Page 20 of Breakaway Goals
“Better,” Morgan said, giving Hayes a nod as they skated over to the edge of the rink.
“Yeah?” Hayes still had that look in his eye, like if Morgan gave him a compliment, he’d die a happy man. But Morgan couldn’t do anything about that. Even if he could, he wasn’t sure he would. Something about Hayes’ awe soothed the worry inside. The worry that wondered every day if today was time he’d begin to feel every one of his thirty-five years and it would finally show on the ice.
“Not perfect,” Morgan added. “But better.”
Hayes smiled, and if Morgan had hoped or dreamed or anticipated that he’d been wrong about the way that made him feel, he’d be wrong.
He almost said something really stupid like, “you’ve got a nice smile.”
But he wasn’t stupid. Or he was trying really hard not to be stupid, no matter what Finn had suggested he do.
“Thanks,” Hayes said.
Danny skated over, slinging arms over both of their shoulders. “You two are all buddy-buddy over here,” he teased.
Morgan forced his body not to tense. Danny didn’t know. He couldn’t possibly know.Morganbarely knew.
Next to him, Hayes looked over it. Clearly more used to brushing off teammates’ jokes than Morgan. “You’re obnoxious.”
“Aw, Monty. No love,” he cooed.
“Not for you, you dick,” Hayes retorted.
“We should get some reporters over here. They’d lose their shit, seeing you all cozy and chatting.”
“We talk,” Morgan said, trying not to sound defensive. “We didhoursof interviews together the day after we got here.”
“Yeah, and everyone fucking creams themselves every time you do.”
Hayes was frowning now. Morgan fought the urge to slide his glove off and reach over, smoothing out that crease between his brows. He shouldn’t let Danny’s stupid shit get to him.
“It’s not . . .it’s notfun, Danny,” Hayes said slowly.
“For everyone to think you’re really fucking good at hockey? Yeah, a real hardship,” Danny said.
“Monty’s not wrong,” Morgan said, and Hayes shot him a grateful look.
Danny made a face. “Ugh, now you’re actually making mefeellike a dick.”
“That must suck for you,” Hayes said matter-of-factly but he was smiling again.
Morgan felt a weight lift, just seeing that smile.
“Come on,” Morgan said, “let’s run it again.”
Hayes pushed off with him, skating towards the middle of the rink. Morgan pointed his stick at Hayes, wiggling it teasingly.
“Want you to try to impress me again,” he said, lowering his voice so only Hayes could hear it. Aware, as his blood pounded in his ears, that he was definitely flirting. Maybe he was shit at it, but he was still making the attempt.
But Hayes only grinned, like he didn’t get it. “Oh, yeah? How’s that any different than Danny’s bullshit?”
Morgan leaned in a bit closer. Close enough to pick out the hazel specks in Hayes’ eyes, watch as his breath came a little shorter.
“It’s different ’cause you’re not impressing the fucking media. Just me.”
Then shorter still, as Morgan closed more distance between them, until their visors were nearly hitting. The closeness wasn’tthatunusual, but it was way more standard during a goal celebration. Just like this, during practice, when the skate time was winding down and most guys were just fucking around, it wasn’t exactly normal.
But Morgan didn’t care.
