Page 39 of Out in the Surf

He skidded to a stop at my side, shredding the ice like a pro. “I can’t tell you now. This kind of news needs beer. What are you doing after this?”

“Meeting my—” I caught myself before I finished the sentence. “Friend. Why?”

“Tell her…or him to meet us at The Brewery. I’ll be done here in fifteen minutes. I just have to lock up.” Colby’s hair fell into his eyes as he pumped his fists in the air, skating backward to the gate. “Check your email, Luca. I bet it’s there.”

I left the cones where they were and followed Colby, pulling my cell from my pocket when I reached the rails. I had a missed call from a Michael Bergman and a slew of unread emails. I opted to listen to the voice message rather than tackle email.

“Hi, Luca. We’re excited to invite you to join our team. The Sharks are pleased to offer you a position…”

I froze with my phone glued to my ear.

Whoa.

This was good. No, it was great. I’d have to listen to the details again later, but…wow. I hadn’t expected this.

My parents would be happy, my friends would be stoked. Geez, my buddies on my old team would be jealous, and Cal…

I dialed his number and left a quick message before stepping onto the rubber mat.

* * *

Two beersand a plate of nachos later, I slapped a final round of high fives with Colby and the other assistant coaches he’d insisted join us at The Brewery. Oh, yeah…and his boyfriend, Sky.

Zoe was right. Sky might have been the most classically handsome man on the planet. Tall, dark blond, blue eyes, and muscular with the chiseled features of a model. He and Colby were a hot couple. And I’d never hung out with a gay couple in any capacity related to hockey. It had been cool to be in their orbit for a while, but I couldn’t wait to talk to Cal.

I strode purposefully to the side entrance and let myself in with the key Cal had given me, smiling at the wall of sound coming from the garage area. Cal usually got so involved in his work that he didn’t notice when the satellite station chose some funky shit he’d never listen to if he were paying attention.

I waved a greeting, shamelessly eye-fucking him as I adjusted the volume on the music. He looked hotter than hell in ripped Levi’s and an ancient Mammoth Lakes sweatshirt liberally stained with paint and resin.

“Hey, where’ve you been?” he asked, setting a putty knife down before greeting me with a sloppy kiss.

“The Brewery. I texted you.” I hiked my thumb at his phone sitting next to the Bluetooth speaker.

Cal winced. “Sorry. I’ve been cruising on this thing and trying to get in the right headspace for the competition tomorrow. What was your message?”

“Colby and the guys wanted to buy me a beer,” I hedged.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” I stared at the wavy design on a surfboard for a beat, then met his gaze. “I got that job with the Sharks.”

“What? No way! That’s awesome. Congratulations, baby.”

“Thanks, but I don’t know if I’m going to take it.”

Cal’s sunny smile dipped as he creased his brow in confusion. “Why not?”

“Not sure I want it. I didn’t tell Colby that, though. The guy was more excited than me.”

“But…why wouldn’t you want it?”

I rubbed my scruffy jaw thoughtfully. “A few reasons. It would be cool to work for the NHL, but it’s an office job. In San Jose. I could do the same thing in LA for more money. And…I’d still be able to live here.”

Understanding dawned across his face.

“Luca, you can’t stay here for me. You can’t give up opportunities like that,” he replied softly. “Not for me.”

I was too taken aback to reply at first. I hadn’t meant to put him on the spot or even insinuate that I’d give up anything, but now that the words were out, I’d own them. Even if it meant getting my heart trampled on in the process.