Page 105 of Skating to Him

“Rowan and Tyler are going to Chicago.” Myles kissed my cheek and then Rowan’s.

“Well, I’ll be. That’s a cause for celebration, boys. Where’s the beer?” Ace strode to us, slapping each of us on the back and greeting us, and then lumbered into the kitchen to grab the beers. “Come and get ’em.”

EPILOGUE

ROWAN

Two Months Later

Iparked my Mustang in the late evening sunshine at the curb and looked at Tyler’s family home in the Chicago burbs. The place was a modest split-level house with white siding and brick accents around the doorway, tucked inside a long front porch. The sprawling lawn held an old oak tree inside square retaining walls made of railroad ties.

Tyler had driven home with Myles a few days before me, and now it was time for me to start living with Tyler’s family after my long drive here. I’d had to stay behind and help coordinate the movers Dad had hired to bring my things here and leave them in a storage unit for now, while Tyler and Myles had left all their things at the squad house for Ace and Zoma, who planned on living there over the summer. The last time I’d seen Tyler’s family was at graduation, where my family had met his. Mom had been well over her flare-up and had only used a walker to help her keep her balance. All in all, things had been going well, and the families had gotten along.

I turned off the engine, stepped out of the car, and grabbed my duffel from my trunk.

The door to the house flung open, and Tyler jogged across the lawn. “Rowan.” A wide smile stretched across his face. “’Bout time you got here.” As he reached me, he threw his arms around my shoulders and planted a hard kiss on my mouth. “Come on, we’re having a backyard barbecue to celebrate the start of our NHL careers.” He wrapped his arm around mine.

My heart flooded with warmth. “Yeah? Guess your family is pretty confident about my prospects.” None of them had any doubt I’d be signed by the end of camp, not even Tyler’s brother.

“Of course they are, they watched us play the championships. We’re unbeatable.” He guided me up the grass, to the front door, and inside the house. Leaning in, he whispered, “Just so you know, we’re staying in my old bedroom. They don’t care about…well, you know.” His brows ticked.

“Oh good. Not like my parents.” I huffed a laugh. Maybe they still needed time to process my relationship with Tyler, or maybe they were more old-fashioned than they’d let on all those years. I scanned the home. A comfortable family room rested to the left of the hallway, and to the right of us, a set of stairs led to the second floor.

“Mom set us up with a Realtor, so we can start looking at houses.” He led me up the stairs.

“Already?” We’d talked about buying a place together when his signing bonus came through. But he was moving full steam ahead. I followed him down a hallway and into a bedroom at the end.

“Set your bag down in here, and let’s go see everyone. My brother and Myles are both here too.” He walked a circle around the room and back to the doorway. “Come on.”

“Okay, wait a minute.” Damn, he was wound up. “Can I put on some deodorant and change my shirt first? I’ve been driving all day.” And I probably stank a little.

“Oh yeah.” He leaned against the door jamb.

I dropped my duffel at the foot of a double bed with a gray comforter and sheets with a hockey stick and puck pattern onthem. “Really?” I pointed at the pillows and then scanned the dark wood furniture in the room, a pair of nightstands with white lamps and a long dresser. A television was perched on the wall behind the dresser. Perfect. We’d be able to come up here and chill.

“Yeah, Mom thought it’d be funny.” He rolled his eyes. “She still likes to pretend I’m twelve sometimes.”

“I get that. My mom’s the same.” I fished my deodorant out of my bag, rolled it over my pits, and then changed into a nicer short-sleeve button-down. I wanted to look good for my first day here.

“Babe, you might be the sexiest D-man alive.” He raked his teeth over his lower lip.

Arching a brow, I said, “No, my boyfriend holds that title.” I stepped to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling our hips together and grinding my plumping dick against his through our shorts. As I pressed a slow kiss on his mouth, he freed a breathless moan.

“Later. We’re on the opposite side of the house from everyone.” He kissed my nose and grabbed my hand. “We still have to be quiet, but you know.” He flashed a wicked grin at me.

“Oh, I know.” I followed him down the stairs, through a hallway and open kitchen, and then out a set of patio doors.

Frank and Nathan stood over a long, smoking barbecue pit with beers in hand while Cheri sat at a rounded wicker patio table with Myles, both of them drinking wine. The whole area was on a concrete patio with grass and tall trees all around.

“Nice backyard setup.” As my gaze caught on Cheri, I walked to the table.

She stood. “Rowan, so nice to have you in our home. Welcome to the family.” She gave me a warm hug.

“Thank you for having me. It’s really nice.” I kissed her cheek.

Myles rose, side-hugged me, and patted my back. “Hey, man. Beer or wine?” He lifted his brows.

“Uh, beer.” My gaze shifted to a bucket with canned beers and a wine bottle all stuffed into it.

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