Page 76 of Unforgettable Player

CONNOR

Ihave to leave early the next morning to get to the rink.

I’ve tried to keep this casual in my head, but I don’t know how Elliot can’t see that things between us can never be casual. I wore fucking tights for him last night. I’ve never done anything like that for anyone before. I’m the least kinky person I’ve ever met, but if Elliot wanted to tie me up and spank me, I’d let him. Anything to make him happy. I am so fucking screwed.

Eli stirs when I start to get up.

“Sorry, baby, go back to sleep. Check out isn’t until twelve.”

He sits up and rubs his eyes. “Where are you going?”

“To the rink.”

“Do we both have time to take a shower? I’ll get a ride into town with you and go to the library.”

“Sure, hop in with me.”

His cheeks tint. How the fuck can be blush after last night?

“I’ll have to behave myself, though. I don’t have time for what I’d really like to do to you in there.”

He smiles, making it so fucking hard not to just back under the sheets with him.

The water temperature is perfect when I step under the spray. My cock doesn’t understand that we're under a time restraint here, because even the sound of Eli taking his clothes off has it springing to attention.

I scrub my face and pits before Eli steps in, then step aside to let him get under the water.

He closes his eyes and scrubs his hair out of his face. I can’t help but put my hand on his stomach and lean down for a kiss.

“Don’t,” he says, smiling. “You’ll be late.”

Our eyes meet and there’s this sadness that takes over. I’m not sure if he feels it, too, but it’s all I can hear, roaring in my ears, telling me this is going to be over soon. That it should be over soon.

It forces us to snap to attention. We wash up quickly and get out.

I drop Elliot at the library, the stereo playing more summer-themed oldies, the AC blowing blessedly cool air at us while we sit in the silence of the car.

“Hey, I’ll pick you up after practice, if you want?”

“Scout will probably get me. But I’ll see you at your house later?”

I nod. I hope he doesn’t see every emotion flashing across my face at the prospect of him being so close and not being able to touch him.

As I’m pulling up outside the rink, I get a call—an unknown number. I think about ignoring it, but then I realize that it could be someone from Harvard and pick up.

“Connor Ryan?”

“Yes, who is this?”

“Hi, it’s Damien Rogers, from the Worcester Railers.”

Initially, my heart sinks when I realize it’s not school, but it doesn’t stay there long. It starts to pound a little harder, until I can hear it in my ears.

“Oh, hi. How’s it going?” That was dumb.

“Good. Listen, I don’t want to beat around the bush. I’d like to know if you’ve made a decision about coming to join us at the start of the season. We’d like to introduce you to the team and coaching staff as soon as possible and arrange training camp at the end of the summer break.”

I choke. I have no idea what to tell him. Yes, I want to play hockey, that much I’ve decided. But seeing Elliot’s dedication to his studies and being around him and Scout again and home with my parents, surrounded by my old dreams, it makes me want to stop running away from failure. Stop chasing success.