Page 74 of The Best Parts of Him
Ryland rested his head on Dabbs’ outstretched arm. “Good. Keeping busy. Trying to create more engagement within the team, but I’m no Roman Kinsey.”
Dabbs’ smile was warm. “It’ll take time. Roman worked on it for years before it started to truly make a difference.”
“Years? Ugh.” Flopping onto his back, Ryland dug his fingers into his eye sockets. “I just want us all working better together so we can make the playoffs again this year.” He rolled back toward Dabbs, memorizing the lines of his nose and the curve of his lips. “And you? How’s the book stuff going?”
Dabbs held up a finger and rose from the bed, disappearing around the corner that led to the bathroom and the door. He returned a moment later with a backpack Ryland hadn’t previously noticed. From it, he extracted a coil-bound document and handed it over.
The same coil-bound document he’d shown him last time?
But no. The cover was different.
The Hockey Diaries, Book 1 by Kyle Dabbs.
“Holy shit.” Scrambling up, Ryland took the manuscript and set it on the bed with the care it deserved. “You’re publishing under your own name?”
Dabbs scratched his jaw and joined him on the bed. “I thought a lot about what you said—about using my existing platform to reach readers. You were right. I was using a pen name to protect myself.”
Ryland frowned. “Did I say that?” He’d thought it, but he didn’t recall voicing his thoughts out loud.
“You implied it. And you weren’t wrong. Truth is, people have been talking about us for weeks and the world hasn’t ended. I figure publishing under my own name won’t be as bad as I’ve been imagining.”
“Kyle.” Ryland planted a swift kiss on his lips. “This is amazing.”
Dabbs passed a hand over his jaw. “I’m nervous as hell about it.”
“I would be too. But think of the royalties you’ll be able to donate to your charity and the awareness you’ll bring to the importance of mental health resources for kids. What you’re doing is honestly amazing. When are you publishing them? Is it now? Because I want to tell everybody. Right now.”
“Hold your horses, tiger.” Laughing, Dabbs lounged on his side. “I’m thinking spring. Now that I’ve got an illustrator on board?—”
“You do? Since when?”
“Today. And she’s ready to get started yesterday. We’re still working out contracts and timelines, but I think a spring release date is doable.”
Ryland wanted to love on him so hard. First, he rose to set the manuscript on the dresser to keep it safe?—
“That’s yours, by the way,” Dabbs said.
“What is?”
“The manuscript.”
A different kind of pleasure than the one he’d just experienced under Dabbs filled him. “I get to read it?”
“You’ll be the first one. Don’t tell me if it sucks.”
Pumping a fist, Ryland did a happy dance, then moonwalked back to the bed, where he pounced on Dabbs.
And they got lost in each other for a very long time.
chapter nineteen
DECEMBER
The annual Columbus Pilots holiday party was one of Ryland’s favorite events put on by the organization. Front office staff, management, and players alike—along with their partners and kids—were dressed to impress as they mingled in one of Columbus’ downtown event venues that had been decked out to the nines in holiday décor. A selfie station made to look like a hot chocolate stand, poinsettias as the centerpiece of every table, twinkling fairy lights, a kids’ corner with crafts and games, and a massive Christmas tree bedecked in maroon, blue, and white decorations—the team’s colors.
Ryland had encouraged the event organizers to include games for adults too, ones that would create friendly competition, encourage them to get to know others, or make them work in teams. They’d included an indoor putting green, Christmas Heads Up, and human Bingo.
“Yo, Ry.” Bart Lang sidled up to him with his Bingo card and pointed at one of the squares. “Is this you?”
