Out on the Ice (Out in College 5)

“Good game, Colby,” she gushed.

“Thanks, but we lost,” I said before turning to Sky with a half smile. I took a moment to admire him. He took my breath away. And call me crazy, but I wasn’t sure what the rule was for greeting the guy who raked his fingernails down my back and told me to pound his hole last night. A high five, a fist bump? I settled for a nod of acknowledgment and a quiet, “Hi.”

Kendra tucked her hair behind her ear and beamed at us. “Gang’s all here. It’s like a summer school reunion, right? I couldn’t believe it when I saw Sky in the stands. I didn’t think you two were friends. I was pretty sure you hated each other in econ.”

“We ended up working together and patched things up,” Sky explained. “Colby mentioned he had a game tonight, so I thought I’d come by to see if he actually knew how to skate. Nice stick, by the way.”

I pursed my lips to keep from laughing. “Gee, thanks.”

“Colby is a really good skater,” Kendra said, slipping her arm through mine.

Her adoring look was a bit much, but it sort of made sense when Schultz paused and bumped my arm. He greeted Kendra and Sky with an absent “Hey,” then hooked his thumb in the opposite direction. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

I followed him a few feet away, hiking my bag higher on my shoulder before asking, “What’s up?”

“I was serious out there. That goal was teamwork at its best. You gotta feed me those shots, Fischer. Every night. You get the assist, I get the score, and we both show off our skills. And once we get our cadence down, the team will start winning. I know you don’t like me, but you know I’m right.”

“Maybe so,” I conceded.

“Hmph. Oh, hey. Quick question. Is that your girlfriend?” he asked. Something in his tone was off. I couldn’t say what it was, and I didn’t waste any more time hanging out with Schultz when Sky was five feet away.

“Kendra? No, we’re just…friends.”

“She hangs out a lot. You must be good friends.”

“Something like that. Later, Schultz.”

I headed back to Sky and Kendra, motioning toward the exit. “I’m outta here. Bye, Kendra. Thanks for coming, Sky.”

His eyes twinkled merrily. “No problem. I’d love to come again sometime.”

I shot an amused glance his way, then turned when Kendra grabbed my wrist. “What did Jason say? Did he ask about me?”

“Oh, my God. Wow. Yeah, he asked if you were my girlfriend.”

“What’d you say?”

“I said no,” I huffed.

“Did he ask for my number or did you give it to him or—”

“No.” I rounded on her in the lobby and shook my head. “And for the millionth time, I’m not going to, Kendra. Sorry. And don’t ask me for Sky’s number either ’cause—”

“I won’t.”

She glanced at Sky, standing near the door. His hair fell over his eyes when looked down to type a message into his cell. Probably to me. I hoped.

“Good.”

“I think he’s gay anyway. And I think he has a crush on you.” She clasped her hands and sighed. “I know you’re straight, but it’s kind of romantic.”

“Whoa. Wait up. What makes you think that?”

Kendra pushed her hair over her shoulder and buttoned her red coat. “Clue number one, he watched you, not the game. Clue number two, he got that dreamy look I get when I stare at photos of Robert Pattinson for too long. I could be wrong. It’s just a hunch. Lucky you. See you later, Colb.”

Okay. That was…weird.

I met Sky outside and tilted my head toward my car. We walked side by side through the parking lot. I paused to slap high fives or shout out a greeting along the way. Sky didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. He studied his phone like he had an important deal in the works and didn’t look up until I opened the trunk and threw my bag inside.

“You were pretty good out there tonight, Fischer.”

I chuckled. “Thanks.”

“I wish the pants were a little tighter, but still…I was impressed.”

“Even though we lost?”

“Yep.”

“Where’d you park?” I asked.

“On the other side of the rink,” he replied.

“Hop in. I’ll drive you. None of my teammates park over there. We can talk without drawing attention.”

“Relax, Colb. Two guys sitting in a car isn’t necessarily gay,” he chided, fastening his seat belt.

“True. But if Kendra sees us, she might get the wrong idea.” I filled him in on my brief conversation with her as I drove around the perimeter of the rink.

“Wow. I didn’t realize I was that transparent.” He rubbed his stubbled jaw and stared out the window.

“I’m not too worried. Are you?”

Sky shifted sideways in the passenger seat when I parked in the far end of the lot where it was quieter. “No. She doesn’t know me. I won’t come to any more games, though. I don’t want to draw attention to you or me or—”