Page 133 of On Thin Ice

Jacob itched again. He wasn’t happy about Morgan’s assessment of the situation, but it was more than that. He wanted to know what had made Morgan so bitter.

Whohad made him so bitter?

“I’m definitely not leaning on him, and while Iamfucking him—” Morgan glared at him with a dark, disgusted look, buthey,he was just using Morgan’s terminology here. “I’m not ever going to use him. I’m not trying to recapture my youth, and I’m certainly not gonnaditchhim after. It’s not about that.”

Morgan had the nerve to look surprised. “No?”

“No. I care about him, I like him so much, I even—” Jacob stopped abruptly, because he might be new to relationships buthe did know the first time he said out loud that he loved Finn shouldn’t be to hisfather.

“It’s not just sex,” Jacob continued.

“Well, I sure fucking hope not,” Morgan said.

It was Jacob’s turn to be astonished. “What? You weren’t pissed that it wasme, you were pissed I was just going to . . .what . . .fuck and leave him?”

“Stop saying it.” Morgan’s voice was sullen, matching his expression. He tipped the glass back, finishing his drink.

“Hey, you said it first,” Jacob reminded him.

“I’m not saying I’mhappyit was you. Finn knows how . . .how I feel about it, about you.” Morgan cleared his throat. “I don’t want to fucking look at you across the breakfast table, every day, but if he really liked you—if you really liked him . . .”

Jacob was floored.

“I can’t fucking believe that you thought it was just sex, andthat’swhy you were pissed.” Jacob heard the amazement in his own voice.

“Hey, you know how hockey players can be,” Morgan said darkly. “Would you want one of us aroundyourson?”

Probably not.

“You’re such a dick,” Jacob muttered, grateful and annoyed at the same time. “You should have been talking toFinnabout this.”

“Too mad. Too confused. Too something.”

“So you decided to drink half a bar. Yeah, that tracks.”

Morgan glared.

“Well, I’m happy I could explain it to you,” Jacob said, trying not to smile. Trying not to let the relief he felt show on his face.

“Asshole,” Morgan mumbled under his breath.

His phone dinged then and he pulled it out of his pocket.

It was Finn, saying he’d be there in ten minutes.

“When you sober up,” Jacob said, “you’re gonna explainallthis to him.”

“Not now?” Morgan asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Fuck no. You’re a mess. He’s going to be understandably pissed about that first. Maybe give him a minute to get over that, first.” Jacob shot him a triumphant grin. “Besides, you’re not very good with your words even when you’re sober. Want to put your best foot forward, you know?”

Morgan pointed at him, but Jacob could see the smile twisting the corner of his mouth. “Fuck you.”

“Fuck you right back,” Jacob said.

Chapter 18

Finndroppedhisbagin the locker room and looked around. Jacob had said he’d meet him today for extra ice time but he didn’t seem to be here yet. He was about to pull out his phone to ask how far away he was when a noise at the doorway made him look up.

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