Page 5 of Common Goal
“This is Eric!” Kip said sloppily. “He’s, like, the best goalie ever!”
“I’ve heard.”
“He’s smart too! He collects art.” Kip’s eyes widened in an expression of sudden realization. “Eric! Kyle isstudying art!”
“Really?” Eric asked Kyle.
“Arthistory,” Kyle clarified. “Ancient art, mostly. If your collection includes three-thousand-year-old mosaics, I’m your expert.”
Eric’s face split into a wide smile that nearly knocked Kyle on his ass. This man wasgorgeous.
While Kyle was losing himself in Eric’s handsome face, Kip darted behind the bar, bumping up against Kyle. He grabbed a pint glass and started pouring himself a beer, but Kyle stopped him. “Get out of here. You’re drunk.”
Kip rolled his eyes dramatically. “Fine. You pour it.”
When Kyle handed him the beer that he absolutely did not need, Kip leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Love you.”
Kyle’s shoulders stiffened. “Love you too,” he said quietly. His gaze followed Kip helplessly as he walked away with his drink.
“Where are you studying ancient art?” Eric asked, snapping Kyle’s attention back to him.
Kyle managed a small smile.See, Kyle? There’s no reason to be sad. You have a beautiful, married straight man to keep you company. “Columbia. I’m working on my master’s degree.”
“Impressive.”
“Well, before you get too dazzled by me, I’ll clarify that I am veryslowlyworking on my master’s degree. I’m only taking one class right now.”
“Still impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who was studying ancient art before. What made you choose that field?”
Eric’s eyes were warm and attentive. Kyle believed that he was truly interested in his answer. “I’ve always been interested in it, since I was a kid. I had this illustrated children’s book of Greek myths that I read a zillion times.” He laughed. “When I got older I learned that therealversions of those myths were a lot more violent. And horny.”
“More bestiality than you were expecting?”
Kyle waved a hand. “That’s the least of it. Anyway, obviously the R-rated versions only made memoreinterested in mythology. Which grew into an interest in the people who created and believed those myths. The storytellers, y’know?”
Eric nodded thoughtfully. “Is your undergraduate degree in art history as well?”
“I majored in ancient history and Latin, and then I decided on ancient art and architecture for my master’s degree.”
“That sounds like a fascinating thing to study.”
Kyle shrugged. “I have no idea what I’m going to do with it, but I like learning.”
“Me too.”
Kyle leaned on the bar. “Oh yeah? Are you a reader?” Maybe Eric was one of those well-rounded athletes who took online college classes or listened to a lot of educational podcasts.
“I like to read. I majored in English literature.”
Kyle was momentarily surprised, but when he considered the man in front of him, he decided that being a student of literature suited him more than being a hockey player. “Where did you study?”
Eric’s lips twisted in a way that suggested he was embarrassed by what he was about to say. “Harvard.”
Kyle blinked. “You have a Harvard degree?”
“Yes.”
Kyle laughed. He couldn’t help it. He quickly covered his mouth, cringing at how rude that reaction had been. “Sorry! I just wasn’t expecting that.”
