Out on the Ice (Out in College 5)

Meg popped over Harry’s shoulder and grinned. “Your turn, baby boy. Ice cream cake in the kitchen. I’m saving you the corner piece.”

“Thanks, Meg.”

There was a general whoop of glee as the entire office made a mad dash for the kitchen. I shook Harry’s outstretched hand, then let out a defeated rush of air as I turned to Sky.

He set his hand on my lower back and kept it there for a long moment, the way a lover might. There was nothing sexual in the overture, but somehow that little bit of contact felt like foreplay.

“So…cake?” Sky teased, clandestinely lowering his hand to my ass.

“Fuck cake.”

“Have you ever?”

“Have I ever what?”

“Fucked cake. I’ve seen videos of guys fucking a watermelon or a pumpkin, but not cake,” Sky said conversationally.

“It’s too squishy to fuck. Not to mention disgusting.”

“You don’t like cake?”

“I love cake.”

Sky crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. “What’s your favorite kind?”

“Chocolate, of course. Yours?”

He crinkled his nose and made a funny face. “I don’t really like cake.”

I gaped at him until he busted up laughing. “That’s…disturbing. Are you gonna tell me you hate puppies and pickles too?”

Sky threw his head back and guffawed. “Puppies and pickles?”

The crew in the kitchen must have heard him, because Sue called our names and yelled something about selling my corner slice for big bucks if I didn’t get my ass in gear.

I smiled, but I felt funny inside. Warm and fuzzy, but slightly nauseous at the same time. “We should go. I’m gonna be pissed if Jake the snake gets my cake.”

“Oh, my God, you need to stop rhyming,” he snickered.

“Fine. I gotta go. I’m gonna tell them my office replacement is a non-cake eating weirdo. Trust me, they’ll love that. More for them. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Sky’s eyes twinkled as he inclined his head. “Okay. Oh hey, my roommate is away this weekend…if you’re up for a sleepover.”

We shared a look and grinned.

I nodded like a puppet. “I’d definitely be up for that.”

“Cool. Want me to pick you up?”

“Sure.” I cast a cautious look around me before leaning in to kiss his cheek impulsively. My face felt hot to the touch when I stepped back, but Sky’s incredulous expression made it worthwhile. “I don’t know why I did that, so don’t ask. I’ll see you Thursday.”

I was met with a new round of song in the kitchen. I raised my arms in the air like a rock star taking his final bow. My small loyal audience chuckled at my antics and handed me a slab of mint chip ice cream cake. I filled them in on my classes and my game schedule in between mouthfuls while stealing sideways glances at Sky.

I didn’t get it. Every time he walked into a room, I lost my train of thought and got a bad case of the dopes. You know what I’m talking about…the tongue-tied, sappy feeling I knew had to be a sign of severe infatuation. I couldn’t remember ever having it this bad for a girl. But Sky was doing something to me. If I were smart, I’d put some distance between us and ask a girl out. Maybe, I would. After Thursday.

The second I arrived at the rink that afternoon, I knew something was up. The locker room was a little too quiet. My teammates greeted me with cautious nods and mumbled “heys,” but Logan and Troy were the only ones who looked me in the eye. I dropped my workout bag on a bench and opened my locker door noisily.

“Geez, what the hell happened? Did one of your pet turtles die, Mason?”

Mason was one of our defensive linemen. He was my height, but he had a thicker build and a nasty scar over his left brow. He looked mean as hell…and he definitely was on the ice. But he had a soft spot for animals and kept a menagerie of strange pets. Turtles, iguanas, parrots, a hedgehog.

“Not funny, Fischer,” he grunted.

I widened my eyes comically as I unbuttoned my oxford shirt and was about to tell him I was kidding when I caught Logan’s signal to look left.

Oh. Great.

I shrugged my shirt off my shoulders and stuffed it into my bag before turning to the small posse gathered around Schultz. I knew what was coming. And because I was one of those weird dudes who got off on confrontation, I almost hoped he’d say something stupid, so I’d have an excuse to take a swing at him. However, I wasn’t a complete moron. As team captain, I was the leader here. I had to act like one. Even if it hurt.

“Hey, Schultz. Did you come to play or visit?” I called across the room.

He stood slowly and made his way toward me. He elbowed Mason aside, then crossed his arms and leaned against the locker next to mine. I hated that he was taller than me. And better looking. Oh yeah, and a better player. But if Schultz had it all, he wouldn’t be here.