. . .” Flirting. Lots of flirting.
“Lots of what?”
“Ah . . .” Dakota scratched his jaw. For a second, he debated not mentioning anything, but he could use an opinion that wasn’t Calder’s. “I sort of . . . met someone.”
“At the party?” There was a rustle of cloth, possibly Owen getting comfortable on a couch or bed. “Ooh, tell me everything.”
“There isn’t much to tell at this point. I like him a lot, but—”
“Him?” Owen interrupted. “When was the last time you dated a guy?”
Dakota loosed a huff of laughter. “College.”
“So what’s the but?”
Leaning his head back, Dakota blinked at the ceiling. “I guess I’m wondering if I should let things happen with this guy.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
Fuck, there were so many reasons, not the least of which . . . “I don’t want to introduce someone into Andy’s life who might not stick around. He’s already got to deal with Fiona’s absence. I don’t want to add another one.”
“Uh, I hate to break it to you, but Andy’s already got people in his life who won’t stick around. Teachers, for one. His preschool friends, unless they all miraculously end up in the same school for kindergarten. Even if they do, there’s no guarantee some of them might not move away eventually or transfer schools. Kas and me, for another, popping in for a brief visit before going away again. Same with Mom and Dad and our brothers. He’s going to be dealing with people coming and going his whole life.”
“Ugh.” Dakota squeezed his eyes closed. “I didn’t think of that.” Owen made some excellent points, and if Dakota hadn’t seen him grow up into the person he was, he would’ve wondered when his brother had gotten so damn smart. “I just want to keep him in this safe, little bubble where he can never get hurt.”
Owen snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that. Parents always screw up their kids, even when they try not to. You’ve probably already messed Andy up for life.”
Mouth dropping open, Dakota stared blankly at the television. “Wow. Worst pep talk ever. Why’d I call you again?”
“You didn’t. I called you.”
“I’m regretting answering.”
Owen’s laughter was contagious, and Dakota snickered despite himself.
A commotion on the TV caught his attention when they hung up a minute later. Jesus, he’d forgotten all about the game. Looked like some kind of fight had broken out. He raised the volume to hear the announcer, turning it back down again when he didn’t hear Tay’s name. Rotating the phone around and around in his hand, he debated for a half a second before throwing caution to the wind.
He took a photo of the score in the top left corner of the screen—Toronto was still ahead by two—sent it to Tay, and followed it up with: Andy says you only need one more goal to win :)
Even with his conversation with Owen fresh in his mind, he still had one butt cheek on the fence about the whole dating thing, regardless of whether it was just sex like Calder had suggested. The problem was that he didn’t want just sex. If the time they’d spent together in the coatroom and then at family skate had proven anything, it was that he liked Tay. He was funny and cheerful and didn’t get upset if Andy interrupted their conversation. He was obviously determined and smart. His smiles made Dakota’s blood heat in his veins, and the way Tay focused so much of his attention on him when they were together? When was the last time Dakota had been the center of someone’s attention? When was the last time someone had made him feel so wanted—biblically and otherwise? When was the last time he’d truly been attracted to someone?
For reasons Dakota couldn’t name, Tay made him want to take a risk and let someone in.
Maybe not fully in. At least, not yet. They barely knew each other.
But he could start with a text and see where it went.
Following an early morning practice at their practice facility on Wednesday, Coach stressed keeping their heads in the game and minimizing outside distractions during a mid-morning team meeting. With six weeks left of the regular season, their team had a real shot at making the playoffs this year, and games were about to get faster, harder, and more brutal. After a stop at the St. Lawrence Market with Grey and Dean on the way home to pick up fancy cheese and lunch, Tay had them drop him off at