Common Goal (Game Changers #4)- Rachel Reid Page 0,34
was more often than he should have allowed it.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s okay. Are you hungry?”
“Always.”
“Let me grab my shirt.”
“Is that necessary?” Kyle groaned at himself. “Sorry.”
Eric chuckled as he snatched his shirt off the floor. “You didn’t even last five minutes.”
“Well, can you blame me?” Kyle waved his hands in the direction of Eric’s bare chest. “I had no warning at all.”
“I’ll be sure to text you before I remove my shirt in the future.”
They both kind of froze after Eric said that. Then Kyle laughed, mostly to break the tension. “I would appreciate that.”
“I’ll make some coffee. What do you like to eat in the mornings?” Eric headed down the stairs and Kyle followed.
“Lucky Charms. Coco Puffs. That sort of thing.”
Eric frowned. “Oh, uh. I don’t really—”
“I’m kidding. I know we don’t know each other well, but I am pretty sure you don’t eat a lot of garbage sugar cereal.”
“No.” His smile was sweet and a little embarrassed. “I don’t.”
“Did you eat already? You don’t have to feed me.”
“I haven’t eaten. I like to work out first. I’m hungry.” They reached the kitchen and Eric got started on the coffee. Kyle, unsure of what to do, sat himself on one of the stools at the island.
“Did you sleep well?” Eric asked.
“Like the dead. You?”
“Same. I don’t usually stay up so late. I was exhausted. Do you like Greek yogurt?”
“Sure.”
“I have berries and granola. And honey.”
“Fancy.”
The coffeemaker gurgled as Kyle watched Eric assemble two bowls of yogurt with fresh berries and what looked to be locally made granola sprinkled on top.
“Thanks again for your help last night,” Eric said. With a shy smile he added, “Do you really think everyone had a good time?”
“Definitely. They love you, I can tell.”
“They respect me,” Eric clarified, setting a beautifully put together bowl in front of Kyle.
“Scott loves you. And Carter.”
Eric swallowed a spoonful of yogurt with a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know, for years I was basically a loner on the team. Being a goalie creates a natural separation between you and the rest of the team anyway, but because I don’t drink and I’m not the most social guy...well. I never really felt like part of the gang.”
“What changed?”
Eric smiled. “Scott Hunter joined the team.”
Kyle ignored the way his heart clenched like it was in a vise. “Oh yeah?”
“Scotty’s not the life of the party either, but he has this quality that I have always envied. He earns the respect of everyone around him instantly. Right from his rookie season. There was no question he was going to be team captain someday.”
“Right.”
“The other guys are always seeking his approval. They want him to like them. They want his respect. And Scott probably noticed that I wasn’t being invited out after the games, and that no one was really talking to me in the locker room. So he made a point of talking to me. Of inviting me out.”
Kyle sighed. “He really is perfect, isn’t he?”
“I’m afraid so. Sorry.”
Kyle smiled to himself as he took a bite of yogurt and blackberries. It was kind of nice to be talking about this with someone other than Maria. “I need to get out there. Actually go on some dates.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Oh yeah?” Kyle perked up. Here was an interesting conversation topic. “You haven’t been dating since... I mean, since...”
“My divorce?” Eric offered helpfully. “Nope. Not a single date. Or hookup, or whatever people are calling it now.”
“Wait. You haven’t had sex since, um...”
“My wife left me? No.”
Kyle knew it was none of his business, but he couldn’t help himself. “And that was...”
“Over a year ago.”
“Wow. That’s, um...are you okay?”
Eric chuckled. “I’m okay.”
“How are you not, like, vibrating with pent-up arousal?”
Eric stared at him with that sexy bemused smile on his face. “Vibrating with pent-up arousal?”
“Yeah! I’d be... I mean, it’s been a couple of weeks for me and I basically want to fuck this yogurt.”
“Please don’t. And I’ve never had an overwhelming need to...”
“Bone down all day every day?”
“Right. That.”
Kyle took another bite of yogurt to prove he was kidding about wanting to fuck it. “You don’t like sex?”
“I do. Sometimes. Sometimes I like it a lot. It just doesn’t...consume me. Usually.”
Kyle lifted his brow. “Usually?”
“I can be...distracted. By sexual thoughts. Sometimes.” God, Eric was blushing a little and Kyle was in heaven.
“Maybe next time you’re distracted by sexual thoughts about someone you should see if they’re interested.”
Eric froze, spoon halfway to his mouth. Kyle mentally kicked himself.