Page 88 of Skating to Him

I tapped out a message to Rowan.

Tyler

The meeting with Chicago went great. I’m having a little celly with Myles on the East Side.

The three dots blinked at me.

Rowan

That’s so good to hear! I’m proud of you, babe. Say hello to Myles. Talk later? With Mom.

My chest warmed and tightened. I couldn’t wait to be out there with him. Someday what his family was going through would be the same for mine. But he was dealing with itnow.

“What’s wrong?” Myles sipped his drink and crossed his ankles.

“Ah, Rowan. His mom is having a flare-up, and she’s set up in a hospital bed in their house. It’s got to be rough for him.” I placed my phone on the round marble table between us.

“Shit, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it doesn’t mess with his game when he gets back.” Slowly shaking his head, he pressed his lips together.

“Yeah, me too. I know Dean’s getting inquiries about him.” I sipped my Old Fashioned, the honey and oak of the whiskey mixing with a hint of cherry and orange. “Damn, that hits the spot.” I focused on Myles. “I talked to my dad about it a little bit and he spoke to the scout, Brian. Dean won’t tell me if Chicago’s one of the inquiries Rowan’s had, but I sure as hell hope so.”

“You think you can get you and Rowan to be signed together?” Myles arched a brow.

“Sure, why not? It’s worth a shot.” I curled a corner of my lips. “I did mention him to the coaches while I was there.” I drank my Old Fashioned. “I told them what a good team we made at ASU and that I’d never played better than I had with him.” Yeah, I’d laid it on thick. Why not? The worst that could happen is they wouldn’t listen to me. “I have a feeling they’ll at least start looking at him now if they weren’t before.”

“Wow, do they know you’re a couple?” He knitted his brows. “I guess with Mason and Jett playing as good as they are, maybe they won’t care.”

“Or maybe they’ll see that it’s good for their team.” I huffed a laugh, saying, “Hell, maybe the NHL will get wise and start hiring all queer couples for their teams.” Okay, that was out there.

“Could you imagine? It would be like the gladiators.” Hesmiled softly. “There are stories of those guys saving their lovers from death in the arena.”

I stared at him for a beat. When had he been learning about gladiators? “Really?” I twisted my glass on the table and then sipped my drink. “It’s totally Mason and Jett.” Goddamnit, if they could be together on the same team, so could Rowan and I. I had to make this work.

With a sharp chuckle, he said, “Yep, Mason and Jett. Just a couple of gladiators.” His grin waned. “But really, what are you going to do if you two end up in different cities?”

“Don’t know.” My gut clenched. “We’ll have to make it work.” There was no other way.

“Yeah, if anybody can find a way, I know it’s you, Tyler.” He patted my hand. “And with the strings your family can pull, I’m sure the Blackhawks will at least give Rowan a chance.” Sipping his cocktail, he ticked his brows.

“I hope you’re right, buddy.” My gaze flicked to the fireplace, the flames licking up the sides.

Around noon on Christmas Eve,I’d finished putting my last present under the tree in the living room when Nathan walked through the front door.

As his gaze found mine, his eyes wrinkled with a wide smile. “Little bro.” He held out his arm, his dark bangs falling to either side of his brown eyes. “Come here.”

Standing, I stepped into his arm and side-hugged him. “Hey, Nathan.” Maybe it was the puffy jacket he wore, but he looked even bigger than the last time I’d seen him. “About time you got here.”

“Yeah, well, had to win my last game before the break.” He freed me and hitched his duffel higher on his shoulder. “I brought my gear. Thought we could get a skate or two in while I’m here.”

“Oh, hell yes.” My cheeks ached with how hard I was smiling. It was so good to see him. And skating with him? Heaven.

He slapped my shoulder. “Hey, Mom says you have a boyfriend and met with the Blackhawks?” He lifted his brows.

“Yes and yes.” I planted my hands on my hips. We had so much to catch up on. “Why don’t you put your shit away and join me for a beer?” I glanced at Mom’s old cuckoo clock on the wall. “It’s after noon, so it’s okay, right?”

“Seeing as it’s the holidays, it’s never too early for a beer.” He wagged his brows at me and stepped around me, striding toward the kitchen and the stairs leading to the bedrooms. Along the way, he greeted Dad and Mom, who’d been cooking in the kitchen.

As a smirk tugged at my lips, I watched him go. Did he know anyone with the Blackhawks who could help me with Rowan? Myles had been right. I had so many strings to pull.

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