Page 59 of Home Ice

“He’s the most important person in the world to me, you know?”

“I resent that.” He loosens his hold on me, and when I pull back, he’s smiling. “But I guess I can give Ben a pass.”

I chuckle and finally put distance between us as I reach into my back seat and pull out the gear bag. “Are you saying I’m your favorite person? I think Gigi would murder me in my sleep.”

“Please. She’d throw me under the bus for Mom and Dad.”

“There is no way.” I might have avoided anything to do with the Hawkes since he left, but I know she would have missed him.

“Agree to disagree.” He takes one of the bags from me. “Now, let’s forget about sacrificing siblings and parents having their own lives, and go train some snot-nosed kids.”

“As long as you promise not to call them snot-nosed kids.”

“I make no such promises.”

Chapter Nineteen

JENSEN

I’d felt weird turning up here, even though I’ve wanted to all week, because I was worried that shared blow jobs would change things between us.

But as soon as I’d seen the torn look on his face when he climbed out of his car, I’d known I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

And shockingly, the sex has made things easier between us.

I’d had a wall up when it came to Barrett, too scared that he was going to fuck me over like he did when I left, but something about sucking his dick took the hesitance between us away.

All day, I haven’t worried about the casual touches; I’ve been able to dick around, and have fun with the kids, and chat to him between classes about St. Louis and my life, and what I’m hoping to get out of hockey. I want to be one of the greats, and I really want a Stanley Cup win, which is something the team actually has a chance at in the next few years.

He talks too. About the high school and his team. About each of the kids and how protective he feels over them. How it’s this huge responsibility that he actually enjoys, knowing that he’s working with them at such an impressionable age.

I notice he doesn’t say a lot about Kasen, and I don’t push him to. I’m wary about getting more attached than I already am when there’s a complete possibility that he’ll turn around and tell me to go fuck myself.

Again.

The time for his session creeps closer, and Barrett must notice that I’m the one acting weird. He skates closer, smile in his eyes, and chips a puck off my skate. “Breathe, Hawke. He’s a teenager. Teenagers aren’t scary.”

“Actually, teenagers are known for being terrifying. It’s been proven by science.”

“Science?”

“Yeah. Along with a study on puppies and babies being the most cuddly things on Earth, and best friends giving the best blow jobs.”

Barrett chokes before breaking into laughter. “Didn’t know if that was something we were talking about.”

I shrug, forcing myself to be casual. “Why not? It’s not like ignoring it will make it have happened any less.”

“True. Just didn’t want things to be awkward.”

“Is it possible for things to be awkward between us?”

“So far, I’d say no, but we really put that theory to the test.”

I turn my attention to a puck, dragging it closer with my stick before tapping it forward again. “It probably helps that it was so good. It would have been awkward to let you know that sticking my dick in your mouth was like playing chicken with an angler fish.”

“Gross.”

“Exactly. So good on you for sucking dick like a champ.”