade from the refrigerator. “I’ll stick with this. I’m going to need to be well hydrated for practice tomorrow.”

Ace twisted to face me, resting his ass against the counter. “What do you say we order some pizza for dinner? I don’t feel like cooking.” He glanced behind him at the guys. “And play some NHL?”

“NHL? You mean Madden.” Casey hooked a brow at him.

“No, I mean NHL.” He lumbered into the room and stood before Casey. “I bet you’d make a great goalie.”

Casey tsked. “I don’t know shit about being a goalie. Only how to make goals.” He wagged his brows at Ace.

“Oh, here we go.” Myles rolled his eyes.

We played NHL, making Casey the goalie, for a few hours and then all the guys left. Ace and Zoma retired to their room, leaving me alone with Myles, my new roommate, in the sectional. “So…” I picked at the label on my Gatorade bottle.

“So, that was fun. Your friends seem to get along well with my friends.” He sipped his beer.

“They do. They’re all jocks.” I huffed a laugh. “We understand each other.” Should I bring up last night? “Hey, I’m sorry I got so shitfaced last night. It sucks you had to cut your date short with JJ. ”

Myles pursed his lips, nodding slowly. “Yeah, about that.” He sucked in a breath, his gaze catching on mine, then falling to my lips and darting away. “I know you thought he and I would be a good fit, but I’m not sure.”

I stared at him, my pulse kicking. Oh no, I was not the right guy for him to be having this conversation with. And really? “Okay, why do you say that?” I shifted on the couch, lifting my leg between us.

His brows dipped. “I’m not feeling a spark. I thought I would eventually, but…” He crept his gaze to mine and trailed his tongue around his lips.

As I watched his tongue, my dick woke. I squirmed and drank some Gatorade. “So, no spark.” I couldn’t say there wasn’t a part of me that was happy to hear it. But shit, was JJ in for heartache?

“Yeah, with the guys I’ve dated or hooked up with, there’s always been a spark, like right away, eh.” He peeked at me. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings or anything.” He breathed in deeply. “Could you maybe talk to him for me?”

“And say what?” Uh, no. I eyed him. I shouldn’t get caught in the middle of this, especially with how attracted I was to Myles. I’d look like a real shit if, by chance, we got together.

“Maybe you could just ask him how he’s feeling about things.” He pressed his lips together. “And then let me know.”

“I think you should ask him yourself.” I arched a brow. Poor JJ. If he did really like Myles, this might not be good for his game.

“I would, but I want a straight answer, not one he thinks I want to hear.” He huffed and slumped his shoulders. “Shit, I’m sure it’s me and not him. Maybe I’m not ready to date anyone.”

My chest clenched. “Why do you think that?” If he wasn’t ready, then there’d be no hope for the two of us if we did hook up. Why was I thinking that would happen, anyway?

“I’m having a lot of doubts about myself this year.

” Clenching his jaw, he twisted his beer can between his thighs.

“ Like, I don’t know if I’m good enough for an NHL contract.

” He flashed his sad eyes at me. “It sucks, because all my friends got them and even my younger brother is probably going to get signed this year. My dad’s already gotten him an agent.

A good one.” He choked out a sigh. “Ace won’t let me talk about this with him. ”

I lowered my leg off the couch and shifted closer to him. “Why won’t Ace talk to you about it?” He was pouring his heart out here. For whatever reason, he felt comfortable enough with me to talk about it.

“He says I’m good enough and I’m being stupid.” He edged to my side. “But what if I don’t get a contract?”

Furrowing my brows, I stretched my arm on the couch cushions behind him. I had to have some wisdom to impart here. This was important. “Sounds to me like what you have is imposter syndrome.”

His gaze cut to mine, and his lips parted. “What does that mean?”

“It means you feel like an imposter. Like you’re not a real pro hockey player.

But look at you, Myles. You are definitely a great hockey player.

Think of all the kids you played with growing up.

How many of them made it as far as you have?

” I peered at him. I didn’t enjoy seeing him this way.

If his friends saw promise in him, I knew it was there.

“Funny thing about imposter syndrome is, you only get it if you’re not an imposter. ” I lifted my brows.

“Yeah?” His gaze flicked between my eyes, and he swallowed. “I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am.” My heart swelled with emotion. He was so gorgeous and vulnerable right now. God, if only JJ was out of the picture. Then I’d tell Myles how I felt about him. Then I’d be kissing him right now. “Have some faith in yourself, Myles. Everyone has a different path. Trust in your path.”

He nodded, fixating on me. “Thank you, Cooper.” He grabbed my hand and shook them between us. “It really means a lot. I’m glad I found you again.”

“I’m glad too.” His hand was warm in mine. It felt good. I didn’t want to let it go. I focused on his mouth, so close to mine.

Ace stepped out of the hallway. “My, what’s going on here?” He chortled and strode past us into the kitchen.

I startled, my heart jumping into my throat.

“Uh, nothing.” Myles freed my hand and shifted away from me. With a stammering chuckle, he said, “Just talking about uh…stuff.” He glanced at me. “We should probably go to bed now.” He rose, drank the rest of his beer, and ambled into the kitchen.

Ace cocked his head at Myles. “Didn’t mean to interrupt. You two can keep talking .” He grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator.

“You weren’t interrupting, and it’s getting late, anyway. Right, Coop?” He glanced at me.

“Right.” Obviously, our conversation was over. I stood and walked toward the hallway. “Goodnight, guys, and thank you for helping me move and letting me live here. I’m loving it already.”

“We’re glad to have you.” Ace gave me a wide smile.