Page 59 of Common Goal
“Thanks, pal,” Eric said, once the play had moved out of his end of the ice. He gave the post a loving pat.
Okay. Focus, Eric. He couldn’t count on the posts to save his ass a second time, so he needed to clear his head.
Win this game, he told himself, and you can think about Kyle all you like when you’re back in your hotel room.
He didn’t feel good about using something that pathetic as motivation, but it worked. Toronto didn’t score again, and New York won the game.
Kyle:I found someone for you.
Eric squinted at the message on his phone screen. Normally he’d be asleep at this hour, especially after a game, but he’d been restless tonight. He wondered if Kyle was at work right now. He wondered what made him text.
Oh. Right. He found someone. As in, someone for Eric to date who wasn’t Kyle. Eric ignored the way his stomach clenched at that idea.
Eric:Who?
Kyle:I don’t know his name yet. But he’s perfect for you.
Eric laughed into the dark hotel room and pulled himself up a bit so he could lean on his elbow.
Eric:Sounds amazing.He hoped his sarcasm was clear.
Kyle:He’s definitely in his thirties, cute as hell, and I overheard him say he’s a vegetarian.
Right. Because dietary preferences were the number one thing Eric was attracted to.
Eric: He’s a customer?
Kyle:Yes. I think he was on a date tonight but it didn’t go well. Now he’s sitting by himself.
Eric:You were spying on a customer while he was on a date?
Kyle:I just bring the drinks! I can’t control what I hear!
There was a long pause, and then Kyle wrote,I also took a pic of him.
Eric groaned. It was week one of being a bisexual man on the prowl and this was already getting way out of hand.
Eric:That’s creepy.
Kyle didn’t reply. Eric sighed and wrote, Send it.
A few seconds later Eric was looking at a dark and slightly blurry photo of a man sitting at a table, turned so he was in profile. It was hard to tell, but he did look like he might be handsome. Tidy, brown hair, nice clothes, and, yes, he appeared to be reasonably close to Eric’s age.
Eric:Shouldn’t you be working?
Kyle: I’m on my break!
Oh. Eric couldn’t help but be touched that Kyle was spending his break talking to him. And spending his evening trying to find Eric a date.
Eric:He does look nice.
Kyle:I wish you were in town. You could slide into that empty chair and ask him his name.
The back of Eric’s neck heated just thinking about that.
Eric:And then what would I say?
Kyle:Normal stuff?
