Iced Out: A Rival’s Sister Hockey Romance (Heston U Hotshots Book 1)

After poking the burning logs to stir the fire pit, I sink into a folding lawn chair with a sated groan, patting my full stomach. Nights like these are where it’s at. I love being on the ice alongside my boys, but it’s just as great to vibe with them around the fire in the yard following a meal.

“I’ve gotta say, the days you cook are the best, dude.” I give him a thumbs up.

Cameron chuckles, running his fingers through his hair to tame the tousled brown locks before fitting his hat on his head.

“You always say that,” he points out.

“Truth,” Noah chimes in, equally chilled out.

Our resident beach boy is even more laid-back than usual, long, muscled limbs sprawled in his seat.

“If you ever stop playing hockey, you can cook for a living,” Madden says.

Cameron jerks his head with a smile that’s slightly tense. “Well, we’ll see. For now I’m all in on hockey.” He kicks out at Madden’s folding chair, jostling it. “Maybe you lazy shits could learn how to cook. It’s not hard.”

Madden shoots out his legs to stabilize himself with a moody frown. “Everything I try to cook burns. It’s pointless.”

A few of us groan in agreement. He’s one of the few team members we’ve restricted from our cooking rotation, keeping him on cleaning duty in exchange.

“Wait, is McKinley asleep over there?” Noah gestures with his chin. “Graves, check for signs of life.”

Madden grunts, stretching a leg to nudge him with his toe without getting up. McKinley doesn’t budge, stretched out on the picnic table with his arms folded as a makeshift pillow. His hoodie is pulled over his head.

“Bro, seriously, how can he sleep like that?” Theo gets up to poke at him.

“Beats me,” I say. “I’m jealous he can go out like a light anywhere.”

Cameron, Brody, and Noah join him, doing a shit job smothering their snickering while they take photos of him. It doesn’t matter. He snores through it all. Even when Brody pulls Jack’s hood off to lift his head, throwing up a peace sign while Noah purses his lips to keep it together.

The back door opens and three more of our teammates poke their heads out. Eric Holland, our backup goalie, along with Daniel Hutchinson and Nick Briggs are three of the biggest guys on the team. Hutch is a senior and Briggs is a sophomore that sticks close to him.

“I was wondering where you all wound up,” Holland muses. “What’s going on?”

I lift a hand in greeting. “We’re just chilling.”

“Me and Briggs are going to hit the gym,” Hutch says.

“Where’s Manning?” Theo asks.

Hutch shrugs. “Haven’t seen him since we got back from that farm earlier.”

“Probably banging that sorority chick he brings around.” Brody mimes an O-face, grabbing imaginary hips and thrusting the air suggestively.

Madden rolls his eyes and folds his arms, tucking his chin close to his chest, thick dark brows flattening. He gets extra grumpy whenever the guys flaunt their hookups.

“You joining us?” I ask Holland.

The other two are in sweats, but he’s overdressed for a night around the fire pit. He’s fresh-shaven, no longer rocking his scruffy dark beard and he’s wearing a nice sweater instead of his usual graphic tee. He shakes his head, gesturing to the guys.

“Hutch is giving me a ride. I’ve got a movie date with my girlfriend.”

The guys outside all coo in sync. “Aww.”

“Sweet.” I smirk. “Is that why you shaved the ecosystem?”

“You look so weird without the beard, bro.” Noah squints at him on his way back to his seat. “But in a good way.”

Holland rubs his cleaned up jaw. “She likes it when I’m smooth.”

“I bet.” Noah waggles his brows with a raunchy chuckle. He strokes the light blond stubble he’s grown over the last few days. “I’ve never gotten any complaints for providing a rougher ride.”

I hold a fist to my mouth, chuckling. Typically I keep myself trimmed, but curiosity crosses my mind, sending a tug of heat south to my dick. Which would Maya prefer?

Before the intriguing thought consumes my attention, Cameron gives me a friendly tap on the shoulder to get me to move my feet so he can get by. He collapses in the seat next to mine with a content sigh.

“I can’t with the upkeep.” He scratches the dark shadow of hair covering his face.

