Page 41 of Icing the Play

The puck blew by him and landed in the back of the net.

“Fuckin’ A.” Sutton hung his helmeted head. “Lucky son of a bitch.”

“Nice one, Cummings.” Neuman skated to me, his gloved hand held high.

“Thanks.” I patted his glove with my own and skated a circle around him, glancing at Coach.

With a smirk, Coach nodded. “Looking good, Cummings. Keep it up.”

“See, Sutton? Not just luck.” I skated to our goalie and patted the top of his helmet. “Just don’t let that shit happen in a game.” My playing was improving. Was it the sex with Cooper? As I twisted on the ice, my eyes widened. Oh shit. What if having sex with him before every game gave me better luck than jacking off? What was I going to do on the road?

Neuman skated to me. “Hey, what the hell’s going on in your head? We’re supposed to do the drill again.”

I stared at Neuman. “Uh, nothing. Nothing’s going on in my head.” My cheeks heated.Do not think like that ever again, Myles.

Later in the day,I strolled into the kitchen from the garage, my classes all done with. It was time to relax before studying. My phone buzzed in my backpack, and I set it down on the floor at the end of the black sofa, Cooper’s sofa.

With a grin, I fished my phone from the pocket and held it to my face as I fell into the end of the couch. A text message popped up.

Tyler

Hey, how’s it going? Got time for a chat?

“Oh, right on.” I’d barely spoken to him since I’d left Chicago. Holding the phone up, I tapped on the screen to FaceTime him.

After ringing a few times, the call answered and Tyler’s face appeared, his dirty blond hair wet and hanging around his brown eyes and a white wall behind him. “Hey, good to see you.” He gave me a warm smile.

“Same.” Warmth spread through my chest. He’d been my best friend since high school and throughout college.

“I heard Dean called you.” He inhaled deeply. “How are you feeling about that?”

“Uh…” Glancing at the television for a second, I twisted my lips. “I guess I’m happy about it. He didn’t offer to sign me yet.” I could talk to Tyler. He knew me better than anyone,

“Yeah, did he say why?” He studied me through the phone.

“He wanted to see how well I’d improved since last year, or some shit.” I huffed. “He signed my fucking brother, but not me.” Okay, now I sounded ungracious. Tyler might have gone out on a limb for me, having Dean look at me. “Sorry.”

“No, man, don’t be sorry. It’s tough. You know he didn’t sign Rowan right away, either.” He lifted his brows. “And look where he is now? A fucking Blackhawk.”

I swallowed hard. “Yeah.” If only I could be so lucky. “I feel like I’m playing better, though.” I rubbed my palm over my bare thigh under my athletic shorts. “I’m gelling with Neuman.”

“Good. That’s a start.” He came in closer to his phone. “Where’s Ace? Is he around?”

“He’s out and so is Zoma. I didn’t see their cars when I came home.” My heart flipped. Oh shit, he didn’t know about Cooper yet. “Guess what?”

“What?” He smirked.

“Remember the football player I had a crush on in high school?” I lifted my chin. He wouldn’t believe this.

He furrowed his brows. “Uh, yeah? Was his name Cole or Cam?—?”

“Cooper, his name was Cooper Hayes, eh.” Leaning forward, I planted my elbows on my thighs. “He came out here for his last year of school and I found him in one of my classes.”

“Okay. So you guys are buddies again? Like, study buddies?” With a chuckle, he scratched his cheek.

“Um, no, well, yes, but we’re dating and he’s living here with me.” My brows snapped up and a wide grin swept over my lips.

“He what?” Tyler barked out a laugh. “Damn, dude, you move fast. How the hell did that happen?”

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