Page 90 of On Thin Ice

“An asshole who just gave you a really good orgasm though?” Jacob chuckled.

“Is that a question or a statement?” With a grunt, Finn lifted himself to his feet. Rolled his shoulders.

Wasit a question or a statement?

One of his first coaches, way back when he’d been a preteen, had told him that if he was going to do something, he might as well do it with confidence.

Like Moira’s advice earlier, Jacob was one-hundred-percent sure that Coach Nicholas had not meant sex, but if the advice fit, he couldn’t see why it didn’t apply just as well.

“A statement. But regardless, I can definitely do better than a sweaty handjob,” Jacob said.

Finn glanced back, interest lighting up his gaze. “Is that a promise?”

“It’s a reward,” Jacob said, gesturing towards the machine. “Get the pucks back in and let’s give it another go.”

“Asshole,” Finn shot back, but his voice was full of affection and something else that Jacob was pretty sure he recognized, echoing in himself. But he wasn’t going to name it, because it was way too soon and it was crazyandit was entirely possible that he wouldn’t survive telling Morgan the truth.

Chapter 13

“I’vebeenthinking,”Finnsaid, his tone a little cautious, making worry spike inside Jacob, “that you should tell Sophie you’ll do Neal Fisher’s podcast.”

Jacob looked up at him from his spot against the boards. Finn was warming up and stretching, getting ready for their first solo practice session on ice.

This Friday was the last game before the winter break, and even after working together for three weeks, Jacob could already see the changes in Finn.

The way he held himself was different. The confidence in his eyes was different.

Over the break they’d have even more time to work together.

And even more time together for uh . . .everything else.

“Oh, you have, have you?” Jacob told himself to laugh, and it actually came out, lighter and more authentic than he’d expected. He’d only been over-obsessing about the podcast and if he should do it.

“It’s a good idea and you know it,” Finn said.

“Maybe.” Sophie had sent him two texts about it, and he’d ignored her call on the way here, to the rink.

He knew she needed an answer, and maybe Finn wasn’t wrong, itcouldbe a good idea, but it was also a fucking terrifying idea, and Jacob wasn’t sure he was ready to give an answer either way.

“Itisa good idea,” Finn insisted.

“Maybe you should be worrying more about this upcoming game than my PR strategy,” Jacob suggested.

Finn made a face and Jacob suddenly had a very bad thought.

“Sophie got your phone number at dinner the other night, didn’t she? She hasn’t been prodding you to ask me about this, has she?”

Finn didn’t even bother trying to lie. “She told me that you kept changing the subject whenever she’d ask about it, and if she tried to pin you down, you’d just ignore her.” He shot Jacob a reproachful look.

Jacob put his gloved hands onto his hips. He wasn’t proud, but itwasa big deal, wasn’t it? He should consider it like the big deal it was.

Who are you fucking kidding? Kissing Finn was probably a bigger deal, and you did that with way less introspection.

“I don’t know,” Jacob said, knowing he needed to meet Finn’s honesty with honesty of his own.

“You don’t know if it’s a good idea to go on Neal Fisher’s podcast to come out or you don’t know if it’s a good idea to come out at all?” Finn asked. There was a complete lack of judgment in his tone, andbless him, but Jacob was fucking crazy about this guy.

When Jacob didn’t say anything—he knew he should, he knew the right answer, thetrueanswer, but somehow it stuck in his throat—Finn skated over. Put his hands on Jacob’s shoulders.

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