Goal Lines & First Times (CU Hockey, #3)

by Eden Finley

“Mom, Dad, this is Richie.” His dad looks at me pointedly. “Richard Cohen. Foster’s old teammate.” I lean in to shake his hand. “Uh, yeah. That’s right.” “We’re dating,” Seth says. My stomach flip-flops, and I pull back. “Wait, we are?” “We’re not?” Seth blinks up at me. “What would you call it?” “Hanging out, having se—uh”—I glance at his parents and rephrase—“spending time together? Other … stuff.” Seth laughs. “And you don’t think that’s dating?” Oh. “Well, how am I supposed to know? I’ve never done this before.” Seth’s mom clears her throat because, oh yeah, we should probably have this conversation in private.

Do I lead up to this, or just— “I hope you don’t care that I brought my boyfriend with me.” Blurt it out. Zach chokes on his water at the same moment Richie’s butter knife clatters against the dish. “Boyfriend?” Richie asks. “Aren’t we?” “Are we?” His genuine tone makes me laugh. I bury my smile into my hand and shake my head. “We’ve got to stop doing this.” “I dunno.” He rubs his jaw. “I sort of like being surprised.”