Page 75 of Snapping the Ice
Jett stretched his hand out. “Nice to meet you in person, Ezra.”
I shook his hand and gave him my best smile. “Same.” What should I say now? I was at a loss.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” Mason tapped his knuckles on my chest, stepped to the door, and pressed a button. “You know I played at this rink in college?”
“Yeah?” He’d played for ASU. I knew that much, and we were near campus. I rubbed my sweaty palms together.
The door swung open, and a security officer assessed us. “Mason Hopkins and Jett Jarvis?”
“That’s us.” Mason showed the man an ID in his wallet. “Just in case you didn’t recognize me.”
“Oh, I know who you two are.” The man chuckled, stepped aside, and focused on me. “And you’re Ezra Turner?”
“I am.” I pulled my wallet from my jeans’ pocket. “Do you need to see ID?”
“I do.” The security officer narrowed his eyes.
“Dude, he’s with us.” Mason scoffed.
“Babe, cool it.” Jett grabbed Mason’s elbow.
“Just doing my job.” The security officer crossed his arms over his chest.
I showed my ID, and he nodded. Following Mason and Jett inside, I took in the maroon and gold paint on the hallway walls, ASU’s school colors. “This arena must be busy all the time.”
“Yeah, they hold Firebird games here, Devils’ games andfigure skating shit.” Mason glanced at me. “Our Goalie, Ace McAdams, his husband figure skates for ASU.”
“Oh.” Another queer player on their team. I strolled with them to an elevator, and Mason hit the call button. “How many queer players are on your team?”
“Four and a coach, that I know of.” Mason smirked at me. “But I can’t imagine a guy being closeted on our team with all of us there to support him. Right, babe?” Mason kissed Jett’s cheek.
“I suppose.” He threaded his fingers in Mason’s and then faced me. “Did Lucas tell you we have loge box seats?”
“No, he didn’t.” I puffed my chest. Damn, these guys would treat me like royalty.
“Yeah, it’ll help keep the cameras and fans off us so we can enjoy the game.” The elevator dinged, and Mason guided us inside. “We won’t be as close to the action, but whatever.”
After finding our loge box and settling in with beers and hotdogs, I took a seat between them. Was I being tag teamed?
“So, what’s the latest between you and my brother?” Mason unwrapped his hot dog and eyed me.
My pulse picked up speed.Here we go. “I, uh, I have strong feelings for him.” Was it love? Maybe, but I shouldn’t tell his brother that.
“Yeah? How strong.” Leaning in, he bit into his hot dog, fixating on me.
“Very strong.” Shit, I’d never talked to a brother of a man I dated before. Let alone a gay brother. I took a sharp inhale. “Things are going great between us. We get along and my ex is out of the picture.”
“He is?” Mason hooked a brow. “But you’re still staying at Lucas’s place? Did you two decide to live together?”
Jett’s attention drew to me, a faint grin quirking his lips.
“No, but we’re giving it another week to be sure my ex isgone. He hasn’t shown up since the day of the court order.” Which meant I had to go back home soon. There’d be no reason to stay with Lucas. I grabbed my beer from the cupholder and sipped it. I needed to calm my nerves. Glancing at the rink, I saw a woman singing the national anthem. The game would start soon and shit, we’d been talking too much and hadn’t stood for the song.
“I see.” Mason snickered. “Lucas is a sly son of a bitch. He wants to keep you there so he can be with you all the time. My brother is obsessed with you.” He threw a glance at Jett. “I admit it. I would have done the same with Jett, except I didn’t have to. We shared hotel rooms on the road.”
Jett scoffed. “Why am I not surprised?” He shifted in his seat and unwrapped his hot dog. “The Hopkins brothers go after what they want and let nothing get in their way.” He bit into his hot dog.
“Damn right.” Mason clicked his tongue. “Don’t worry, Ezra. Lucas will do anything for you.” His gaze locked on mine. “And I mean anything.”
