Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey 2)

“Beck, man, how are you?” Henrikson says, approaching our table. He’s one of our junior defensemen and part of Beck’s usual circle. I don’t miss the confused look he throws me before he does a weird up-nod. “Jacobs.”

“Henrikson.”

Beck stands and pulls him into a one-armed hug. “I’m great, how are you?”

Henrikson pulls a face. “Only good thing about the first day back is hearing all the crazy shit you got up to over break.”

“Sorry to disappoint, I barely even left the state this year.”

“What? What happened to Greece?”

Greece?

Beck shrugs. “Something better came up.”

“Better than Greece?” I cut in, my smile getting wider. “I knew you never planned summer camp. It was to piss me off, wasn’t it?”

The cocky bastard winks at me. “Seemed to work out pretty well though.”

“No complaints from me.”

Henrikson points at Beck, then swings his finger to me. “What’s happening here?”

“What do you mean?” Beck asks, and I try not to laugh at how he’s obviously having fun at Henrikson’s expense.

“You guys aren’t like this. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say a nice word to each other, and now here you are … having breakfast.”

“It’s been a long summer.”

“An enlightening summer,” Beck adds.

“Right.” He’s clearly confused, and he’s not the only one. Anyone who follows the mountain lions knows we can’t stand each other. Maybe it would be fun to mess with people for a bit.

But then I remember that means hands off, and the idea dies quickly.

Henrikson says he’ll see us at the team meeting later tonight, and we wave him off.

“Damn, I just realized I won’t see you again until then too,” I say around a mouthful of my breakfast burrito.

“Eight solid Beck-less hours. The horror.”

I kick his shoe. “I’ve gotten used to you being around.”

“Yeah … you too.” He screws up his face. “Who are we?”

“Topher and Teddy.”

“I’m so embarrassed by you.” Beck shakes his head and turns back to his food.

It takes herculean self-control to sit with him and behave myself.

We walk too close together as we leave the café, and when we pass the convenience store, Beck glances around and pulls me into a not-at-all secluded alley.

“Quick, kiss me.”

I smile as I press a kiss to his lips, linger, then pull back.

“More.”

I laugh. “It’s only, what did you say? Eight Jacobs-less hours. Then we can kiss whenever you want.”

“Fuck yes.”

He goes to leave, but I quickly grab his hand. “Hey, I know they’re gonna vote for you tonight, and I want to get it out there that I’m okay with it.”

“You’re okay with it?” He doesn’t look like he believes me for a second.

“Okay, so yes it’s disappointing because I’ve been aiming for it for years, but the thing is … you deserve this. So much. I’ll be proud to follow you this year.”

Beck hangs his head. “You’re not allowed to say shit like that when I can’t jump you.”

“You can show me how much you appreciate it tonight.”

“After the meeting.”

I groan. “We could skip it? It’s not like anything important is happening.”

I follow Beck from the alley, and he backhands my abs. “Nothing important? Excuse me, we have a captain to crown.”

“Captains don’t wear crowns.”

“Now you tell me. Guess I should return that tiara, then.”

“Not before I get photo evidence.”

We part ways to go to class, and I take a moment to check him out as he walks away. His broad shoulders, narrow waist, and that ass I couldn’t help noticing even when I hated him are even hotter when paired with this warmth in my chest.

And when I think about telling the team, I’m actually excited about it.

Because I’ll have Beck, and anyone with an issue can go fuck themselves.

I head back to my dorm to shower and change before I make my way to the meeting. Beck’s not in his room, so I assume he’s already headed over, and sure enough when I walk in, he’s there, saving a seat for me.

Yep. My boyfriend’s cute. And still in high school apparently.

“Nervous, Jacobs?” Cohen asks as soon as I sit down.

“Nah. I have a feeling things will go exactly the way they’re supposed to.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Beck says.

Cohen narrows his eyes and looks between us. “Riiight.”

Somehow, I hold in my laugh. There’s a lot of attention on us—because of the vote, because we’re sitting together, who knows?—so I lean closer and drop my voice. “Nervous?”

“About the vote? Nah, I know how this goes.”

“I’m glad you’re confident.” I can’t even tease him for it. “But no. You know what I’m asking.”

“Why would I be nervous about that? It’s no big deal. It’s nothing special—we’re just two dudes who are dating. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“So … you’re terrified, then?”

“Quietly shitting myself, yes.”

I laugh and wish I could give his thigh a reassuring squeeze, but I manage to keep it together. It’ll only be a few more minutes, and then I can do whatever the fuck I like.