“You always look like a baby when you shave.” Theo plants a hand on Cameron’s hat and gives his head a jostle. “Your rookie year here, I thought some fifteen year old walked out of the bathroom.”

“Shut up, man.” He swipes at Theo, both of them ending up in a ridiculous wrestling match.

“We’re out.” Briggs salutes us to follow Holland to the driveway.

“See you guys later,” I say.

“Don’t forget to take care of the fire when you’re done,” Hutch says before leaving.

Out of all the seniors, the giant-sized blond is like our house dad after our previous captain graduated.

“We’ve got it.” Madden doesn’t lift his thousand-yard stare from the dancing flames.

Cameron and Theo settle, neither of them the clear winner. The crackle and pops of the fire are relaxing, lulling me into a zen state.

“You’re awfully focused over there, rookie,” Noah taunts a few minutes later. “Looking at some good porn?”

“Oh, for sure. He’s gotta be,” Cameron says with a sly grin. “That’s why he’s been quiet for the last twenty minutes. Just don’t whip it out while we’re present, man. Go jerk off back at your dorm.”

“I wasn’t!” Elijah bursts out from across the circle.

He nearly topples his chair over when Theo sneaks up behind him to nick his phone.

“Hey—!”

Theo holds him back with one arm, twisting to check his phone. “Relax, rookie. We just want to know if you’ve found a gem or—oh.”

I snort. “What, is it something kinky?”

His chin dips, dark blond hair hanging in his face. He turns the phone to show us. It’s not anything naughty. The Merrywood Farms website shows photos of little goats running around the yoga pavilion we were at earlier today.

“Look at this fucking softie.”

All of us crack up. Elijah scratches his nose, averting his eyes.

“I was just looking to find out if there was a class schedule to do it again,” he mutters.

“Oh yeah?” Cameron pitches forward, fluttering his lashes. “For the goats, or so you can have that cute instructor put her hands all over you?”

“As long as it’s not Maya.” The warning in my tone is good-natured, but present.

Elijah scrubs his face, head hanging back. “Fuck off. We’re just friends.”

Another round of mocking laughter goes around the fire pit.

I wouldn’t mind visiting the farm again for a repeat at all. Watching Maya in her element was just as awesome as I pictured when I figured out she worked there.

My teeth scrape my lip, reminiscing about her flexibility. Spending an hour with her plump ass and thick thighs right in front of me was an ideal way to spend the morning.

More than how hot she is in yoga pants, it was cool to see her passion for the animals she works with. It’s got me eager to find out more about her.

“Oh, hello.” Noah pops up with a smug expression.

“What’s up?” Cameron asks.

“I’ve gotta dip.” Noah flicks Cameron’s hat on his way around our circle. He holds up his phone with a jaunty wave. “I’ve got the green light from Amanda, half a mile away.”

The guys bust out with a drawn out chorus of ohhhh, smacking and elbowing him playfully. Madden’s the only one that doesn’t join in. His jaw works and he keeps his gaze locked on the fire.

“Have fun, man.” Grinning, I fold my hands behind my head, propping my feet on the warm stones surrounding the flames.

It’s still strange to think I was having the same kind of fun not long ago, yet the idea of going back to random hookups is long gone from my mind. That’s just not the guy I want to be anymore. Not now that I’m enjoying getting to know Maya.

Other girls have ceased to exist to me. She’s the only one I’m interested in.

We’re still taking small steps, but she’s not fighting this thing between us as hard as when she first realized I’m a hockey player. I’m holding on to that, willing to take this at her pace while I work for my chance with her.

A startled yell and a thump draws our attention to the picnic table. McKinley swings a bewildered look around from the grass, rubbing his hip after rolling off the table.

“You good, dude?” I check with an amused rumble. “You’re in the yard. You fell asleep on the table.”

“I dreamed Gritty was chasing me,” he mumbles. “I couldn’t get away. The ice just kept going and going.”

“The Flyers mascot?” Cameron bursts out laughing.

“He’s just so—orange.” McKinley shudders, scraping a hand through his hair.

The rest of us lose it, our wheezing laughter echoing off the trees with embers from the fire floating into the night sky.