Page 109 of Common Goal
Rozanov’s face lit up. “Bisexual! This is great. Did you fuck that blond teenager yet?”
“He’s not a—” Eric bit his tongue. “He’s twenty-five.”
“Twenty-five was a long time ago for you. Do you remember twenty-five?”
“Where the hell is Wyatt?” Eric made a show of looking over Rozanov’s shoulder.
“So you did? Fuck him?”
Eric should have been terrified by this conversation, but instead he just found himself wishing he could tell Rozanov that he hadn’t justfuckedKyle. He wished he could say he was dating him. That Kyle was his boyfriend. “I’m not telling you anything.”
“That is a yes.”
At that moment, Shane Hollander approached their table. “Hi, Eric.” Shane was basically the opposite of Rozanov: serious, polite, and quiet.
“Shane. Nice work in the obstacle course.”
Shane smirked at Rozanov, who had not done nearly as well in the same event. “Thanks. It was pretty easy, honestly.”
Rozanov glared back at him with eyes that burned with annoyance and something else. Before Eric could figure out what it was, Rozanov looked away.
Eric spotted Scott talking to Troy Barrett near the bar, which made him happy to see. Dallas Kent was nowhere to be found but, based on his reputation, he had probably found some female fans to keep him company.
“I’m going to head up to my room,” Shane said. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Shane,” Eric said.
“I will probably head up soon too,” Rozanov said.
Shane nodded, then turned quickly and left. Rozanov stayed at the table for about another minute, then told Eric he was going to the bathroom. He went, Eric noticed, in the direction of the elevators instead.
An hour later, Eric was alone in the elevator with Scott, heading for their side-by-side hotel rooms.
“What do you think you’ll do?” Eric asked. “After you retire?”
Scott’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Just curious.”
“I haven’t thought about it. I still have a lot of hockey left to play.”
Eric nodded slowly. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.”
“Are you—” Scott dropped his voice to a horrified whisper. “Are you saying you’re ready to retire?”
“I’m forty-one.”
“Yeah, but. I mean. Look at you! You’re in better shape than anyone else on this team.”
“Have you been checking me out, Scott?”
“Sometimes! Can you blame me? Do you remember the height you got on your squat jumps at training camp this year?” Scott fanned himself theatrically.
Eric laughed. “Seriously, though. I can’t play forever.”
“You couldtry.”
Eric smiled fondly at him as the elevator reached their floor. He really did love Scott, and it was time to be honest with him. He followed him down the hall and stopped when they reached Scott’s room. Scott opened the door and gestured for Eric to follow him inside.
