Risking the Shot (Stick Side #4) - Amy Aislin Page 0,42

That was the damn problem. He and Dakota didn’t know each other outside of cake decorating and hockey and orgasms. That was the whole point of first dates, wasn’t it? To get to know one another and see if they wanted to keep getting to know each other?

And not in the biblical sense.

He couldn’t even stalk the guy online to find his interests. Why couldn’t Dakota be on at least one social media platform?

His gaze caught on Lacroix on the other side of the room and an idea sparked. Tucking the puzzle piece back into his backpack, Tay made his way over there on his skate guards and stood in Lacroix’s personal space until his teammate acknowledged him.

“What’s up, kid?” he said without looking up from lacing his skates.

Kid. Ugh. Tay refused to let it bother him. “You’re friends with Calder, right?” They’d spent family skate together.

“Why?”

“I need his phone number.”

Lacroix finally deigned to look at him. “Why?”

“I need to ask him something.”

Lacroix’s eyes narrowed.

Tay tried a smile. “It’s important.”

“Let me ask him if it’s okay to give it to you.”

Better than nothing. “’Kay. Thanks.” Halfway back to his side of the locker room, he turned and said, “It really is important.”

Lacroix snorted a laugh but at least he was texting.

There was a phone number on the business card Dakota had given him at the Foundation’s celebration party, but it was still in the suit jacket he’d worn that night, in the guest closet at Dean and Grey’s. And anyway, he couldn’t remember if that number matched the one he had for Dakota. What if it was a shared line between Dakota and Calder? Tay didn’t want Dakota knowing he was having a mild freak out over their dinner location.

Two minutes later, a text from Calder arrived on his phone. So Lacroix had given Calder his number instead. That worked too. He sat straighter and waved a thank you at Lacroix.

Calder: This is Calder. What’s up?

Tay: I’m having a crisis! Where do I take Dakota on Sunday? What does he like? What’s his favorite food? Favorite restaurant? Help!

Calder: He’ll eat most things except squishy seafood.

Tay: Yes, I know that already. Is there a restaurant he likes best?

Calder: He doesn’t really go out.

Tay: How does he feel about French cuisine?

Calder: The thing about Dakota is that he’s protective of himself and Andy. He hasn’t let anyone get close in a really long time, and he’ll tell you left, right, and center that it’s because he doesn’t want to introduce anyone into Andy’s life who might disappear. And while that might be true to a certain extent, he’s also terrified of getting hurt again, although you’d have to threaten to break his precious cake decorating hands to get him to admit that. He’s afraid of opening himself up only to get his heart crushed.

That was good to know and also totally understandable. Tay didn’t know yet what had happened between Dakota and his ex-wife, but divorce sucked whichever way you looked at it.

Not that it helped Tay any with his dilemma.

Calder: I’m not saying this to freak you out or mess with you. Just that the date doesn’t matter. It’s a tiny part of the relationship whole. What matters is proving to Dakota that you’ll be there for him and Andy.

Tay: Um, thanks? I kinda just wanna start with dinner. Got any recs?

Tay could do that, though. It wouldn’t be hard—he wanted to be there for Dakota and Andy. Sure, he had practice and game schedules, and he was on the road a lot, and he had classes and assignments, and he was almost certain he had a volunteer gig with the Foundation near the end of April. But hell, hockey wouldn’t last forever and neither would his classes.

He had some teammates who were busier than he was, and they made a relationship work. Collet juggled a wife, three boys between the ages of four and eight, a post-grad certificate in fundraising management, and was actively working with the Foundation to expand outside the Greater Toronto Area. If Collet could do it, so could Tay—he didn’t have kids to worry about.

With less than a minute until they were due on the ice for the warm-up, Tay put his phone away and grabbed his helmet and gloves.

After spending two days feeling guilty for agreeing to send Andy to Calder’s for the night later this week just so he could have the option of fucking Tay to kingdom come, Dakota got online and googled