Page 16 of On Thin Ice

Jacob hesitated. He took another long drink of his wine. He looked everywhere but at Finn.

“I just think it’s a bad idea. I’m not a coach. And you’re—”

“I’m what?”

Jacob straight up looked away.

“Not ’cause I’m hopeless, right?” Finn pushed. He didn’t think he was hopeless. He’d worked too hard. And as insane as it made him, Morgan had been right about goalie being the right position for him.

He just needed Jacob to help him get out of his own goddamn wayandto help him elevate his skills.

“Hardly,” Jacob said.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m not a coach. I can’t be. And I definitely can’t beyourcoach,” Jacob said. Then looked like he immediately regretted it.

“Why not?”

But Jacob didn’t answer, and Finn had a feeling this was the reason.

Whatever lay behind that last issue.

“If it’s not because I’m a Reynolds, and not because I’m hopeless, it’s not because . . .” Finn paused. Disbelieving it couldreallybe about his sexuality. His dad had offhandedly mentioned Jacob being gay half a dozen times, even to the point of saying, when he’d retired early, that maybe he could come out now.

Of course he’d said it in that typical Morgan way, but Finn had gotten fairly good at reading between his dad’s words.

Itcouldn’tbe because he was gay, too, unless . . .

Well.

Finn had a feeling that Jacob’s reticence meant he wouldn’t easily admit his attraction, but he had options.

Including the most obvious one.

It wasn’t exactly warm—being early December in Portland—but Finn slipped his jacket off and let it fall to the deck.

“What are you doing?” Jacob didn’t just sound annoyed now. Or wry. Or over this whole conversation. He seemed . . .tense.

Funny, because Finn hadn’t been sure the heat spiking inside him every time their eyes met might not be just in his head. But based on what he’d saidandthe tremor of Jacob’s hand as he grabbed the bottle of wine and refilled his glass, Finn was beginning to wonder if he’d read this situation all wrong.

Finn stripped his T-shirt off. “I’m getting into your hot tub.” No, he wasn’t. He only wanted to call Jacob’s bluff.

But Jacob didn’t know that.

“No, you’re sure as hell not.” He was totally panicking now.

He wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore as Finn toed his shoes off.

“You don’t want me to get in there, do you?”

“Of course not! It’s my fucking hot tub and I’m—”

“You’re naked. And you don’t like it, but you’d like me to be naked too.” Finn’s hands strayed down to the button of his jeans. He didn’t flick the button open, but he knew he wouldn’t have to.

“No.” Jacob hesitated. “I don’t want you to be naked, at all. I swear . . .” He muttered something under his breath that might’ve beendirty old man.

“You’re not old, and I certainly hope you’re dirty,” Finn teased. “Even if it’s not for me.”

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