Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 82508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
They’re all full of an optimism I don’t—and can’t—have.
It reminds me that this is temporary. It’s all temporary.
I have to keep telling myself so I don’t get attached.
The itchy coldness of time running out buzzes under my skin.
I need to go out. I need to get laid.
But it’s another Friday night. While I’ve been tormenting Jacobs all week with my last victory, Cohen has been tormenting both of us with whatever the fuck the next challenge is going to be.
I’m not even fully dressed from the showers when I tell them all to get on with it. “I have places to be and shit to do.” Burying myself in some stranger is a mild fix—a Band-Aid—and the high I get from it won’t last long. It never does.
But it’s something.
My first choice would be to get drunk enough I don’t care about anything anymore, but we have an early Saturday morning skate with the kids, so I can’t write myself off.
I finish throwing on my clothes and start on my shoes and socks.
Cohen claps his hands together. “Okay. So, we all know our old captain swung both ways.”
I already don’t like where this is going.
“We also know his favorite game was messing with the new guys on the team.” He glances at Simms. “So, we’re thinking a nice easy game of … gay chicken.”
I drop my shoe.
Jacobs stands from his spot on the other side of the locker room. “I’m out.”
“Has there been a challenge yet that you’ve actually agreed to?” I ask.
“What, you wanna do this?”
“Just pointing out that shooting down every idea isn’t a great quality in a captain.”
“Come on,” Cohen says. “You haven’t even heard the terms yet. We’re not asking you to fuck a guy. It’s only kissing. Everyone has kissed someone of the same sex. It’s, like, a thing. A rite of passage.”
Everyone in the room blinks at him.
“Put your hand up if you’ve never kissed another guy,” I say.
Every single person raises their hand except for Cohen.
I’m surprised to see Jacobs’s hand up. Meaning, either my suspicions about him and Grant were wrong or he’s lying right now.
Cohen slowly turns in a circle. “Wait … really? How did you learn how to kiss if not with your best friend?”
There are some snickers.
“Your best friend is gay, man,” Rossi says.
“No, he’s not.” But Cohen suddenly doesn’t sound so sure.
“Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one for long.” Rossi takes over. “Okay, the stipulations. You two have to kiss. First one to pull away loses.”
“Yeah, I’m so out,” Jacobs says again.
I cock my head at him. “Scared you’ll like it, Topher?”
He smiles, but his hands fist at his sides, still trying to hide his true reaction to me. “Scared you will. Plus, who knows what venereal diseases you’re carrying.”
“Does someone need sex ed lessons? Unless you’re planning to kiss my dick, you’re fine.”
“Ever heard of syphilis? That can be transferred through mouths.”
I pull back. “Holy shit. Really?”
“Now who needs sex ed lessons?” Jacobs mutters.
“I’m googling this,” Rossi says and takes out his phone.
Cohen’s still off to the side having an existential crisis. “I … I’ll be right back.”
“It can only be transmitted through kissing if there are active sores or lesions in the mouth. Either of you got that?” Rossi asks.
I’m tempted to say yes to get out of this, but if I push, maybe he can give me the win, and then whatever is the last thing on this damn list doesn’t have to be done.
“All good on my end.” I turn to Jacobs. “But remember, you can back out at any moment. Give me this one and I win the whole thing. Then we can maybe focus our time on the important shit this summer. Like hockey.”
Jacobs really thinks about it. A concentration line forms on his forehead.
“Let’s get this over with.” He walks into the middle of the locker room.
My eyebrows want to shoot into my hairline, but I try to tame my reaction as best I can. When that doesn’t work, I bend and tie my shoelaces.
I thought for sure he wouldn’t go through with this. He probably still won’t.
Probably.
I force a smile and fake confidence.
It’s only kissing like Cohen said.
I stand and step in front of Jacobs, toe to toe, almost chest to chest.
He’s got that casual smile on his face that I’m quickly learning is the one he uses to cover up the scowl he loves throwing my way.
His gray eyes give him away though. There’s hesitance and a whole lot of fear behind them.
I figure one of the guys will step in and stop this. Or maybe they think we won’t go through with it.
The closer we get, the louder the guys’ snickers become. Then there’s a round of wolf whistles.
Definitely not going to stop this, then.
I lower my voice so the idiots can’t hear. “You really don’t have to do this.”