Page 54 of Second Shot

I hold his shame filled gaze, completely confused. “I don’t understand why you’d lie about something like that. It doesn’t make any sense.”

His face is tense and he looks like he’s struggling with himself. Then he hangs his head, eyes on the ground. “I was too embarrassed to tell you the truth.”

“Which is what?”

He winces and lifts his anxious gaze. “When I heard they’d traded Cross for you, I was worried. Intimidated.”

“Intimidated,” I mumble. “Byme?”

He shrugs. “You’re an amazing player. Cross wasn’t anywhere near as good as you. You know how cut throat professional hockey is. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you, and then I’d look bad. I got in my head about it, okay? I took that out on you in the beginning.”

I really want to believe him, but something doesn’t feel right about his story. Gabe’s an amazing hockey player, and there’s no way he was ever intimidated by me. He’s still not telling me something. I can feel it in my soul. But I have no idea why he’d lie about any of this shit.

“You’re as good a player as I am,” I say. “Probably even better than me. There’s no way you were ever intimidated by me.”

He narrows his eyes, looking annoyed. “Are you calling me a liar?”

My face heats and I wilt a bit at his anger, but I try to stand my ground. “I… I feel like you’re still hiding something, Gabe.”

“If you’re not going to believe what I say, why should I bother talking to you?” His eyes are harder than I’ve seen in a long time. “I’m admitting something embarrassing, and you’re throwing it back in my face. How is that not calling me a liar?”

“It’s not that… I just feel like maybe you’re protecting someone. Whoever started the lies about me.”

He shakes his head, eyes dark. “There werenorumors. I’m not protecting anyone. There never were any rumors about you.”

He sounds and looks sincere, and now I’m stuck with a choice, either accept what he’s saying or keep pushing. But if I keep pressing, it’s only going to make things worse. He’ll get mad, our whole day will be ruined, and I’ll probably end up back at my place alone. He won’t want me around if he thinks I’m being a dick.

But before I can respond to him, he speaks first.

“I swear on my life, there were no rumors about you, Ryan,” he says softly. The anger is gone from his face, replaced by something quieter. Maybe shame. “I’m sorry I said someone was spreading lies. Of course you couldn’t just letthat go. Of course you’d want to know who said that about you. Expecting you to drop it was unfair. I’m really sorry.”

I feel better at his words because he’s not only reassuring me there are no rumors floating around, he’s also making it clear he was in the wrong. He no longer looks angry or self-righteous. He looks repentant and guilty.

“Thank you for telling me the truth,” I say, reaching out to play with the strings on his hoodie. “And for the apology.”

Relief paints his face. “No, thank you for accepting my apology. I was acting like an idiot. I really am sorry. I feel awful that I made you worry.”

“It’s okay.” I smile, grateful he’s back to the Gabe I’ve come to know and care about so deeply. “Just know that you don’t have to hide things from me, okay? I’m not going to judge you.”

His eyes flicker. “I’ll do better.” He cups the side of my face, eyes dark with worry and guilt. “Can I kiss you, Ryan?”

“You think I’d say no?” I laugh, my pulse racing.

He looks pleased and he leans in and takes my mouth in a gentle kiss. There’s so much aching need and emotion in that tender kiss, I open my mouth to his tongue because I can’treject him. I don’t want to lose him. Even if his lying did bother me, I don’t want to hold on to any negativity toward him. Everyone makes mistakes. I just want things to go back to how they were earlier today.

When the kiss ends, he pulls back, his eyes searching my face. “I really am sorry,” he says quietly.

“It’s okay, Gabe. I believe you.” I touch his cheek. “Let’s put it behind us, okay?”

“Okay.” He kisses the side of my neck, nipping at the sensitive skin. “How about you let me make it up to you,” he says, his breath warm on my flesh.

“You don’t have to,” I whisper, shivering at his lips against my throat.

“I want to. I was an asshole, and I want to make you feel really good.” His slips his hands under my hoodie. I moan as his calloused hands move slowly down my body, sliding over my chest like he’s mapping every inch of me. His fingers trace the ridges of my abs, teasing the sensitive skin just above the waistband of my jeans.

“What are you up to?” I ask, shivering at his touch.

“I think you know exactly what I’m up to, Ryan.” He sinks to his knees in the soft grass, and his breath is hot against my abdomen. His eyeslock on mine, filled with a hunger that makes my cock twitch in anticipation. The air is thick with the scent of earth and greenery, and the sound of my zipper being pulled down is obscenely loud in the hush of the clearing.

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