Page 63 of King of the Crease

Des comes up to me and checks out the holiday menu.

“Thinking of something festive?” I ask.

“Nah, I’ll just do a martini,” he says, while still reading the menu. “I need to wash down the taste of this beer.” Des returns the holiday picture frame menu to the bar. “How are you liking Sourwood?”

“I love it. I wish I could stay longer. Thanks for letting me join your team.”

“Of course. Nick, you and I haven’t known each other for long, so you probably don’t know that I can be a direct person.”

Shit. I knew by the way Des looked at me earlier that he was onto me. Well, anonymity was fun while it lasted. “The answer is yes,” I tell him.

“I knew it. I knew you two were railing each other.”

“What?” I guffaw out a laugh.

“You and Hank. You guys are being way too friendly to be just teammates.”

“No, we’re…” There are some things I can lie to Des about, but I realize this doesn’t have to be one of them. He wants me to confide in him, as I would to a friend. “We aren’t railing each other yet.”

He claps his hands together. “I knew it.”

“Not to be too graphic, but that might be coming later.”

I worry I’ve overstepped, but Des barks out an approving laugh. He’s happier than I am at the prospect of sleeping with Hank. It’s not unlike how the group on Friends acted when Ross and Rachel started dating for the first time.

“Are we being obvious?” I ask.

“Sorta. Hank would never turn down the opportunity to wear an ugly Christmas sweater, and yet he’s here in an ironed, well-fitting shirt with combed hair. He wanted to dress up for you.”

I glance back at Hank. His button-down shirt shows off his broad chest, hugs his arms. His stomach slightly pushes against the buttons in front, cutting a very hot full figure. I know I sound like a broken record, but he is one sexy man.

“Jesus, you’re practically drooling.” Des joyously studies me. “You two keep making moony eyes at each other. It’s a tad stomach-churning, but overall…sweet.” Des’s face glows with a warmth I haven’t yet seen from him. “I always hated how Cathy treated him. The only joy she found in her pathetic little life was putting him down. I should’ve been a better friend and gotten him away from her sooner. I wondered if he’d ever try his luck with someone else again.”

I glance at Hank again, only this time I look past the hot body to a man who might be more fragile than I thought.

“It’s a shame you’re not local.”

“We’re not…together. We’re just…” I’m unsure how to finish that sentence. “We haven’t talked about anything. We’re just two guys who play hockey and sometimes do other stuff.”

“Good. You don’t want to rush into anything.”

“Says the guy who spontaneously married his best friend.” Hank gave me the full rundown on Des and Tanner’s love story on the drive over.

“Look at you.” Des cocks an eyebrow. “In the friend group for a week and already giving me shit. I’m impressed.” He places a firm hand on my shoulder. “You know, Baltimore isn’t that far away.”

It isn’t. But Ardenia is an eight-hour flight that requires crossing an ocean.

“Yeah.”

“I hope when the holidays are over, we still get to see you around.”

“Me, too.”

Charlie brings us our drinks. I chug half of mine like it’s desperately needed medicine.

“I was going to say cheers, but I see you were thirsty.” He awkwardly clinks his martini against my glass, and we soldier back into the crowd.

Des throws his arm around Hank and gives him a noogie and then a kiss atop his head.