Goal Lines & First Times (CU Hockey 3)

I really wanted him to deny it though. To settle my jealousy. But I’m so far gone, I don’t even think Asher being married with kids would do that. I want to keep my Richie. “You’re into my boyfriend, aren’t you?”

For some reason, that makes him laugh. Hard. “They told me you were smart.”

“Who told you?”

“Cohen … Jacobs …”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t think I miss the way you look at him. It’s adorable. Makes me kinda feel sorry for you though, because you don’t have a chance in hell.”

“Look at you, getting all snarly.”

“Just making sure you don’t waste your time.”

“Oh, this conversation is anything but a waste of time. This might be one of the most enjoyable ones I’ve had in months.”

“This is fun for you?”

“You have no idea. When you’re stuck at home where everyone’s depressed as fuck, getting to tease cute guys is always a highlight.”

…

Cute?

Ohh …

Nope. Go back.

I suddenly really want to rewind to the part where I assumed he had a thing for Richie because that was a thousand times more preferable to this. Him calling me cute makes me uncomfortable.

“You, ah …”

He smirks, and I wonder if he’s messing with me.

Richie chooses that moment to reappear. “Everything okay?”

“He’s fine,” Asher says. “Just seems to be stroking out because I called him cute.”

Richie blinks at Asher once, twice, then reaches for me and crushes me to his side. “Get your own boyfriend.”

Asher laughs again and holds up his hands. “I’m shit-stirring, man. You can both calm down. I’m not interested in either of you.”

As if to prove his point, he takes his drink and heads over to a table of girls and turns his flirt on.

I turn to Richie. “He’s the most confusing person I’ve ever met.”

Richie shrugs. “I think his attitude is all a defense mechanism to cope with the death of his parents. I sometimes think he’s trying to get punched out.”

“That’s very insightful of you.”

“Hey, I’m not always an oblivious dumbass.”

Of course, Jacobs and Beck find their way back to our table at that precise moment.

“Just ninety-nine percent of the time, am I right?” Beck quips.

Richie flips him off while Jacobs backhands Beck’s chest.

“We actually wanted to talk to you about something,” Jacobs says to Richie.

“Yeah?”

“You know how we’re setting up a hockey camp? How do you feel about possibly being involved?”

Richie frowns. “Involved how?”

“Coaching. Helping us put it together. It’s a long-term goal, obviously, but we figured the next year or two will be spent with real jobs and coaching on the side. Maybe offering private coaching first and building our way up.”

Richie runs his hand over his beard. “I’ll think about it, but … I dunno.”

I take his arm, excitement rushing through me. This will keep him close. “It would be a great opportunity, and you still don’t really know what your plans are for when you graduate.”

Something twists on Richie’s face, but it’s quickly covered. “I never saw myself as coach material, I guess.”

“Are you kidding me?” Beck asks. “I’ve seen the way you’ve been with both Rossi and Simms. And the way you’ve turned Asher around—”

“That’s Asher though. He did that. I was just … there.”

Jacobs laughs. “And what do you think being a coach is?”

I can tell Richie really is thinking about it, and if I’m honest, I hope he seriously considers it. It would mean he gets to stay in Burlington next year.

He leans over, whispering in my ear. “Are you ready to go home yet?”

“You don’t want to stay with your friends? We haven’t been here long, and you have to celebrate that game.”

“I’d rather celebrate by being deep inside you.”

I down the rest of my drink. “Let’s go.”

26

Cohen

Winter slowly—really fucking slowly—turns to spring. Though, it’s Vermont spring, so it doesn’t really count. We still get random snowfalls, it’s still cold enough to freeze my balls off whenever I leave the dorms or Seth’s apartment, and mud is everywhere, but that means there’s light at the end of this cold, snowy winter tunnel.

Since Asher’s and my breakthrough, we’re finally kicking ass on the ice like we should’ve been all season.

We just have to get through regionals, and then hopefully next month, we’ll take out top spot again for back-to-back Frozen Four wins. They’re rare, but they happen.

The school has always had a reputation for being good at hockey, but if we can pull off another victory, we could be known as one of the top schools in the country.

And Seth? He’s been at every home game. I’ve started calling him my good-luck charm because when he’s watching me, I score more points than anyone on the team.

Before we can think about the Frozen Four, we have spring break, and I can’t wait. We’re making another trip to Montreal to see Foster play. He’s got two home games in a row, so we’re staying for four nights this time.