Killian shrugged and skated backward. He wouldn’t admit it, but Diego was growing on him too. Killian tried to picture friends Diego hung out with when school wasn’t on break, but he was starting to realize he’d paid way too little attention to the guy he shared a room with.
Could they be friends? It seemed Diego was determined to attach himself to Killian and his buddies. There were worse things, he guessed.
He skated a lap around the ice, wishing he could get rid of the sling. The trainers made him wear it when he was skating so he didn’t use his arms to propel himself and worsen the strain. If he kept with it, they said, he could play their next game after winter break.
After a few laps, he realized the guys had disappeared. Commotion drew his eyes to the tunnel where Kenny and Will ushered Diego out onto the ice.
Killian almost laughed when he saw the figure skates. “Where’d you find those?” he called as he skated toward them.
Kenny laughed as Will hesitated at the bench door. “They do public events here during the summer. I always have to schedule my training around their hours. Skates are kept in the storage closet outside the locker rooms.”
Diego froze at the edge of the ice. “What if I fall?”
Killian shrugged. “You get back up.”
“But what if I hurt myself.”
“You won’t.”
“What if I somehow cut myself with the blade or slam into the wall or—”
Killian gripped his shoulders. “Diego, breathe.” Their eyes met, Killian’s steady gaze and Diego’s panicked one.
Diego’s breathing slowed. “Will you…” He swallowed. “Please don’t let go of me.”
Killian held out a hand. “Come on.”
Diego slid his hand into Killian’s and let him pull him out onto the ice. Will and Kenny followed close behind.
Killian learned to skate practically as soon as he learned to walk—at least, that was what his mother told people. There were probably a few years in between. But he couldn’t even remember a time when he wasn’t just as comfortable in skates as shoes.
Flying down the ice at top speed was a rush he wished more people could experience. But Diego just needed to stay upright. Killian got the impression his childhood had been a series of computer screens and intellectual conversations. For a reason he couldn’t explain, he wanted to show Diego there was more out there.
That living in the real world was pretty cool too.
Diego’s grip on his hand tightened. “I’m going to fall.”
“I got you.” Killian’s voice softened. “One foot in front of the other. Look down at my feet, and try to mimic what I do.”
He stayed close to the wall so Diego could grip it with his free hand. “I’m doing it.” Wonder colored his voice.
Killian smiled. He couldn’t help himself. There was a childlike glee in Diego he found kind of adorable. “You are.”
Diego lifted his hand from the wall but didn’t release Killian. “I haven’t—” Before he finished speaking, he pitched forward, his toe pick digging into the ice. A cry left his lips as he slammed into the ice. His grip yanked Killian off balance, and he fell beside Diego.
Pain seared down his arm from his shoulder, and he gritted his teeth. Diego got to his knees and hovered over Killian. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pulled you down. Are you okay? Is it your shoulder? Do you hate me now?”
Killian reached up with his good arm and covered Diego’s mouth with his hand. “It’s okay. Just give me a minute.”
Diego nodded, and Killian took his hand away before getting to his feet. He reached down to help Diego up.
“You must think I’m an idiot for falling.” Diego looked away.
“Everyone falls at first.” He slid his arm around Diego’s back. “Come on. Hold on to me. Let’s go find out where Will and Kenny went.”
They didn’t have to look for long, and as they neared the bench, the two boys in question came walking down the tunnel, laughing about something.
Kenny held up a pair of skates for Killian. Figure skates.
“Heck no.”
Will grinned. “Oh, yeah. I dared Kenny, and then he dared me, and now we’re doing this.”
Diego watched them, confusion clouding his face. “What are you doing?”
“Wearing figure skates.” Kenny rolled his eyes.
“But Killian already has skates on. Why does he need other skates?”
Killian sighed as he took the skates from his friend. “I have hockey skates on. And unlike some people, I never learned with figure skates. They take some getting used to—mainly because of the toe pick you now know so well.”
Kenny lifted a brow. “You fall, Diego? That’s my man.” He held out a fist.
Diego stared at it for a moment before slapping his palm against it.
“Did you just high-five my fist bump?” He stepped onto the ice and wrapped an arm around Diego’s shoulders, pulling him away from Killian. “Oh, Diego. We have so much to teach you.”
With a sigh, Killian stepped through the door and sat on the bench to switch his skates. He wasn’t getting out of this one. As Kenny took Diego on a lap, Killian watched them, but he directed his words to Will. “You’re just looking for the only thing that’ll make you faster than me and Ken.”
Will shrugged. “Not my fault you two didn’t train on figure skates.”
Killian barked out a laugh. “You didn’t use figure skates to train for hockey. Your mom wanted you to be a figure skater in one of those sparkly costumes.”
“Don’t hate just because you can’t do this.” He pushed away from the wall and picked up speed as he circled the ice before doing some kind of spinny thing.
Killian stood and stepped onto the ice. It wasn’t just a difference between figure skates and hockey skates. That would be easier to overcome.
But he was a goalie, and goalie skates were a whole other ball game.
“Something wrong, Killer?” Kenny called as he caught sight of Killian gripping the wall.
