Page 17 of Two for Holding
Jax heaved himself up to a seated position, leaning against the headboard.“So, your plan is to get Morris involved but not tell him why?”
“I know it’s dishonest and probably a bad idea, but I’d feel more comfortable if we could show him things are going well with what we suggested before we start criticizing the coaches, and—”
“No, no, it’s good.It’s sneaky.Didn’t expect it from you.”
Tom shrugged.The sharp points of his clavicles stood out in perfect relief against his smooth skin.“I guess I’m trying new things.”
“Good look on you.”Jax squirmed on the bedspread and pulled his wallet out from under his butt.It made sitting uncomfortable.While he was at it, he dug out the condoms and lube from the other pocket and tossed those on the nightstand as well.
A choking noise from the other side of the room let him know he’d gone too far.
Tom stood up again.“I should…go.”
“Really?That’s all you wanted to talk about?”
“I, um… Yes?No, wait.Will you help me ask Morris?Pretend it’s because we want to practice working on a line?”
“Sure.”
Actually, it wasn’t a half-bad idea, and not only because Jax wanted to be on the first line.Hedeservedto be on the first line.Frankly, he should have been put there on day one.None of the team’s other centers could hold a candle to him, and he didn’t understand why the coaches hadn’t done it yet.
Tom hesitated, halfway across the room.“You’re not going out now, though, right?”
“What, are you gonna guard the door to make sure?”Jax rolled to his side so he could see Tom better, propped up on an elbow.“People might talk, Thomas.”
Tom looked away immediately.“It’s just Tom.”
“You know,” Jax drawled, fluttering his eyelashes lasciviously.If he wasn’t getting laid, he might as well have fun in other ways.“I won’t be closeted forever.Someday, I’ll be out, and then everyone will wonder what you were doing in my hotel room, all alone so late at night.”
Tom opened his mouth, then closed it again, and then he was gone.
Jax had to stop flirting with known homophobes.It was funny, but it was also very stupid.Long after Tom left, past the point when he should have brushed his teeth and changed out of his tight clubbing clothes, Jax remained in bed, staring at the ceiling and remembering Tom’s built arms, long eyelashes, and flustered words.
He regretted the late night the following morning when he had to drag himself down to the team bus, bleary-eyed and groggy.They had an early practice in Florida before flying up to St.Louis for an evening game, and the back of Jax’s neck prickled the entire time as Tom attempted unsubtly to catch his eye and remind him of the plan.When they did approach Coach Morris, Tom couldn’t lift his gaze from the floor.
“You have no future in international espionage,” Jax muttered to him.“Chill, would you?”
“I’m not good at this.”
Tom’s talents only seemed to include being handsome, being awkward, and stating the obvious.And hockey.Always hockey.What am I going to do with him?Jax thought fondly, then reminded himself he didn’t want to do anything at all with Tom.
“Coach!”Jax pasted a brilliant smile across his face.“We wanted to ask you something.”
Coach Morris peered down at his tablet, brow furrowed at a video of the penalty kill at last night’s game.Fair enough.East seemed to be a solid dude with good skills on the barbecue front, but a brick wall he was not, and their goalie had been left out to dry when the Wildcats obliterated the defense.
Morris grunted in answer.
“We were thinking…” Tom started and then seemed to lose his words.
“We were thinking we want try some 3-on-3 at practice today.”
Morris studied them.“Why?”
Tom opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
“Well, we lost yesterday, and we’d like not to lose today,” Jax said drolly.“If we tighten up offensively…”
“The offense is not what I’m worried about right now.”Morris glanced at his tablet.
