Page 194 of The Blame Game

So far, Dom had eaten a bunch of food, beaten Felix and Jordan on the golf simulator, and spent a fair amount of time ogling his boyfriend.

Nico, Matty, and Shea were currently splashing around in the pool with a bunch of the kids and every time Shea got out to retrieve a toy that got flung out of the water, Dom got distracted.

He looked so damn good in those clinging trunks, water streaming down his bare shoulders …

Charlie laughed every time he lost his train of thought.

“Sorry,” Dom said, clearing his throat. “What were you saying?”

“I was saying that Dustin and I would like to have the two of you over for dinner at some point. Obviously not until the off-season but …”

“That would be nice,” Dom said, forcing himself to look Charlie in the eye instead of glancing over at Shea again. “And we could have you over some time.”

“Ooh, I would love that!” Charlie said. “I’m dying to see your condo.”

Dom chuckled. “Sure, we can arrange that. Shea is teaching me to cook. Or, well, he was while I was out on LTIR. I haven’t had time lately.”

Charlie patted his arm. “We know. You’re all useless during the playoffs. You just pass out on the couch like a lump on your off days.”

“Hey,” Dom protested. “We need a lot of sleep to recover!”

Charlie grinned. “I’m aware. I was a professional athlete, remember?”

“True,” Dom said, feeling contrite. “I know figure skating is grueling too. My mother was a figure skater, you know?”

“Yeah?” Charlie tilted his head. “Oh, actually, I think I remember Birdie saying something about that when I moved here.”

“What did I say?” Birdie shot them a puzzled look as she wandered past. “I heard my name.”

“That Dom’s mother is a former figure skater.”

“Oh, right! She’s French, yeah?”

“Yes.”

“French-French or Quebecois?” Birdie asked. “I can never remember.”

Dom chuckled. “French-French. Born in Rouen, lives in Burgundy now.”

“Ooh, fun.” Birdie dropped into the chair between Charlie and Dom. “Hey, that reminds me, Charlie, I have some of the best gossip to share. Look!”

Dom tensed as Charlie bent his head toward the phone Birdie held out to him.

“Oh my gosh, look how cute!” Charlie said. “Is that a French bulldog?”

“Yeah. One of Colton’s old teammates rescued one. It turns out she’s pregnant and she just had a ton of puppies. I’m trying to convince Colton to get me one for my birthday once they’re old enough.”

“Eee!” Charlie squealed. “Look how roly-poly they are! You’re right. This is the very best gossip out there.”

“I know right?” Birdie giggled. “I want to squish all of them. Look, Dom, they’re adorable.”

She turned her phone to face him and he laughed at their smashed faces and big round ears. “Sure, adorable. We’ll go with that.”

Birdie made a face, then laughed again, and he felt a sudden wave of guilt for having doubted her. Sure, maybe she was a little bit gossipy but it was never vicious.

Talking about his mother being a figure skater and sharing puppy photos wasn’t the same as selling info about people’s personal lives to someone who would spread it around the internet.

He shouldn’t have doubted her. Had he been taking his jealousy of Colton out on her? If so, that was worse.

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