Goal Lines & First Times (CU Hockey Book 3)

He hesitates a second before stepping forward. “What’s all this?”

“Rentals. In Montreal.”

Richie jerks away and paces to the other side of the kitchen. “So now you’re finding me a place to live too? Fuck”—his voice breaks—“anyone would think you’re trying to get rid of me.”

“No. God, no. These are for us.”

He freezes. I have no idea how to read the way his back muscles have bunched up, but I hurry to keep talking.

“I do,” I croak. “I’m in love with you.”

Seth’s smile is back. “I’m in love with you too.”

“I do,” I croak. “I’m in love with you.”

Seth’s smile is back. “I’m in love with you too.”

“Seth …” Foster drags out my name as he turns to us and sees Richie taking the fourth place at the table. “And Cohen? Hey, man.”

They do a weird dude-bro up-nod at each other as Zach looks on.

Do I lead up to this, or just—

“I hope you don’t care that I brought my boyfriend with me.”

Blurt it out.

“Seth …” Foster drags out my name as he turns to us and sees Richie taking the fourth place at the table. “And Cohen? Hey, man.”

They do a weird dude-bro up-nod at each other as Zach looks on.

Do I lead up to this, or just—

“I hope you don’t care that I brought my boyfriend with me.”

Blurt it out.

“So, you’re saying you want to do this again?” He smiles, and I return it. It’s only a small step, but at least we might be getting somewhere.

A voice comes from beside me. “Do what again exactly?”

I freeze at the tone and turn to find a very pissed-off Seth.

I pretend he’s not going bright red. “Hey, what are you doing—”

“If you wanted time away from me, you could’ve said. You didn’t need to lie.”

Wait, what?

“Nice to meet you.” Her friendly smile turns flirty, and it occurs to me I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look at me like that. Maybe our failed relationship wasn’t all on me.

A ribbon of jealousy snakes through me. But not because of her.

I’m ready to bite her face off if she touches him.

“What are you guys up to tonight?”

“We’reonadate.” My words come out snappy and too fast, and Richie’s eyes are wide with amusement as he looks me over.

“I’m a nudist!” I blurt.

They both look confused.

“I’m trying to recruit Seth into my cult. That’s why I’m naked.”

I’m finally looking at Einstein, and I can’t hold back anymore.

I take my opportunity to close the gap between us and kiss him hard.

We still speak nearly every day, but there’s no more all night messages or flirty suggestions, and so now, I’m starting to panic.

Maybe I should have just done it at Thanksgiving instead of getting blackout drunk.

He keeps telling me he’s happy to wait for me to be ready, and I want to believe it, but I can’t expect him to be patient forever. I’m also getting these gross feelings that he’s been talking to other people.

Can you be possessive over someone you’ve never met?