Page 107 of Hot Ice, Tennessee

Robbie and Andrew found us soon after. They gave me hugs, congratulating me on getting the Minton Ranch riding school back off the ground, and Robbie turned to Jesse afterward.

“Dude,” Robbie said near Jesse’s ear. “I know this isn’t the time or place, but I have some very juicy news for you.”

“I’m intrigued,” Jesse said. “Give me the short version?”

“Elliot ain’t coming back to TNU this upcoming year.”

Jesse’s eyes went wider than I’d ever seen. “You’re kidding me.”

Robbie shook his head. “Just heard from Samuelson a few minutes ago. He’s apparently already packing up his shit at the frat house, and he’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

I could see Jesse trying to hide the urge to jump for absolute joy.

“Any, uh, idea why?” Jesse asked.

“He told Samuelson he didn’t really want to talk about it, but that he thinks college is bullshit, or something,” Robbie said. “Samuelson saidthatsounded like bullshit, and I agreed.”

“For sure.”

“I think Elliot just can’t take the fact that his last season was shit,” Robbie said. “I used to like that guy, but I’ve really come to think he’s a dickhead.”

“I think that intuition is correct, Robbie,” Jesse said. “I think we have about ten other guys on the team who can replace him for the season and do better, too.”

“Cheers tothat,” Robbie agreed.

Andrew was watching the conversation, too, and he had a smile on his face. “I’m going to have some hot gossip to tell the football team now, that’s for sure.”

“You guys should do a charity event,” Max said from across the bar. “Football players and hockey players unite and play a game of… drumroll please…puckball.”

“Puckball,” Jesse said, grinning.

“TNU fans would love it,” Max said. “All the hockey and football fans, coming together to watch you guys duke it out in a puckball game.”

“Do you have any idea how this puckball game would work?” Andrew asked.

Robbie laughed. “Yeah. What are the rules?”

“Guys, I’m an idea man, not a details man,” Max said, grinning. “Other than when it comes to cocktail ingredients, that is.”

“Well, I’d be down for a puckball game, if we could figure out the details,” Jesse said. “Especially if Elliot isn’t going to be around anymore. Holyshit, that is good news.”

As Max, Andrew, and Robbie got caught up debating what the rules of puckball would be, I pulled Jesse aside, leaning in to kiss him.

“That was insanely good news,” I added.

“I’m in heaven. I get to play my last year of TNU hockey without his face out there on the ice with me.”

“And I’m going to be at every game.”

“Alright, alright, save the makeout sessions for when you two are at home,” Kane said, walking by and carrying a big cake in his hands. “I love you both, but I don’t need to see it. You know what I mean?”

I laughed. “Wait. Look at that cake.”

Jesse was smiling already, though. “I told them to make it—”

“A hockey puck,” I said.

The cake was a gigantic chocolate hockey puck, and on top it saidYou’re Pucking Delicious.

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