Page 38 of Common Goal
“Thanks again for your help last night,” Eric said. With a shy smile he added, “Do you really think everyone had a good time?”
“Definitely. They love you, I can tell.”
“Theyrespectme,” Eric clarified, setting a beautifully put together bowl in front of Kyle.
“Scott loves you. And Carter.”
Eric swallowed a spoonful of yogurt with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know, for years I was basically a loner on the team. Being a goalie creates a natural separation between you and the rest of the team anyway, but because I don’t drink and I’m not the most social guy...well. I never really felt like part of the gang.”
“What changed?”
Eric smiled. “Scott Hunter joined the team.”
Kyle ignored the way his heart clenched like it was in a vise. “Oh yeah?”
“Scotty’s not the life of the party either, but he has this quality that I have always envied. He earns the respect of everyone around him instantly. Right from his rookie season. There was no question he was going to be team captain someday.”
“Right.”
“The other guys are always seeking his approval. They want him to like them. They want his respect. And Scott probably noticed that I wasn’t being invited out after the games, and that no one was really talking to me in the locker room. So he made a point of talking to me. Of inviting me out.”
Kyle sighed. “He really is perfect, isn’t he?”
“I’m afraid so. Sorry.”
Kyle smiled to himself as he took a bite of yogurt and blackberries. It was kind of nice to be talking about this with someone other than Maria. “I need to get out there. Actually go on some dates.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Oh yeah?” Kyle perked up. Here was an interesting conversation topic. “You haven’t been dating since... I mean, since...”
“My divorce?” Eric offered helpfully. “Nope. Not a single date. Or hookup, or whatever people are calling it now.”
“Wait. You haven’t hadsexsince, um...”
“My wife left me? No.”
Kyle knew it was none of his business, but he couldn’t help himself. “And that was...”
“Over a year ago.”
“Wow. That’s, um...are you okay?”
Eric chuckled. “I’m okay.”
“How are you not, like, vibrating with pent-up arousal?”
Eric stared at him with that sexy bemused smile on his face. “Vibrating with pent-up arousal?”
“Yeah! I’d be... I mean, it’s been a couple of weeks for me and I basically want to fuck this yogurt.”
“Please don’t. And I’ve never had an overwhelming need to...”
“Bone down all day every day?”
“Right. That.”
Kyle took another bite of yogurt to prove he was kidding about wanting to fuck it. “You don’t like sex?”