Killian watched him with his arm still around Diego. Something inside him pushed him to leave the wall behind so he could reach them. They might all be taking Diego under their wings over break, but Killian felt a claim over him, like he’d found him first, so he was his friend.
He did his best to keep his balance and constantly reminded himself of the toe pick that could trip him up at any moment.
Will whirled around the rink with greater speed than he ever showed on hockey skates.
Unable to stop himself, Killian slammed into the wall in front of Diego and Kenny.
Kenny held in a laugh, but Diego wasn’t as kind.
“Something funny?” Killian asked.
Diego bit his lip. “Well…it’s just you always seem so good at everything. Nothing bothers you.”
Plenty bothered him, but he just never let it show.
Diego shrugged. “I kind of like seeing you a little more unsure.”
There was so much honesty in his words. Killian understood exactly what he meant. It wasn’t that he wanted Killian to make a fool of himself; he just wanted him to seem more like everyone else.
“Do you really think I’m good at everything?” He wanted to laugh at that. The only thing in his life he’d always excelled at was stopping pucks.
Diego shrugged. “I mean…yes?”
“Is that one of your questions?”
“Ken!” someone yelled from the stands. They all looked to find Asher Brooks standing at the gate with three men in suits.
“That’s my cue.” Kenny flashed them a smile. “Time to go.” He skated toward the bench as Asher ran down the steps to meet him for a bruising kiss.
Killian felt weird watching him, but he found Diego doing the same thing.
“Kenny is gay?” Diego whispered.
“Uh…do you live under a rock?” Killian laughed.
“No. I live in a dorm room. You know that.”
Killian bit his fist to keep fro
m laughing. “Kenny’s boyfriend is kind of high profile.”
“Really? Who is he?”
“The president’s son.”
“The president of the school?” He must have meant Defiance Academy’s CEO who none of them had ever seen.
“President of the United States.”
Diego gaped at him. “But the first son doesn’t live in Riverpass.”
“You’re kind of hopeless.” Killian slid his arm around Diego’s waist to keep him steady. He’d never met a more clueless guy. “Tell me the truth… Is this the first time you’ve taken your head out of your computer to have some fun.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call these deathtraps on my feet fun.”
“Give me a real answer, Diego.”
“I’ll answer your question if I get to ask one of my own.”
“Fine.” Killian blew out a breath.
Diego’s face transformed with a gorgeous smile. “I consider working on my app fun, but yes, this is the first time I’ve really hung out with friends and done something that wasn’t productive this year. My turn?”
Killian nodded.
“Are we friends? Because sometimes I get the impression you don’t like me. Other times, you act like I’m kind of ridiculous, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. Most people just write me off as weird.”
Killian thought for a moment. “Well, you are weird, but God help me, Diego, I don’t mind having you around. So, to answer your question, sure. We’re friends.”
He’d come to Defiance Academy the year before having no intention of becoming friends with any of these people. His solitude lasted all of last year. But then Kenny and Wylder latched onto him, and with them came Will and the rest of the team. Now Diego.
Just call him a regular socialite.
Crap.
Kenny and Asher waved to them as they left. Killian never thought he’d be in the same room as the likes of the president’s son or a country star like Beckett Anderson. Yet, here he was in the middle of this circle of famous people. Just regular old Killian. Poor boy from Texas.
Maybe having a semi-normal friend like Diego would be good for him.
“Pizza’s here!” Will yelled across the ice. “And Kenny left, so I get his!”
Killian turned to skate across the ice and pulled Diego with him.
“This is kind of terrible.” Diego laughed.
It was. So terrible. “I want my hockey skates back.”
“I want my shoes back.”
They both laughed at that. They’d almost made it all the way across the ice when Killian lost his balance and fell back onto his butt. Diego managed to stay upright. He stared down at him, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
It was good to see his roommate smiling and not being so serious.
But no one laughed at Killian James. He lifted his good arm. “Help a guy up?”
Diego, sweet, trusting, Diego, gripped his hand. Killian yanked, pulling Diego down beside him.
“Ow.” Diego lay on his back and turned his head. “That was mean.”
All Killian could do was laugh. Soon, Diego joined him. Neither tried to get up as the cool ice permeated their clothes. It took a moment for Killian to realize he still held Diego’s hand. Releasing it, he rubbed his face and stared at the rafters overhead.
For once, Diego remained quiet.
Will skated to a stop near Killian’s head, spraying ice into his face. “I’ve never had pizza at center ice.” He dropped two pizza boxes and lowered himself to the ice.
Killian sat up. “Coach would kill us.”
Will shrugged. “He’s not here. The maintenance team is in the building, but you know they won’t stop us.”
It was true. Most people let the winning hockey team have the run of the arena. Except Coach Ryan.
Diego sat up and grabbed a piece. “I’ve never had pepperoni on a pizza.”
Will scrunched up his face. “Killian, dude, where’d you find this guy?”
Diego was the one who answered. “His room. I’m his roommate.”
“I know. I—”
“Then why’d you ask?”
Killian watched the exchange in amusement. Diego wasn’t normal, but normal was overrated.
