Page 102 of Cheap Shot

“You’re an asshole,” Crawford muttered.

Sebastian knocked their shoulders together. “You like it.”

Crawford grunted but he didn’t pull away. “Yeah, I guess you’re okay, Breckon.”

Sebastian smiled and took a bite of his bagel, watching the replay intently.

Crawford swore under his breath when it was over. “What the fuck wasthat, Tanner?”

“He’swayout of position there,” Sebastian said with a frown.

“I know, right?” Crawford shook his head. “Fuck. The kid is good but sometimes … I swear it’s like he fuckingforgetshe’s playing hockey.”

Sebastian snorted. “You don’t mean that.”

“No. But his brain reallydoesseem to go offline sometimes.”

“Aww, cut him some slack. It’s his first international tournament, right?”

“At this level, yeah. I just … he’sbetterthan this.” Crawford looked over. “It’s frustrating as hell because the kid has more talent in his fuckingpinkiefinger than I’ve ever had.”

“Well, give him time. He’ll get there.”

“Yeah, but I’m not always going to be around to help.”

Sebastian gave him a searching look. “You planning on going somewhere?”

Crawford glanced away, looking back at the screen. “Contract’s up at the end of the season and I’m not getting any younger, you know.”

“Ahh.” Sebastian considered the idea. “Are you thinking about retirement soon?”

Crawford was silent and Sebastian hastily added. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want. If you do want to talk about it, your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone, I wouldn’t?—”

“No, I know,” Crawford said gruffly. “It’s just …” He sighed and slumped back. “We’ve been in negotiations for a while now. It’s not going well.”

“Ahh. Are you thinking about leaving?”

“I’mnot. I wanna stay here. I don’t know how it’ll all shake out in the end though.”

“That’s rough.” Sebastian frowned. As difficult as it was to own his own business, there was something to be said about being in control of his own destiny. Sure, there were things he couldn’t control, like the overall economy and how much discretionary income his customers had to spend on flowers, but at the end of the day, no one else could really dictate his future.

“Yeah.” Crawford stared at the TV, his expression suddenly drawn.

It reminded Sebastian of the night he’d been in so much pain, only clearly it wasn’t physical pain causing it this time.

Sebastian had a weird urge to try to comfort him, but he wasn’t sure how. Or if Crawford would even want it. And then he thought of how easily Crawford touched him, how much he seemed toseek outthat physical connection.

Sebastian slid closer, bumping his shoulder against Crawford’s. “Hey, I know you run at like four hundred degrees at all times, but I’m fucking freezing. Warm me up.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie, he did feel a little chilly, but he also knew that much like the night of Crawford’s injury, he wouldn’t want to admit that he was the one who needed this.

Crawford glanced over. “There are blankets, you know.”

“I know,” Sebastian said, snagging one from the back of the couch and spreading it across his legs. “But you’re a fucking space heater so I might as well take advantage. I mean, at least then you’ll be useful forsomething.”

The chirp worked.

Crawford’s tense expression softened and he slung an arm over Sebastian’s shoulders. “Yeah, alright. Will this shut you up?”