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CHAPTER THREE

MYLES

I skated across the ice, running drills with our first-string center, Neuman, passing between pucks laid out across the ice. As he fired off a pass at me and headed toward the net and Sutton, our new goalie, I shuffled the puck between my blades and shot.

Sutton picked the puck out of the air with his netted glove. “Dude, you were supposed to pass.”

“Cummings, what are you doing?” Coach Finley skated toward me. “Neuman was right there. He could have sunk it in behind Sutton.”

Huffing out a laugh, Sutton said, “Hell no, I would have seen it.”

“You be quiet.” Finley threw Sutton a look. “We’re not working on you right now. I’ve got to get this offensive line acting like a well-oiled machine.”

“Maybe if we still had Hodge…” Neuman skated a circle around the goal.

With a howl, Sutton said, “Way to chirp on the guy who might give you assists. Damn.” He shook his helmeted head.

My chest pricked, and I skated toward Neuman. “You wish you could play half as good as Hopkins. Then maybe I wouldn’t feel like I had?—”

“Cummings!” Coach grabbed my arm and swung me around.

“That’s enough.” He faced me and in a low voice, he said, “I know all your friends have moved on. But you’ve got to work with the guys we’ve got this year.

You can do this, Cummings. I think you’ve got what it takes to be in Neuman’s line.

But I’m not going to just give it to you. You’ve got to earn it.”

My gut knotted, and I chewed on my mouthpiece.

This was fucked. Neuman was kind of an asshole and a showoff.

Mason was too, but at least he had the skill to go with it.

“Yeah, okay. I’m sorry.” Hanging my head, I skated a circle around Coach, resting my stick on my thigh pads.

With a huff, I locked my gaze on Neuman.

I had to pull my head out of my ass. “Come on, man. Let’s go again. ”

After the morning skate and peeling off all my gear except my compression garments, I headed into the workout room and grabbed a roller from the corner. My hip was stiff this morning. I didn’t need a fucking injury right now. Throwing the roller on a mat on the floor, I lowered to the ground.

Neuman hopped off a stationary bike and stepped to me, his blond curls wet and hanging over his blue eyes. “Hey, I’m sorry about what I said at practice today.” He knelt to sit beside me with his legs crossed. “There’s a lot of pressure this year. Feels like more than normal, doesn’t it?”

“Sure does.” With a grimace, I pressed my thigh to the roller and rocked.

After an initial sting, the muscle relaxed.

My gaze met his. “Hey, apology accepted and I’m sorry too.

It’s been hard not playing with the squad this year.

” I looked around the workout room, most guys stretching, some on bikes or treadmills.

“I think I’m the only queer guy on the team now. ”

With a chuckle, Neuman patted my ass. “How do you know? Maybe some guys aren’t out yet.

Maybe they’re watching you to see how you’re treated before they make any announcements.

” He tilted his head, watching me. “You had the benefit of your buddies when you all came here.” With a shake of his head, he smirked.

“You were all pretty bold. Especially fucking Hopkins.” He dipped his head.

“You know I idolized him, right? You weren’t wrong out on the ice. Hopkins was, and still is, the best.”

Warmth crept through my chest. Maybe Neuman wasn’t all that bad. I eyed him. “Are you coming out to me now?” I lifted the edge of my lips.

“Fuck no.” He hopped up. “I have a girlfriend who I adore, and it’s staying that way.” He swiveled and walked off, chuckling to himself.

I scanned the room again. If some of these guys were queer, who would it be? Could it be I wasn’t alone after all?

After showering, I headed across campus in the midday sunshine to my next class. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I stopped, sliding it out and holding it to my face.

JJ

Hey, are you busy?

I tapped the screen.

Myles

Heading to an ethics class. You?

The three dots blinked at me.

JJ

I was sitting here thinking about last night. We clicked, right?

My heart stumbled, and I parted my lips. Was he about to ask me on a date? How did I feel about him? My dick had been more interested in fucking Cooper. Why the hell wasn’t Cooper queer? I texted back.

Myles

Yeah, we clicked. I had a good time with you.

Well, now I’d solidified it. I pursed my lips. How bad would it be to go on a date with him? If it failed, we were adults. We could admit defeat and still be friends.

JJ

I want to take you to dinner. How about tomorrow night? Do you like Postinos?

A wine bar? He was sort of a wine bar kind of guy... As a smirk slid across my lips, I texted.

Myles

Sure. That works. How about six? Want to meet there?

If the date failed, I wouldn’t have to go home with him. I looked around me at the students shuffling between classes, some on skateboards and others on scooters. As I lifted my face to the sunshine, I let it warm my cheeks and forehead. My phone buzzed, and I gazed into the screen.