“You won’t win with him, Will.” Killian laughed, meeting Diego’s intelligent eyes.
“I like this guy, Killer. Can we keep him?” Will stuffed an entire piece of pizza into his mouth.
Diego looked up from where he was poking at the pepperoni. “I’d like to be kept.” He hesitated. “Killer.” The nickname sounded odd coming from his mouth. “You and your friends are a fascinating social study. You’re really quite odd.”
Will burst out laughing and food flew from his mouth. “We’re odd?”
Killian smiled. “Yeah, Will. We can keep him.”
He couldn’t remember the last person who made him smile so much. He’d thought the holiday break would be just like last year’s where he spent most of the time alone missing his family. But Diego made him forget—even if just for small moments at a time. He didn’t have to be the brooding rancher, unable to afford a trip home.
He’d put up with a million of Diego’s questions for that.
8
Diego
Diego shifted in his chair, trying to find a position that didn’t hurt. Ice skating with the hockey team was a bad idea. He fired off a quick email to his dad about his afternoon of pizza and sports. Not that he expected a reply. His father claimed he loved Diego’s quick emails and texts even when he didn’t always have time to respond. He liked knowing what his son was up to. But that was the way his dad worked. He only wanted quick digestible bullet points from his employees, and that worked just as well for his son too.
Wincing, Diego pushed away from his desk, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair. Peyton told him to take twenty-four hours away from his work, and without school to occupy his time, he’d already run out of things to do. He still had eighteen hours to go.
He wobbled over to his bed and pulled the pillow from his carefully made bed. Placing it in his chair, he gingerly sat down. Skating was such a dumb idea. Drumming his fingers on the wooden top, he started reorganizing the items on his desk. It didn’t take long since they were already organized just the way he liked them.
Fidgeting in his seat, he wasn’t sure if the pillow was helping or hurting.
With a sigh of frustration, he opted for an energy drink. His joints ached when he stood—not a good sign. Rummaging through the tiny refrigerator for one of his drinks, he groaned at the spasm in his back.
“For the love of God, would you put that back in there?” Killian snapped his book closed. “An energy boost is the last thing you need. What’s the matter with you? I figured you’d be clacking away on your computer by now, but you’re flitting around the room like you can’t decide what to do.”
“I can’t.” Diego’s shoulders slumped.
“What about your work? I kind of miss the noise of your typing.”
“I’m not supposed to work today.”
“Why?”
“My mentor wants me to take a day off before we dive into the next phase of my project.”
“And without work, you’re totally lost, aren’t you?” Killian chuckled.
“And sore from all the falling.”
“What’s bothering you?”
“My back and pretty much all my joints.”
“You need to stretch and then rest for a while with some ice on your back. If you let your muscles get tight, it will just get worse. Try some Superman stretches, lat stretches, and bear hugs.”
“What? You’re going to hug me?”
“Sorry, forgot who I was talking to.” Killian shook his head with a smile, his dimple making an appearance.
“Just watch me, and then do what I do.” Killian lay down on the bare floor at Diego’s feet. “Lay flat, relax for a moment, and then take a deep breath in and flex.” Killian’s arms, legs, and tor
so went rigid, lifting off the floor so only his pelvis supported him. As he exhaled, he relaxed his body, letting it sink back onto the floor.
Killian hopped back up like he didn’t have an injured shoulder. “Do fifteen or twenty of those, and then I’ll show you lat stretches.”
Diego lowered himself to the floor, wincing at the pain in his lower back. “Why is it called a Superman stretch?”
“Because the stretch makes you look like Superman flying.”
Diego tried to relax and take a deep breath like Killian showed him, but as he lifted his legs and shoulders off the floor, a lance of pain shot through his back, and he cried out.
“Not so fast.” Killian placed a warm hand on his back. “Try that again, but slower this time.”
Diego seemed to only have one speed with this stretch, and it was fast.
Killian fell into a coughing fit as Diego tried to power through a few more Superman stretches. He hoped his roommate wasn’t getting sick.
“Okay, you know what, five’s good. Let’s try lat stretches.” He pulled his desk chair across the room. “Kneel down and place your arms across the chair.” Killian helped him get into position. “This one should feel good. Just drop your head down, and let your body’s weight pull on those lower back muscles.
“I like this one.” Diego let his weight shift between his arms and knees. The gentle stretch loosened the soreness in his back.
“Stand up when you’re ready.”
“I could probably just sleep like this, thank you.”
“We’ve got one more stretch, and then you need to ice your back.”
“Fine.” Diego climbed off the floor, feeling much better already. “This is the hug one?”
“You’re going to hug yourself. Stand up tall and inhale as you spread your arms out to the side.” Killian showed him the movements, and Diego tried to mimic him.
“Exhale and cross your arms over your chest with your right arm over your left, and give yourself a hug. Relax into it, and take another deep breath as you pull your shoulders forward. Hold it and then begin a slow exhale as you open your arms wide. Exhale and repeat until the muscles in your back relax from the tension.”
Diego liked this one too. After a few more minutes, the ache in his back and his joints began to subside. “That’s so much better.”
Dating Him: The Series Page 52
