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“I saw it,” Benjamin said. “But that’s Harper’s job.”
Colin laughed, and making a note to up Harper’s tip, went back to his seat. “Here.” He handed Evan the pop. “Benjamin’s closing up, so I grabbed you one for the road.”
“Thanks.” Evan popped the top and took a long guzzle.
Colin turned to tell Jake and Jenny, who were still riding the high of their son’s first AHL assist, that the bar was closing up, then settled back in his seat with his beer. “This was a good idea.”
Evan looked away from the game. “Does that mean you’re having a good time?”
“I’m having a great time,” Colin clarified, and curious, eyed his companion. “Were you worried I wouldn’t?”
Evan shrugged. “I know you’re not great with crowds sometimes, so it was a concern.”
“The luxury suite took care of that.”
“Right?” Evan flashed a grin and tapped his pop can against Colin’s beer. “I owe Jude.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to top this for our next date.”
A half smile quirked Evan’s mouth. “You’re planning our next date?”
“I figure it’s my turn,” Colin said, returning the smile. The butterflies were back in his belly. “Maybe I’ll take you bowling.”
“I like bowling,” Evan murmured, his eyes bright. “We used to go all the time in college, remember? That place on 28thStreet.”
Colin laughed softly. “God, that place was a pit. Didn’t they tear it down?”
“Junior year,” Evan confirmed. “It’s a Starbucks now, I think. Or maybe a Dollar Store. But there’s a place downtown.”
“Bowling it is,” Colin said, and Evan laid a hand on his knee.
Warmth soaked through his jeans and sunk into his skin, kicking the butterflies in his stomach into another gear. And when he imagined that touch, that warmth on the rest of his body, they went ballistic.
He started when Alyssa squealed beside him. “Ohmigosh, look!” She pointed. “You guys are on the kiss cam!”
“What?” Colin turned to blink at the scoreboard hanging from the arena roof. Alyssa was right—there they were, up on the giant screen, encircled by a digital pink heart with the words Kiss Cam flashing across the top.
Evan laughed, impossibly handsome up on the screen, and waved for the camera. “Don’t worry,” he said to Colin, the words faint under the cheering encouragement of the crowd. “They’ll move on in a second.”
Colin knew that was true, and normally, the Kiss Cam was something he would avoid. He was rarely comfortable with so many eyes on him, or with turning what felt like a private moment into a public one. But the butterflies were still going berserk, Evan’s hand was warm and solid on his knee, and the whole of Van Andel Arena was cheering him on.
So he did what he wanted to do, and kissed Evan.
His lips were salty from the popcorn, slightly parted in surprise. Half a second later the crowd roared, and Colin dimly heard Alyssa cheering beside him, but for the three or four seconds his mouth was pressed against Evan’s, nothing else existed.
Then Evan shifted, angling his head to take the kiss deeper, and Colin remembered where they were.
He leaned back, reluctantly breaking the kiss. “The camera,” he murmured and glanced up at the screen. The Kiss Cam had moved on, and a white-haired man and woman were now centered in the pink heart.
Evan blew out a breath. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to,” Colin said, and giving in to need, rested his forehead, just for a moment, against Evan’s. “Call it an impulse.”
“I like your impulses,” Evan whispered.
“You guys are so cute,” Alyssa said, and Colin glanced at her. She had her elbows on her knees, her chin in her hands, staring at them both with a dreamy look on her face. “And romantic.”
Evan let out a half laugh as Colin eased back in his seat. “Yeah?”