JJ

Perfect. It’s a date

“Okay then.” I stuffed my phone into my pocket and hurried to class.

After all my classes, I parked my black Honda Civic next to Ace’s truck in the garage, grabbed my backpack from the passenger seat, and climbed out. I’d traded in my truck last summer for something smaller and sporty. Ace’s truck was here, so he and probably Zoma were home.

I ambled into the kitchen from the garage and set my pack on the floor next to the kitchen island. “Hey.”

Ace sat at the dinette, stuffing a sandwich into his mouth. “How are things? Like, how’s Sutton getting along?” He set his sandwich on a plate and wiped his hands on a paper towel.

“He’s coming along.” I snatched a protein drink from the refrigerator and strolled to the table, then dropped into a chair beside him. Raising the corner of my mouth, I said, “Don’t worry, he’s still not as good as you. Neuman scored on him a few times this morning.”

“Ah…Neuman.” With a grin, he picked up his sandwich and took a bite. “They’re pairing you up with him this year, I assume?”

“They are.” I twisted the cap off my drink and sipped it, the silky chocolate flavor gliding down my throat. They were tasty, but I should find a new flavor before I got sick of them. “How’s camp?”

A wide smile spread over his lips. “Just like old times. I’m chirping on Mason every chance I get. With him playing beside Jett Jarvis and fucking him, his head has swollen to twice its size.”

With a head shake, I chuckled. How cool would it be to get a Coyote contract and play with them? But it wouldn’t last. Someone would be traded eventually. I fingered my protein drink. “You know, Ace, everyone misses you guys.” My gaze found his. “Even Neuman mentioned it today.”

“Yeah, we were a force, weren’t we?” He sipped Gatorade from a bottle sitting next to his plate and then patted my shoulder. “So, tell me about the football players. I heard from Zoma you met up with them the other night.”

Oh yeah, I’d mentioned it to Zoma in passing. “The guy I met in class last year is Jordan Matthews, but the guys call him JJ. He’s a first-string wide receiver.” I narrowed my eyes. Should I tell him about the date? Hell yeah. “I have a date with him tomorrow night.”

“Fucking hell, you do?” With an open-mouthed smile, he slapped my shoulder. “What’s this guy like?” He ate more of his sandwich.

After sipping my drink, I said, “He’s a cool dude. He’s not into the gay bar scene, and I don’t know why. He lives in a house with some other queer football players?—”

“Like the squad?” His brows snapped up, and he licked mustard off a finger.

“Yeah, like the squad. They call themselves Desert Dogs or something. I don’t know, eh.” With a short laugh, I shook my head. I had yet to meet them all. Cooper… “ And an old friend of mine from high school is on the team. He hangs out with JJ, too.”

“Old friend from high school?” Ace eyed me. “Is he queer?”

“No. He always had girlfriends and shit.” I skimmed my fingers up and down the carton of my drink. Time to come clean with Ace. “I had a crush on him in high school.”

“You did?” He scratched his cheek and leaned in. “Do you still have a crush on him?” He raised his brows.

Staring at my drink, I said, “I…” My cheeks heated. “Yeah.” Nodding, I let a smile tug at my lips. “I had beer and pizza with them last night and I couldn’t keep my eyes off Coop.” Holy hell, why was I spilling my guts like this? Because it was Ace. He’d know what to say. I crept my gaze to his.

He sat back in his chair, looking me over. “So, you have a date with JJ, but you have feelings for Cooper, and they’re not only friends, but on the football team together.” He tapped his chin. “What position does Cooper play?”

“Tight end.” I rolled my lips. Where was Ace going with this? Cooper was straight. I wasn’t lucky enough to have a straight guy fall for me like Tyler was.

His eyes widened. “Both these guys are first string? They’re both on the same offensive line? ”

I hadn’t considered that. “Yeah, guess so.” I furrowed my brows. “So?”

“So…?” He lunged toward me, planting his forearms on the table around his plate.

“What if Cooper is hanging out with JJ because he isn’t straight?

What if you have a chance with your old crush?

” He fixated on me. “What if you cause friction between them when you date JJ but have your heart set on Cooper?”

I scoffed a laugh. “Come on, Ace. Won’t happen. Coop is the one who set me up with JJ.” An ache floated through my chest. “He told me JJ liked me last year, but didn’t think I liked him back.”

“He did?” Ace arched a brow, settled into his chair, and rubbed his chin. “Hmmm.” He pressed his lips together. “Well, I guess we’ll see then.” He ate the last bite of his sandwich. “I want to meet these guys.”