Page 97 of Play Maker

Jace tapped his lips, his shoulder bumping mine, a playful light in his eyes.

“I think I have an idea.”

CHAPTER 29

JACE

My idea—meeting up with Axel in the hotel gym, the bathroom to be exact—wasn’t going to happen.

The damn place was under renovation. With that gone, I saw only one solution.

“Do you mind switching rooms with Axel tonight and rooming with Colin?” I asked Finn quietly while we were seated at dinner.

No one could hear me above the din. Team dinners were always loud, but after tonight’s game, spirits were higher and more raucous than usual. Thankfully, Axel took a spot on the other end of the table, far, far away from me. I couldn’t take any more of his teasing, it was addictive and had me so turned on I wouldn’t have been able to make conversation, never mind eat.

“Uh, why?” Finn glanced at me.

“Because…because Axel and I need to work on the fundraiser,” I replied and took a sip of water. “We’re going to be up late trying to get all that admin shit done. It’s just easier if we share a room.”

“I can help with that.”

I choked on my drink and coughed.

Finn continued, oblivious to my discomfort. “I mean, you could come to our room, and we can work for a few hours and get it all done.”

“Uh, thanks, but we have to…um—” I cleared my throat. “There’s stuff that only Axel and I can work on for now.”

Finn gave me a questioning look.

“Please.”

I was not above begging at this point.

“If Coach finds out, I’m done for,” Finn whispered.

“He’s not going to find out. It’s one night.”

“Then again,” Finn mused. “Axel’s snoring could wake the dead. Fuck knows I hardly sleep when we’re on the road.”

“It doesn’t bother me at all. Quite the opposite.”

Because Axel would fuck my brains out and we’d both pass out. Problem solved.

“Really?” Finn mused and nodded. “Okay, but if Coach discovers the truth, you take the blame.”

“Absolutely.”

Finn tapped my arm.

“What’s changed with you and Axel? Suddenly, you’re buddies?”

‘Yeah, fuck buddies’I nearly blurted out. No, we were more than that. I wouldn’t break one of Coach’s steadfast rules for a hookup.

“We’ve come to an understanding,” I replied. “It’s not perfect but it works for us.”

I picked up my phone and texted Axel.

Jace: Finn’s agreed to swap rooms. I told him we’ve gotta work on the fundraiser.

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