Page 42 of The Blame Game

“Yeah,” Dom said. “He played for them for most of his career. My mom was a figure skater. So there was never any question about me getting on the ice.”

Shea blinked. Dom never talked about his family. Ever.

And okay, it wasn’t like that info couldn’t be found in a quick online search or on Wikipedia but still. He never brought them up.

Of course, Shea never asked.

Then again, it was a little tough to casually work into conversation after a guy paid to fuck you.

“Hey, guys. Sorry!”

Shea glanced over to see Ethan smoothing his long dark hair back. He was shorter and stockier than Myles, with warm brown skin and dark stubble. His parents had been born in Pakistan and moved to the Toronto area shortly before he was born.

“Hey, I was starting to think you’d never get here,” Shea teased. He stood and hugged Ethan, glad to see him. It had been a while.

“Sorry,” Ethan said with a laugh. “Kids.”

Myles and Ethan had hung out before so Shea introduced Dom to Ethan before they took seats at the table.

A waitress came by, murmuring apologies about not getting their drink orders sooner, and they all ordered something.

“I am sorry about being late,” Ethan said when she was gone. “I got partway here before my wife called saying one of the kids had left their backpack in the van and they were having a meltdown about it so …”

All of them chuckled.

“No worries,” Shea said. “We have plenty of time before the game.”

“Do you have kids, Myles?” Dom asked.

“No. Enjoying the bachelor life.” He grinned.

“I feel that.” Dom grinned. “I’ve never been in a hurry to settle down either.”

“Are you interested in having kids in the future?” Ethan asked. “After hockey?”

“Ahh, no. I don’t think that’s something I’m looking for,” he said, reaching for his drink.

Shea wasn’t surprised. Dom didn’t seem like the type to settle down with a guy and raise children together.

“Huh. I thought all hockey players had like six kids or something,” Ethan mused.

Dom chuckled. “My goaltender does. Or at least the sixth is on the way.”

“Carlson has a bunch now too, right?” Myles asked.

“He does,” Dom agreed. “Four kids. The paperwork on the adoption went through recently.”

“Good for him,” Ethan said. “I think it’s amazing what he and his husband have done. Raising kids who lost their parents like that …”

“Yeah, Matty’s a good guy,” Dom said. “And Antoni is great for him.”

“And we all know how this guy here feels about kids.” Myles laughed, jerking his thumb toward Shea.

“We do?” Dom asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, he’s big on the ‘no kids, ever’ bandwagon.” Myles shook his head.

“I don’t think everyone is meant to have kids,” Shea protested. “I like them but that doesn’t mean I have a huge desire to raise any. And, hello, the planet is already overcrowded. Nothing wrong with some people choosing not to go that route, right?”

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