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Throwing the towel on the floor, I slipped between the covers on my bed and held them open for him. “Get in here.”

“Yes, sir.” With a mock salute, he crawled into the bed beside me. “You’re going to want to hold my dick now, aren’t you?” He laid on his back, slipping an arm under my neck.

Warmth flushed my cheeks. “Uh, yeah.” Laying on my side, I rested my head on his shoulder and snuck my hand around his flaccid cock. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not. It’s kind of nice having a hand warmer for my dick.” He chuckled. “Just another perk of being with you, eh.”

I hid my face in his neck. I was ridiculous, but at least he humored me. “Good.” I thought over the coming weeks. “You have away games next week, right?”

“I do.” He kissed the top of my hair. “It’s going to be a little frantic with mid-terms coming up.” He sighed. “I think we’ll both be out of town the weekend before Halloween, eh.”

“And we should probably get our next project done for our social media class.” Where was the time going? It would have been fun to go out to the bars all dressed in costume for Halloween, but this was the life of an athlete student.

“Maybe next year—” His breath snagged.

I lifted my head. “Yes, next year.” I pecked the tip of his nose. He had to know how serious I was about him.

He gave me a tight smirk. “Right on. Next year it is. You’ll be playing football on Sundays and who the hell knows when or if?—”

“No if. Myles, everyone’s been talking about how good you are this year. I’ve even heard about it from students on campus. I’m sure you’ll get picked up by an NHL team.” Resting my head on his shoulder, I left his dick to brush my finger pads over his pecs. He had to quit manifesting awful shit.

“Yeah okay.” He tightened the wrap of his arm around me. “No matter, as long as I have you.”

Did he really say that? Warmth quivered through my body. “You have me.” I yawned. The travel was getting to me.

“Tired? Just rest.” He freed a long exhale.

I closed my eyes, listening to the soft thumping of his heart, the heart that loved me.

The next morning, Ace was up early making protein pancakes and bacon for the house and the scent of bacon was intoxicating. After shimmying on pajamas, I made my way with Myles into the main room, my gaze catching the bouquet of red roses still centered on the dinette.

Zoma stood next to Ace, making coffee. “Look who’s up?” A wide smile swept his mouth.

“Hey, Zoma.” I dropped into a chair at the kitchen island with Myles taking the chair next to me.

Ace turned from the stove. “Hey, guys. So? How was dinner?” He waggled his brows.

“It was fantastic. Thanks for the recipe.” Myles snuck a peek at me and then focused on Zoma. “And the candles and roses?—”

“Were perfect.” I planted a kiss on Myles’ cheek. “Thanks to you both. We’re officially in love.” I dropped my brows. “Well, we were in love already, but now we’ve confessed, so it’s official.”

Freeing a soft huff, Zoma said, “Thank God.” He poured coffee into a mug. “I’m assuming you both want coffee?”

“Yes, please.” I rested my forearms on the table and knitted my fingers together. We should talk more officially about Thanksgiving now. “Ace, will you both be home for Thanksgiving, or are you going somewhere?”

Zoma set steaming mugs of coffee with creamer in front of me and Myles. “Oh, I think we’re going to Colorado to be with my family. Ace has a game in Las Vegas the day before, and he’s meeting me there.”

“Hey, Myles, have you checked the Coyotes schedule yet?” Ace flipped a pancake and glanced at Myles.

“Uh, no. I haven’t had time.” He sipped his coffee.

“We have a home game against the Blackhawks two weeks before Thanksgiving.” He smirked. “Guess who’s going to stay in town an extra night to hang out with us?”

Myles’s face lit up. “Tyler and Rowan?”

“Hell yeah.” He cackled. “The morons will be back in business.”

“Ace, don’t say that in front of Cooper, eh.” Myles gave me a sheepish look while Zoma clucked his tongue and slapped Ace’s shoulder.

“What uh, what’s going on?” I looked at each of them. There was an inside joke here.

Zoma stepped to the island counter across from us. “You’ve never seen Myles and Tyler together.”

“No, why? Should I be worried?” I furrowed my brows. But Tyler has a boyfriend.

“They act like a couple of morons.” Ace barked a laugh. “Or at least they used to.” He turned sizzling bacon in the pan with a fork. “Back when I was living here alone with them and trying to date Zoma, let’s just say they had their moments.” He shook his head.

“Really.” Twisting my head, my attention drew to Myles, his cheeks a dark shade of pink.

“I can’t wait to see the two of them together then.

” Tyler was basically the guy who’d taken over as Myles’s best friend after Myles had left high school and his friends there.

But then, he and I hadn’t been best friends.

A phone buzzed somewhere in the room.

“Shit, that’s me.” Myles slid his phone out of the pocket of his pajamas and stared at the screen. “Oh, my God.”

“What?” I leaned over, reading the name on the call. “Dean Wilson? Isn’t that the agent who’s looking at you?”

“Yeah.” He hopped off the stool and paced the room, walking past the patio doors to the sunny backyard.

“Hello?” He held his bangs off his forehead.

“Yeah.” Nodding, he planted a hand on his hip as he paced in front of the television.

“Yes, Neuman and I are getting along really well.” He breathed in deeply, his gaze winding to mine. “You…you are?”

“Holy fuck.” With my heart thrumming in my ears, I jumped from my stool and strode to Myles, grabbing his biceps. I wanted to hear this fucking conversation.

“Yes, if it’s the same contract you drew up for my brother, I’m sure it’s fine. I don’t think my dad needs to see it.” His wide gaze locked on me. “Thank you. I’ll talk to you soon.” Gaping, he ended the call.

“Well?” I squeezed his arm. “You have an agent?” He was happy, right?

“I, I do.” As a grin wrinkled his eyes, he jumped up and down. “I have a fucking agent, and he said he’s got some prospects for me.”

“Bring him over here, Cooper. I can’t leave the stove, and I need to give that little fucker a big hug and a kiss.” Ace held his arm out and flipped another pancake.

Zoma clapped and squealed. “I’m so happy for you, Myles. I knew things were going to happen for you.”

I hauled Myles into the kitchen and, with a growl, Ace wrapped Myles in a bear hug and lifted him off the floor. “I love you, man.” He planted a harsh kiss on his cheek. “I knew you could do it. Can’t wait to see what scouts come around.”

Wrapping his arms around them both, Zoma hugged them.

“Thanks, guys.” Myles sniffled.

As they freed Myles, he rubbed his eyes. “It’s all because of Cooper. We have sex before every?—”

“Uh, Myles.” I slapped my palm over his mouth. Jesus, did he tell them everything ? With a stuttered chuckle, I said, “We have a little pregame ritual.”

Ace stared at me and then at Myles. “I don’t think I want to know.” Turning back to the stove, his shoulders shook. “No, you can keep that to yourselves.”

With a short giggle, Zoma held the back of his hand over his mouth. “I can only imagine. Now, help me set the table.”