Page 26 of Skating to Him

“Yeah, we can’t run the same plays two nights in a row. They’ll be on to us.” Ace sipped his coffee.

“Suppose so.” I didn’t like this. It was like a wall had been built between Tyler and me. Maybe Teddy would have some sage advice. I’d have to give him a call later.

After watchingsome game footage with the team and going through tonight’s strategy with the coaching team, we all ambled out of the conference room. Tyler had barely talked to me and, again, didn’t even sit by me. This whole scenario really sucked. I had some time to kill and fuck if I wanted to go back to the room with Tyler.

I fished my phone out of the pocket of my sweatpants and called Teddy. It was Saturday, so he should be able to talk. I strolled down the first-floor hallway of the hotel with closed doors on either side of me.

The phone rang a few times and clicked. “Hey, Rowan. What happened with Tyler?”

“How’d you know I was calling about him?” As I came to the end of the hallway, I turned and walked the other way.

“Because why else would I be hearing from you so soon?” He chuckled.

“You got me.” I released a soft, stuttered laugh. Might as well cut to the chase. “So, I kissed him last night.”

“And did you like it as the song goes?”

“I did.” An ache wound through my gut and into my chest. “And he rejected me.” And now he was acting like nothing had happened.

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, Rowan. Did he say why?” he asked.

“He said something about being with a guy in high school who was figuring his shit out and it ended badly for him.” I hadn’t really thought through that part of it. Had he been dumped with a broken heart? Why hadn’t I asked more about it? As I strolled along, I scratched my chin. Because I’d been too devastated.

“Oh…” Teddy clicked his tongue. “He’s been burned and thinks you’d do the same.” He inhaled quickly. “The question is, would you? How did the gay porn session go?”

As my cheeks heated, I stopped walking. “Good. Too good. Think I might prefer it from now on.” Except, would I keep thinking about Tyler in a sexual way then?

“So, doyouthink you’re bisexual?”

“I…” Taking a deep breath, I tipped my head back and straightened. “I was getting used to the idea until Tyler rejected me.” I guessed I could go back to hooking up with girls.

“Are there any other guys you think you might be attracted to?” he asked.

“Not in my direct vicinity.” I thought for a minute. What if I went to the gay bar again with a more open mind? “I could scope out the gay bar again.”

“That you could. How do you think Tyler would feel if you did that?”

“Don’t know.” I twisted my lips. Could I make him jealous? He’d said he was catching feelings for me. “Do people go to those places alone? Because I don’t think I could get the other queer guys on the team to go with me now. I think it would look weird.”

“What if you talked with them about Tyler?”

My brows lowered. I could probably talk to Myles. He was closest to Tyler. “Yeah, I could try that.” Maybe there was hope yet.

CHAPTER SEVEN

TYLER

Ipaced around the hotel room. Had I done the right thing with Rowan? Stopping, I gazed out the window into the darkening sky. We had an hour before we had to leave for the game. We’d already had the team dinner, and I’d avoided Rowan. But then, it had seemed like he’d been avoiding me too.

With a sigh, I planted my hands on my hips. That kiss though…It had lit me up inside, and not just in a sexual way. I was already in too deep. I threw a glance at my phone, resting on my bed. Should I call Myles or Ace and talk to them about it? Maybe they could set me straight.

“Fuck no.” I should leave it alone. They were already teasing me about Rowan, and I was pretty sure they’d tell me to go for it with him. What if Rowan changed his mind though? Nope, not going there again.

I flung myself onto my back on my bed. I had to find a way to calm my brain so I could play tonight. Picking up my phone, I tapped the screen and opened myYouTubeapp. I could lose myself in game footage until it was time to leave.

We hadthree minutes left in the first period, and I had the puck, tossing it between the blades on my stick as I rounded the net behind Ace. Where the fuck was Mackenzie? We’d been playing like shit the whole game, like we were paired up for the first time ever.

I raced down the side of the boards and Cummings came up on my left. As I met his gaze, I passed to him and headed down the ice.

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