That last one I’d understand.
“Is something wrong?” I asked as I reached him.
“Wrong? No, why would it be?”
“I don’t know. You were just looking at me like you had something to say.” Smoke from someone’s fruity vape drifted in my direction. I waved it away. The smell was quickly replaced by whatever oaky, piney cologne Gabe had on. It smelled expensive as fuck.
Gabe shrugged, still smiling. He was a little taller than me, so I had to tilt my head—but not by much, okay?—to meet his eyes. “I’ve got nothing.” He had a cocky attitude that made me want to push him against the wall and start… nope. Not going there.
“You sure? I’ve sensed this weird energy coming from you. I’ve also never seen someone shower and get dressed so fast after practice. It’s like you’re running from a fire.”
“So you’ve been watching me in the shower?” A thick, dark brow arched.
I blinked and flustered out some vowels and consonants, none of them sounding like actual words.
Damn it. I’m such an idiot. He’s going to think I’m a fucking creep.
Gabe winked. “Let me know next time—I’ll use less soap. Covers less.”
“I wasn’t watching,” I finally spat out.Had he drunk more than he should have? DidIdrink more than I should have?
…Also, I may have peeked one or twice. But I ignored that. “I just want to make sure there’s no bad blood or anything.”
“Why would there be bad blood? Your plane practically just landed. No, no. I’ve been hurrying out of practice because, well, personal things.” He said it in a tone that made it clear he wasn’t going to delve much deeper than that.
I got hit with an instant smack of regret.
“Ah, right.”
I really was on a roll tonight, wasn’t I? Not only had I made voyeuristic suggestions to one of my teammates, but then I had turned a situation that was none of my business into something centered around me. I should have just gone home. My shoulders slumped, and the exhaustion of the day crawled into me like a Victorian-era ghost looking for someone to possess.
“And I’m sorry I’ve been standoffish,” Gabe said. “Admittedly, I’m not the most social guy on the team. Making new friends isn’t easy for me.”
I still felt stupid as shit, but at least I got confirmation that Gabe didn’t automatically hate me. Not that it would have really mattered at the end of the day. I didn’t get traded so I could participate in the Burlington Bobcats best friend race. As long as we played well together as a team, then that’s all that mattered.
“Okay,” I said, glancing at my watch again. I wanted to blink my eyes, vanish, then reappear in my own bed.
Gabe must have had different plans for me, though. “Grab one,” he said, nodding at the row of pool cues up against the wall. “Play with me.”
A tiny fire sparked at the base of my spine. My core became warm. I licked my lips. I could practically hear my bed shouting at me from miles away, calling to me, trying to distract me from whatever heat sparked through my veins.
Why did this decision feel more consequential than just winning or losing at pool?
Chapter Seven
It’s A Bet
GABE
I wantedto keep hanging out with him. Not just for the next couple of minutes. Not for a single game of pool. I wanted to spend the entire night with him. Wanted to kiss him and wreck him and rebuild him, only to do it all over again and again, until the sun came up and we were both left useless in puddles of sweat and cum.
I settled for a round of smacking balls around a velvet table instead, and it looked like I may not even get that much.
Eli considered my offer for longer than I expected. He chewed on his bottom lip, turning the plump, pink skin a papery white.
Maybe it was better if he left. This was a dangerous game. There were tons of people in this bar, a lot of them regulars, a lot of them hockey fans. They’d see me out on the ice with Eli. What if someone picked up on… well, whatever energy was sparking up between us? That would draw attention and raise questions.
None of which I wanted.
