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Kevin sat across the aisle, headphones on, gaze fixed on the white vortex beyond the glass. Something about his profile—strong jaw, straight nose, the focused set of his mouth—held my attention.

I looked away. Now wasn’t the time to check him out, even though it wasn’t the first time his attractiveness had gotten my attention.

* * *

The hotel lobby was pure chaos. Stranded travelers milled around everywhere. Our team was one of many groups caught by the storm. Coach handed out key cards near the front desk, reminding us about breakfast times and a hopeful departure tomorrow.

Kevin and I ended up in an elevator with Lawson and Henderson. Small talk about the game filled the ride until we got off at our stop. The tenth-floor hallway was silent, and we quickly found 1042.

I swiped the key card, the lock clicking as the light went green. Pushing the door open, I stopped dead.

One bed. King-sized, dominating the room.

Well, hell.

“Uh,” I managed, stepping aside so Kevin could see.

He paused beside me, taking in the bed and the rest of the standard hotel decor—desk, armchair, minibar, wall-mounted TV. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “I can call down, see if they have anything with two queens.”

I shook my head, dropping my overnight bag on the desk. “We’re lucky to have this given all those people downstairs.” A beat of awkward silence stretched. “It’s fine. Bed’s huge. Unless...”

“No.” The denial was quick. Maybe too quick? “It’s okay.”

Another pause settled as we silently claimed our territories. I took the side by the window while Kevin headed for the bathroom.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, pulling out my phone to scroll through Instagram, trying to ignore the tension in the room. Comments about our win filled the feed, a welcome distraction.

Kevin emerged a few minutes later, wearing sweatpants and a faded university hockey t-shirt. The soft cotton clung to his broad shoulders. His damp hair curled at his temples.

He gestured toward the bathroom door. “All yours.”

“Thanks.” I gathered up my toiletries and left him sitting on the edge of the bed.

Even though I showered before leaving the arena, it was good to have another. The hot water eased my aching muscles.

Two months we’d been teammates, playing side-by-side, and what did I know about him beyond the stats, the quiet focus? Was he seeing anyone? Any family in Boston? What did he do on days off? The questions circled as I rinsed the soap off. We’d had only a few conversations outside of the game.

I changed into basketball shorts and a team t-shirt, toweling my hair dry. When I stepped back into the main room, Kevin sat propped against the headboard, tablet in hand and phone on the bed next to him. As I walked toward my side, his phone buzzed and the screen lit up.

A distinctive orange and black logo flashed—Grindr. No mistaking it.

Kevin snatched up the phone, and without checking the details, he turned the device face-down on the nightstand. His neck flushed, gaze darting to mine to see if I’d noticed.

The moment stretched, thick with questions.

“Sorry,” he mumbled finally. “Forgot to turn off notifications.”

I sat down on my side of the bed, keeping my tone light. “No worries. Happens to me sometimes too.”

His eyes widened. “You’re on Grindr?”

“Occasionally.” I shrugged, leaning back against my pillows, mirroring his position. “Harder these days. Being recognizable is a pain. Had to go faceless after some dude tried selling our chat log to a tabloid.”

Kevin studied me, something shifting in his eyes. A crack in the quiet facade? “I knew you were out, obviously. But... didn’t realize you were, uh, active.” He seemed to wince at his choice of words.

“Wouldn’t call it active.” Another shrug. “Dating’s complicated.” I met his gaze. “What about you? You’re not out to the team, are you?”

His shoulders relaxed a fraction. “I’m not closeted, just... private. Family knows. Close friends and some former teammates.” He picked at a loose thread on the comforter. “Being traded mid-season, still finding my footing here...” He trailed off, lifting one shoulder slightly.