Page 3 of The Head Game
“Ton québécois c’est d’la marde,” Gabriel said disparagingly.
Nico grinned. It was true, his Québécois was absolute shit.
That had never stopped him before though, and besides, he thought Gabriel liked that he spoke a little of his native language.
“Thank you though,” Gabriel said in English now, patting his chest. “It is an honor to be named alternate captain.”
He’d been an angry man when Nico had met him but he seemed calm and peaceful now. Or at least he did when they weren’t battling for a puck.
All bets were off during a game.
“You deserve it,” Nico said.
For a few moments, they caught up about their summers, and Nico studied Gabriel’s handsome face as he talked about his boyfriend, Lance, and their new home.
His dark eyes no longer snapped with anger but turned soft and fond, his contentment radiating from every inch of his body as he leaned on his stick.
“Do you have plans after the game?” Gabriel asked eventually.
Nico shook his head. “Not yet. Why?”
“The team is celebrating tonight. You should come.”
Nico grinned. “Even after we beat you?”
Gabriel made a disparaging noise. “You mean after we make you cry for mercy, non?”
“If you say so,” Nico said with a laugh. “Yeah, I’ll come out for a bit. Text me the info.”
Gabriel nodded.
If Gabriel weren’t absolutely in love with his assistant coach, Nico might have thought he was angling for a hookup for old times’ sake, but Gabriel had made it clear he was firmly committed now.
Ahh well, it had been fun while it lasted.
After a quick goodbye, they returned to their own sides.
Nico skated a few quick laps forward, then reversed directions, watching over his shoulder so he didn’t hit a stray puck or teammate, doing quick crossovers to prepare himself for the game.
After he grew tired of that, he skated up to Dustin Fowler and sprayed him with ice, because annoying his captain was one of his favorite pastimes.
“Hey there, Dusty. Can I go five-hole on you?” He waggled his eyebrows playfully as he toyed with a puck, smoothly batting it back and forth.
His captain rolled his eyes and continued stretching. “No thanks, I’ve got a husband for that.”
Yeah, yeah. Everyone knew Dustin was fucking obsessed with his new husband, Charlie.
Nico didn’t blame him.
Charlie was a hot little ball of sass and the most fun thing to happen to the team—or to Dustin—in years.
Nico had only been half-kidding every time in the past few months when he flirted with Charlie and/or Dustin and Charlie.
If they’d actually been into a threesome, would Nico have gone for it?
Well, maybe. Probably.
Oh hell, fine, Nico would have been all up in that because they were both hot and they had sexual chemistry through the roof.
