On the Ice (Stick Side, #1)

by Amy Aislin

“Alex Dean,” he repeated, dumping the ice into the blender. “Defenseman for Tampa Bay.” “Defenseman? What’s that, football?” “Hockey, you moron,” he said before Cody’s snickers reached his ears. Cody was messing with him, the jerk, his body twitching with laughter. Mitch threw a stray raspberry at him. It bounced off Cody’s hip and landed on his mat soundlessly. Cody popped it into his mouth. Ew. “What was he like?” Cody asked. “Really fucking hot,” Mitch said, hunting for the peanut butter. It wasn’t in its usual spot in the cupboard above the toaster. Cody groaned. “Tell me you didn’t hit on him.” “Only a little.” If broadcasting his interest by checking Alex out and winking at him could be considered only a little. “Is he even gay?” Cody brought his legs down, sat up, and bent forward into a lunge. “Is anybody gay in pro sports?” Mitch countered. The short answer was no. Or, more accurately, yes but not many. Not yet. People who came out in pro sports lost sponsors, lost playing time, lost fans. Mitch wasn’t going to let his queerness affect his future career, which was why the only people who knew he was gay were Dan, their dad, and Cody. If he had to keep his sexuality a secret until he retired, so be it. “But what if you find somebody you want to spend the rest of your life with?” Cody had once asked. Mitch had laughed and laughed. After Dan had turned his back on him, and his mother had cut him off financially when he’d declared his disinterest in the family busines...