Page 1 of Skating to Him

CHAPTER ONE

TYLER

Islipped my black slacks up my legs, fastened them, and tagged Myles Cummings, my best friend from Chicago and one of our right-wingers, on the shoulder. “Hey, you played well out there today.”

I glanced at Ace, our goalie, stepping into his shoes. All the guys in the locker room were almost dressed and getting ready for a little celly after our win.

“Thanks, man.” Cummings beamed at me, a lock of his curly blond bangs falling over his large brown eyes.

“Ace, you sure you’re not going to join us?” I sat on the bench and slipped into my black loafers. We had plans to hit the gay bar just off campus, but Ace had a new man.

“Naw, I promised Zoma we’d spend a nice evening together. You two can find trouble all by yourselves tonight.” He chuckled and shook his head of messy dark hair.

The man was built like a house and had at least one scout chasing him already. He was probably the best goalie in the NCAA right now. I glanced at Rowan Mackenzie, his muscled back to me, wearing only his briefs, his rounded ass a sight to behold. God, the guy was put together so well. I wet my lips. Buthe was straight as they came and a cocky bastard. He’d only started playing with us this year.

Mackenzie turned around and his gaze caught mine, his normally poofy blond hair wet and falling around his face.

I flashed him a grin. The guy had the deepest blue eyes I’d ever seen. And the freckles spattered across the bridge of his nose? Yeah, they did something to me. Coach had us playing together tonight. Did it mean?—

“Hey, Hodge and Mackenzie, I need to see you both in my office once you’re decent.” Coach Hammett, our defensive line coach, stood at the end of the locker room and up-nodded at me.

“Sure, be right in.” I threw a glance at Cummings, who smiled and bumped his elbow on mine. I was pretty sure I’d be paired with Mackenzie now.

“Dude, more scouts?” Cummings lifted his brows.

Mackenzie, now dressed in gray slacks, stepped to us. “Not both of us. I think we’re going to be official D-line partners as of tonight. What do you think, Hodge?” He slapped my shoulder.

“You play well together.” Ace, fully dressed in his suit, picked up his duffel and slung it over his shoulder.

“I think you might be right.” I nodded. I could think of worse things than pairing with Mackenzie on the ice. He’d earned my respect from day one at camp. Plus, we had geology class together, and he’d helped me a few times with assignments. I knew I could count on him.

Mackenzie shrugged his suit jacket on and shook his hair off his forehead. “You ready?”

“Just a minute.” I slipped my arms into my jacket and checked myself in the mirror I’d hung in my stall, swiping my dirty-blond bangs off my cheekbones and catching my brown-eyed gaze in my reflection.

“Seriously?” Myles freed a sharp laugh and pushed at my ribs. “You look fine, Hodge. You’re only going in to talk to the coach.”

“Yeah, but I need to have good flow for the bar later. Theremight be puck boys.” With a quick chuckle, I glanced at Mackenzie.

Blinking a few times, Mackenzie said, “Puck boys? Is there such a thing?”

I shrugged. “Sure, why not?” I squeezed Mackenzie’s shoulder. “Come on.” I strolled with him through the emptying locker room and into Coach’s office.

Mackenzie dropped into the chair by the wall opposite Coach’s desk.

With my gaze catching on Coach tenting his hands over his closed laptop, I sat in the chair next to Mackenzie. Yeah, we were going to be paired for the season. My pulse picked up. Which meant I’d probably be rooming with him on the road. My gaze slid to Mackenzie loosely crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair. Shit, I’d have to keep my eyes to myself from now on and quit eye-fucking him when he wasn’t looking.

“You both played well out there tonight.” Coach arched a brow. “You have chemistry.”

Chemistry?I shifted in my seat and cleared my throat. “So you’re pairing us up for good?” Might as well cut to the chase.

“I am. How do you both feel about that?” He eyed me and then Mackenzie.

Mackenzie dropped his lifted leg to the floor and came forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I think it’s a great idea. I don’t know about him…” He pointed his thumb at me. “But it’s like I can read his mind, and we’ve only played on the same line a few times.”

Read my mind?Oh, if only he knew what had really been going through it. A soft smirk floated over my mouth. He’d be shocked as fuck to know how much I’d been drooling over his fine ass. I threaded my fingers together over my lap. Wait, I had to say something. “Yeah, I think we play well together.”

“Okay, then it’s a done deal. You’ll be formally working together starting on Monday. See you at the morning skate.” He opened his laptop and typed.

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