Page 73 of Common Goal
“He’s amazing,” Kip said. “I’ll bet he could play another five seasons at least.”
Kyle wondered. Eric seemed healthy and, based on his impressive upside-down yoga abilities, very fit, but how much longer could a body endure this level of punishment?
On the ice, Eric seemed to be shaking off that last save. As if being hit with a hundred-mile-an-hour slap shot was the same as stubbing your toe. The jumbo screens showed a close-up of Eric’s face as he flipped his mask up. He looked remarkably calm as he squirted water into his mouth, as if he was hanging out at a park instead of throwing himself in front of rocket-fast hockey pucks.
There were now less than four minutes left in the game, and one minute left in the penalty. Kyle handed Kip the rest of his popcorn because he was too nervous to eat anyway. Besides, he needed to clasp his hands together even though he didn’t believe in prayer. It just felt right.
He wanted Eric to get this shutout.
He wanted Eric to invite him over to celebrate tonight.
The possibility that Kyle might get to again have this man—the same man who was right now being loudly adored by an arena full of excited fans—was exhilarating. He wanted nothing more than the chance to take him over, and then completely take him apart.
He suddenly understood why Kip had been sexually obsessed with Scott for almost three years now. This was heady fucking stuff.
The last minute of play was announced. The penalty was over, but New Jersey had pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker. Kyle resented them for it. It was so unlikely that they would scoretwogoals in the next minute to tie the game that Kyle wished they wouldn’t bother trying. Why ruin Eric’s shutout for no reason?
They had several good scoring chances during that final minute, but Eric stopped any pucks that made it through the defensemen. When the final ten seconds were being counted down, Kyle was yelling out the numbers louder than anyone. Finally, the siren sounded to end the game, and Kyle leaped out of his seat. “Yeah! Fuck yeah, Eric!”
Kip laughed as he bent to gather his coat from his seat. “Looks like Benny’s got a new number-one fan.”
“I’m happy for him,” Kyle said, though what he was actually thinking wasI want to fuck him. He watched as the Admirals hugged on the ice, then saluted the crowd with their sticks before leaving the ice.
“This is the boring part,” Kip said. “The post-game stuff takes forever. Especially after a win. You wanna go to Shake Shack?”
Kyle blinked at him. “You ate for pretty much this entire game.”
“There’s always room for Shake Shack. Come on. My treat.”
“No way. You provided the tickets. The least I can do is buy you a burger.”
Kip waved a hand. “The tickets were free. Come on.”
“Scott told me about Eric.”
Kyle froze, dangling the ShackMeister fry he’d been about to pop into his mouth in the air. Did Scott know Kyle and Eric had hooked up? “What about Eric?”
“That he’s bi. Scott told me Eric told you first, which isinteresting.”
Kyle tried to play it cool. “Were you surprised that he’s bi?”
“Yes! I had no idea. Scott didn’t even suspect, and he’s one of his best friends.” Kip laughed. “Scott’s not really the best at clocking people, though. So why did Eric tell you?”
Kyle dropped his fry back into the container. “I don’t know. We’ve been hanging out a bit. I guess he just wanted to tell someone who wasn’t that close to him.”
“What, like he practiced coming out? With you?”
Kyle bit his cheek to keep from grinning. Eric had practiced a lot of things with Kyle. “Yeah. Something like that.”
Kip studied him, frowning. “What’s going on with you two?”
“Nothing.”
“Because I did the secret dating thing with an NHL star and it wasn’t—”
“I’m not dating him,” Kyle said truthfully, though he wished it were a lie. “We’re just friends. Like youwanted us to be.”
Kip smiled at that. “That’s cool. Scott told me Eric was in a great mood at practice yesterday. Maybe you’re a good influence on him. He needs to have some fun.”
