Page 64 of Callous Shot

“Yeah, alright. I’m in.” Kane drummed his fingers on the island. “When?”

“We’ll go in about half an hour.” That was, coincidentally, the same time that a certain dark-haired, tattooed player would be there doing his own drills.

“Okay.” He crossed to the fridge and pulled out an energy drink. “I’m gonna get my kit together. See you back down here.”

When he’d gone, I glanced over at Neo, who was watching me warily. “I won’t say anything, I promise.”

“Thanks.” Rubbing his hand over his face, he sighed. “I just don’t want to rock the boat with Toby. He’s definitely a hundred percent straight, and I don’t want to fuck up our friendship. He’s my best friend, y’know?”

“Yeah. I know.” Reading between the lines, he was totally into his best friend. That had to suck. Not that I would ever be into my besties in that way. I shuddered. Ugh. They were basically my brothers. Another thought struck me. “Uh…so…let’s hypothetically say that I wanted to do anal with a man. Like, I’ve done it with a girl before, but is it the same? What if… Shit, I don’t know if I wanna be on the other end because his dick is huge— Ah, forget I said that.”

Neo was now laughing openly at me. “You should see your face. We’ve all heard the rumours about his size, so yeah…I don’t blame you for being apprehensive.”

“It’s not him!”

“Whatever you say. Seriously, though, if you want my advice…”

“I don’t, but I need it.” Slumping down, I pressed my cheek against the cool surface of the counter, hoping it would reduce some of the heat in my face. “Please.”

“I’ve only slept with one guy, once, but lube is your best friend. Lube and…uh…stretching. You know.” He coughed, then shook his head. “Bloody hell, I need to be drunk for this conversation.”

“You and me both. Don’t say anything to anyone, please. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” His voice lowered. “Look, we were mostly taking the piss out of you about having a thing for Bellingham. But you know that if you start seeing him, everyone’s gonna have a problem with it? Your family, the team, most of Cranham Uni…”

My eyes closed, and I swallowed. “I know, and it’s not gonna happen. We loathe each other. We just…I don’t know. We have some kind of weird hate chemistry. It’ll be out of our systems once we’ve fucked.”

I shouldn’t even be entertaining the thought, because Neo was right. But the truth was, the things I’d done with Lincoln had fanned the flames rather than dampened the fire.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I shrugged, not wanting to admit to anything, but we both knew the unspoken truth. When it came to Lincoln, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

“This is open practice.” I gave Ryker my most innocent look as we skated onto the ice, and he shook his head, his jaw set.

“Don’t pretend that you didn’t know he was gonna be here. Shit, Arson. Do you realise you’re playing with fire here? He’s your enemy. His uncle is actively working against crime families, which includes yours, mine, and Volkov’s, for a start. The Fontanas too. His dad worked with the Culverhouse Network to try and take your firm down, and he still holds a grudge.”

“I know all that,” I snapped, “and I need you to stay the fuck out of my business.”

“Dan.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. “I’m not going to interfere, but if anyone I care about ends up at risk because of this, all fucking bets are off. Understood?”

“Let me make my own mistakes.” At his low growl, I held up my hand. “Ry, my best friends and family come first. I’m not going to do anything to put any of you in danger, I swear. I’d die before I let that happen. Whatever it is between me and him, it’s only sex. He’s not my fucking boyfriend, and we still actively hate each other. You don’t need to worry.” I repeated the words I’d said to him in the torture chamber. “Trust me. Please.”

He sighed heavily. “Alright. Shit, I know I’m coming on too strong, and it’s not my place to tell you who you can and can’t see. I do trust you. It’s him I don’t trust, and I think this whole thing is the worst fucking idea you’ve ever had.”

“Same. It’s just a…I dunno, a weird blip me and you can joke about in the future. C’mon. Let’s forget about Bellingham and whip the team into shape.” I knocked my helmet against his, and his lips kicked up into a wry smile.

“I’m almost impressed with the amount of gaslighting you’re doing to yourself. But okay, you brought us here—under false pretences—so let’s get it over with. Stay away from Bellingham, though, unless you want a bloodbath.”

Stay away from Bellingham? My gaze flicked to the far end of the rink, where number fifty-two was passing back and forth with Campbell. Damn. He was so fucking sexy.

I tore my gaze away to find Ryker watching me with an expression that couldn’t seem to decide if it was frustrated or amused.

“Dan.”

Flashing him a grin, I touched my gloved hand to my helmet in a salute. “Got it, Cap. Stay away from him? Easy.”

I was a liar. The first thing I did when we reached the centre line was to call Lincoln over. It was an impulse I couldn’t seem to control. “Hey, Bellingham!”