Page 86 of Body Check

“I’ve been at your place the past two nights!” Dakota hissed, because he wasn’t sure how well sound traveled on the ice.

“Third time’s the charm?”

Dakota snorted, because he was finding it harder and harder to resist Gavin’s cheesiness. Even when he was dressed like Santa Claus. “Something like that.”

“Seriously though,” Gavin said. “Yes or no?”

“I’m tempted,” Dakota admitted. “But truthfully, I need to get more sleep. The nap yesterday was a good start but I’ve been running on fumes lately and we’ve got a road trip coming up in a couple of days.”

“Ugh. I know.” Gavin sighed. “Though that’s honestly a selling point as far as I’m concerned.”

They’d both agreed it was too dangerous to get caught coming in and out of each other’s rooms in the hotels, and that they should be careful about any public hookups.

Dakota pondered the idea. “Okay, but I can’t stay late.”

As disappointing as the end of the evening had been last night, he’d made it home fairly early and since he hadn’t had to be at the arena until the afternoon, he’d slept in late. A long stretch of deep sleep had felt decadent and he was tired of, well, being tired.

“Or you could spend the night,” Gavin offered.

“You’re the one who kicked me out of your place last night,” Dakota pointed out. Although, to be fair, he hadn’t exactly been planning to stay over anyway. Things had ended on such a weird, awkward note after Gavin’s confession about his family.

Now, Gavin winced. “Fair enough.”

Dakota bit his lip. “Sorry. I didn’t mean?—”

“No, it’s okay. Honestly, you’re right. I was rude. I just don’t talk about Rory or my family much.”

“You think I talk about Bryce a lot?” Dakota asked, his voice filled with disbelief. “Trust me, I don’t. Violet and Jeff are the only other people who know all the details of what he did to me.”

Well, he’d had to explain it all to the police, the debt consolidation person he’d worked with, and the human resources person he’d interviewed with, but he’d kept that dry and a hell of a lot less personal.

Not that the police had done anything about it, he thought bitterly.

“Hey, I’m honored you trusted me enough to tell me at all,” Gavin said softly. “I want to get to know you better.”

“Have you thought more about what I said?” Dakota asked, searching his face. Or what he could see of it when it was covered in a fake thick white beard anyway.

“About inviting Thad to do something for the holidays?”

Dakota nodded.

“I did,” Gavin said slowly, rubbing his chest. “Not sure how I feel about it but … I’m considering it.”

“Okay. Well, I won’t push.” Dakota shot him a small smile. “Now, you should probably get going before people start wondering what we’re talking about.”

“Santa can’t get yoga advice from the team expert?” Gavin teased, but he was already straightening.

“Let’s save that for at your place.”

EIGHTEEN

Dakota was right, there was no reason for them to risk people finding out about them, so Gavin skated up to Jesse, Connor and the rest of their crew rather than linger and talk to Dakota like he wanted.

Crawford had Maura on his shoulders now, skating slower than he had with Evie earlier. Jesse and Evie were dancing to the Christmas carols playing on the sound system. And Kady was there with a gorgeous blonde woman on his arm who he was proudly showing off to anyone who would listen.

He’d gone around telling everyone, “Jesse found her for me,” in his thick Belarusian accent, which had sounded mildly alarming to Gavin, until he realized Jesse had helped Kady set up a dating profile and he’d met her there.

After a few moments of watching their shenanigans, Gavin joined the puck battle still going strong. He quickly grew impressed by Nolan’s stickhandling.

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