Page 61 of Rookie Attraction

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit! It was one game, Sel. I fucked up, we all fucked up. But it’s done.”

“It was fucked up. I fucked up.”

“All of us could’ve done better. And we will.”

Sel shakes his head.

“Brady’s getting in my head. The comments, the looks. St. Clare isn’t as vocal as his buddy, but he still looks at me like I’m a lab specimen.”

I skate closer to him.

“Screw them.”

“It’s not that easy, Finn. Everything isn’t the same. Not like it was for me before. What if Brady’s right? What if I am distracting to the team?”

“That’s crap and you know it! Are you ready to retire?”

Sel’s face visibly pales.

“Of course not.”

“Then don’t let one or two assholes fuck with your determination. You’re the best in the league and I’m honored to play with you, and more than that, to know you as a person. As my friend.”

“Finn—”

“It’s not a line, it’s the truth.”

Selwin exhales and nods.

“I’m honoured to know you too, Finn.”

“You’re better than them. In every way.”

Sel skates forward, until we’re inches apart, face to face. His brown eyes glow like amber and it’s both a relief and a temptation. My pulse races so fast I’m lightheaded. He’s panting hard, hot puffs of air teasing my lips. I want to lean in, hug him—fuck, I want to kiss him, reassure him, make everything better.

“Thanks,” he whispers. “I guess I needed to hear that.”

I offer him a cocky grin. “I know.”

He chuckles and shakes his head.

“Like Range said, don’t let it go to your head.”

Too late.

Sel

Finn’s heartfelt words leave me choked up, and it takes every ounce of restraint I possess to maintain a safe distance between us. A hug during a game is one thing, but here, now? If I reach out, there’s no way I can hide my reaction. Sex is one thing. That’s always been easy for me. Easy and uncomplicated. I go out, I flirt, I fuck around, and then I get back to hockey. But the more I’m around Finn, the harder it is to deny that this attraction is different. I keep telling myself it’s simple desire, it’ll fade, it always does, but the truth is, I don’t know what the hell is going on or how to make it stop.

The only thing I can do is get a handle on my emotions before I do something that will ruin everything.

He said he thinks of you as his friend, that’s all.

I remind myself of that very thing, and even though I know I should back away, as we head for the locker room, I ignore the warning in my head.

“How about lunch?” I offer, because selfishly I want to spend more time with him. “It’s on me.”