Page 40 of Cheap Shot

“I’m not.” Sebastian’s jaw clenched, even though he looked straight ahead. “And I fucking messaged you on the app to warn you?—”

“We’re not talking about thathere.”

“You fucking started it?—”

“Yeah, no problem,” Luke said in a much louder tone. “I can show you where the restrooms are.”

He elbowed Sebastian in the ribs and turned on his heel.

Sebastian followed, but Luke was uncomfortably aware of his team, the staff, and cameras still behind them. He passed a few people in the hall who gave him a vaguely confused look but none of them said anything.

When they reached the small single-stall bathroom, Luke opened the door, glanced around to be sure the coast was clear, then shoved Sebastian inside. He clicked the dead bolt shut just as Sebastian opened his mouth. “What the fuck are you?—”

“What the fuck areyoudoinghere?” he asked furiously, stalking toward Sebastian.

Frowning, he backed up until the backs of his thighs bumped the sink but he crossed his arms over his chest. “Itoldyou. Harper invited me.”

“I thought kids usually took their parents. Where the fuck is her dad?”

“For one, you’re assuming a lot of shit. Womendohave female partners and children without a man involved, you know?”

Luke glared.

“Second, Harperwouldhave taken her dad, except he’s a fucking asshole who bailed on my sister and her kid because her illness was too much for him to handle,” Sebastian whispered furiously.

“Fuck!” Luke swore. What ascumbag. “Gimme his address. I’ll fucking kill him.”

“Believe me,” Sebastian said drily. “I’ve thought about it plenty of times.”

“So that’s theonlyreason you’re here?” Luke glared at him, stepping closer.

“I amherebecause Brie and Harper need more support than they’re getting. That’s it. No ulterior motive. This isn’t aboutyou,so fuck off.”

Luke dragged in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

Anger still simmered in his gut, but he wasn’t sure if it was aimed at Sebastian or Harper’s dad. Becausefuck that guy.

“Because if you showed up to get under my skin, or rile me up for—for other reasons …”

“Other reasons?” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Like sex? You can say it aloud, you know. You can admit you’re attracted to dudes. It doesn’t take away your tough-guy hockey cred.”

“I fucking know that,” Luke snapped, leaning forward to brace his hands on the sink and get in Sebastian’s face. “This has nothing to do with that. This is my work. I don’t fucking mix personal shit with it. Ever. Not with women either, okay? It’s not me being ashamed of who I hook up with. I just don’t fucking mix them together. Notanymore.”

The last part slipped out before he could stop it, and he clenched his teeth together. He didn’t talk about his past either. Getting involved with his WHL coach’s daughter had been a bad fucking choice.

“What does that mean?” Sebastian asked.

“Nothing.” Luke glanced down.

He’d nearly fucked up his career when his coach blamed him for his daughter leaving the state with his granddaughter in tow. And maybe Luke hadn’t been as heartbroken about the breakup as he’d expected to be, but it wasn’thisfault that Autumn had decided they were done and she was off to find the next dude to play baby daddy.

But his coach didn’t want to hearthatabout his precious daughter and, well, Luke had been left holding the bag.

“You sure about that?” Sebastian asked softly.

Their gazes met and Luke looked away again, his gaze uneasily sliding across his own reflection in the mirror and noticing the way their bodies were pressed together.

Luke was suddenly aware of Sebastian’s cologne and the heat of his body. It fucked with his head, made his body react like it did when they were alone in Sebastian’s apartment.