Page 16 of Play Maker

I know, what the fuck?

Normally I’d be so pumped after a game that I could fuck all night. I guess I drank too much, because my dick wasn’tcooperating and there was no way I was going to hook up tonight.

“You look like you need this.”

I turned to find Finn standing beside me with several beer bottles in hand.

“Thanks,” I replied and gratefully took the offered drink.

Might as well get totally shit-faced if I wasn’t going to get laid.

“No worries,” Finn took a gulp of his beer and looked around the room like he did when he was on the ice, scanning for opportunities. “I saw you kissing Hailey earlier. She’s hot.”

“Yeah.”

“So, what the hell are you doing standing here by yourself?” he asked.

I shrugged and took another gulp. “She’s great, but I’m done with repeats.”

Finn nodded.

“Is she looking for a boyfriend?”

“Seems like,” I smirked and nudged his arm. “Talk about a boner-killer, am I right?”

Finn bit his lower lip.

“I don’t know about that,” he replied quietly. “Back in Nebraska, I had a girlfriend, Simone. But when I got accepted here for college, she broke up with me. She didn’t want to do long distance.”

His voice, tinged with sadness, made me pause and look at him. Finn was scrappy as hell and he was always joking around, always lighthearted. But he was serious right now. Was it the booze in my system or was he confiding in me? We’d talked a lot, but always about hockey and school, with plenty of razzing thrown in. I had no idea he’d ever been in a relationship, never mind that he was obviously upset over it ending.

“I’m sorry,” I finally replied. “You miss her?”

“A lot,” Finn admitted with a sigh. “But I think it’s more that I miss having a partner. I was hoping I’d meet someone here at Sutton, but so far, no dice.”

“I’ve seen plenty of girls come on to you—” I started.

Finn shook his head. “Yeah, that’s not it. I’m not into the casual thing.”

I stared at him, shocked.

“The way you talk in the locker room, I thought you scored plenty.”

Finn rolled his eyes.

“Come on Jace, you know how it is. Everyone mouths off and plays a big game. You think I’m going to admit to the rest of the guys that I’m not interested in random hookups?”

He had a point.

“So, you’re demi?” I stated and he nodded in return. “Cool, but why tell me? I mean, I’m glad you did, but why now?”

Finn paused, then nervously peeled the label off his beer bottle.

“You came out, and Dane, plus Kayden and Maddox, and it got me thinking. I’ve always felt different, but I couldn’t really talk about it with my friends back home, you know?”

Did I ever. I didn’t want to tell anyone I was bi back in high school.

“My head’s been wrapped up in this for months. Man, I’m so relieved to finally tell someone. Maybe now I can focus more on the ice,” he admitted. “I can just be myself and it’s okay. Shit, that seems way too deep for a buzzed hockey player.”

---