“The whole time they thought Baldwin and I werescrewing because we lived together?” Peyton laughed. “I wasactuallydating Dan Carter.”
“You—are you serious?”
“Mmhmm.” He turned and rattled around in the fridge before coming back to the island with a Pepsi in hand. As he popped the tab, he said, “I still don’t know how we managed to keep it under everybody’s radar.”
“No kidding. Weren’t you guys flying back and forth? Oh, wait, he was in…” I quirked my lips. “Was that while he was still playing for Chicago?”
Peyton took a swig of soda, then nodded. “The long-distance thing wasn’t too bad. Chicago to Detroit…” He shrugged. “We drove to see each other. Sometimes we’d meet halfway if it was a short trip, like if one of us had a game the next day or something.”
I grimaced. “What about morning skates?”
He groaned. “God, those were someearlymorning drives. We’d spend the night together in a hotel, then be on the road by six to get back to our respective cities in time to practice. My pregame naps were lifesavers on those days.”
“Yeah, I bet.” I studied him. “How long did you guys… uh, date? Hook up?”
“We dated.” Peyton leaned under the island and pulled out a metal pan. As he started taking stuff out of the fridge, he said, “It was serious for a while. We talked about coming out as a couple. Getting a place to live during the off season. Then he hit free agency, and Detroit made him an offer.”
“No shit?”
He nodded. “At first, it sounded perfect. We’d finally be in the same city, and we could actually spend more time together.” His face fell as he started cutting some cherry tomatoes, and he shook his head. “But then we realized… we’d be in the same city. We’d actually spend more time together. And that’s kind of when we figured out we weren’t in it for the long haul.”
“Oh. That sounds tough.”
Peyton half-shrugged. “It wasn’t fun, that’s for sure. But it worked out all right. He got a better offer in Vancouver anyway, and we’re still friendly. We talk all the time, and we usually grab a beer or something when our teams play against each other.”
“That’s good. He always seemed like good people.”
Peyton’s soft little smile had no business turning my insides to liquid, but there it was. “Yeah, he’s a good guy.” He groaned. “Ihateplaying against him, though. Jesus Christ.”
I burst out laughing. “Okay, I’m glad you said it, not me. I’m sure he’s a nice enough dude, but he is a brick fucking wall.”
“Ugh. Right?” He rolled his eyes. “He shut us out like three times when we played against them.” Bringing his drink to his lips, he muttered, “Dick.”
I snorted. “Yeah. God. What a jerk, playing lights out for his own team.”
“Seriously.” Peyton huffed. “Anyway, we’re good now. It wasn’t a bad breakup or anything, and we make better friends than boyfriends.” He paused, looking a little sheepish. “Friends with occasional benefits, anyway.”
“Oh really?” I grinned. “So you guys still hook up?”
“We… Well, not recently. But for a while, we’d go on the odd ‘let’s go on vacation together during the off season and get laid’ trip.”
“So, all the fun of going on a trip with a boyfriend, but without all the potential drama?”
“Basically.” He winked. “Plus it means we’re two-thirdsof the way to a threesome if we decide we want to have one, so…”
I barked a laugh. “Ahh, so slutty travel buddies.” I raised my drink in a mock toast. “I can respect that.”
I could. I really, honestly could.
And I was absolutelynot…
Not at all…
Not in theleastfucking bit…
…jealous.
Peyton turned out to be a fantastic cook. I could hold my own in the kitchen, but no salmon I’d ever prepared came out as perfect as this one. He’d also made salad and risotto to go with it, both of which were amazing as well.
