Page 48 of Overtime Goal (Buffalo Warriors Hockey #4)

I looked at his angel-demon grin and cursed the day I’d gone to his house to talk.

Logan glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. After I nodded once, he looked around the table and said, “Riles and I went to Italy together. So what?”

The server dropped off our desserts, and I hoped the guys might ease up. No such luck.

Abby fixed us both with a look. “Time to get serious, Riley and Logan. Admit you’re in love.”

Logan had a coughing fit while I opened and closed my mouth a few times. It took me a moment to come up with an elegant response. “The fuck?”

Packy turned to look at Logan and me. “We already have one new couple who are crazy about each other, Holky and Dog. I’d bet a week’s salary there’s another happy pair sitting right beside me.” He glanced around the table. “What do you say, boys?”

That was all it took to open the floodgates.

“It started the minute Riley got to Buffalo.”

“You’d disappear on roadies like you’re in a spy movie.”

“You’re together all the time.”

“Always sitting together on the plane, and Italy wasn’t the first trip you’ve gone on.”

“Who could miss the looks you give each other?”

Everyone had something to say, and all eyes were on us.

Harpy spoke softly. “We love you guys. You know that, right? And we’ve got your backs no matter what. You don’t need to tell us anything, but if you feel like it, we only want the best for you.”

Packy nodded. “I hope that one day, somebody looks at me the way you two look at each other. It’s been so long, and I’d like to feel it again.”

Everyone went quiet, and Logan put a hand on Packy’s arm and squeezed. “Someone will, buddy. You’re a good man, and women will be lining up.”

The guys drummed on the table in agreement, and when Logan turned to me, I reached for his hand under the table.

Our eyes met, and everything faded but him.

It had taken us forever to find what we had.

We’d only discovered it after years of friendship, a summer of figuring things out, and not knowing what I really wanted until I almost lost it.

The guys were still watching us. They cared so much about us that they were waiting to see if we had anything to say.

I squeezed Logan’s hand, and he nodded. Looking around the table, I said, “Yeah, it’s real. We’re together.”

Holky whooped, and Dog slapped the table. Gabe fist-pumped and high-fived Packy. Brody clapped his hands and said, “Fucking finally.”

The noise died down, but the mood stayed high. Everyone was grinning, and there were lots of proud looks. A few guys seemed shocked, like they couldn’t believe we’d actually admitted it.

Packy raised his glass. “To Riley and Logan. You had us guessing, but damn if it wasn’t worth the wait.”

“To figuring your shit out,” Dog added.

“To looking at each other like idiots in love,” Abby said.

I cleared my throat and lifted my iced tea. “To all of you for being the nosiest, loudest, most impossible team in the league.”

“And the best damn family we could’ve asked for,” Logan added.

Everyone clinked glasses, and Holky grinned at me across the table. “What are all the women in the world going to do now that we’re off the market? Remember when the paper called us Buffalo’s Most Eligible Bachelors? Now I bet they’ll say there’s something in the water at Warrior Arena.”

After more laughter, Harpy raised his glass again. “To a double wedding, Holky and Dog, and Riley and Logan.”

Before any of us could respond, Mason said, “Just so you four know, we’re all in. As in wedding-speech-level.”

Blunt slapped the table. “Goddamn right we are.”

“Groomsman rotation’s already underway,” Packy deadpanned.

“If anyone gives a speech at my wedding, it’ll be me,” Dog said. “I’m the emotional one.”

Brody sighed. “You literally started a food fight at my birthday party.”

Dog gave Brody a thumbs-up. “Exactly. Depth.”

The celebration continued as Harpy ordered glasses of champagne for everyone.

While they carried on, all I could do was hold on to Logan’s hand and grin.

We didn’t have to dodge or deflect, and we’d known that all along.

We could just be us, surrounded by the biggest bunch of good-hearted goofballs anyone had ever known.

An hour later, after we climbed into my Range Rover to head home, I grinned at Logan. “We survived.”

“Yes we did. Did you expect something else?”

I shook my head. “Not really, and definitely not about me being bi. There are too many other gay and bi guys on the team for that to be a problem. I’d wondered how some of them might feel about having two more teammates who are a couple, but that was me being stupid.”

“Not stupid,” he said. “Uncertain, maybe. This is all new to you, babe. Give yourself some slack.”

“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”

While I started the engine, he asked, “Did Holky say something to you about matching jerseys?”

“No, but Dog told me Holky’s trying to make something. He’s been watching YouTube videos.”

Logan looked horrified. “Oh my God. I doubt Holky’s ever made anything.”

I backed out of the parking space and started toward the road. “It’ll be fascinating to see what happens, not to mention amusing.”

He reached across the console and rested a hand on my thigh. I put my hand on top of his and said, “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, Blue Eyes. I’m glad everyone’s being supportive, but even if they weren’t, it wouldn’t change how much I want to be with you.”

“I love you,” he said, “and it wouldn’t make any difference to me either.”

Never one to miss an opportunity to angle for sex, I said, “Sounds like something to celebrate. Let’s go home.”