One Touch

One touch changed one man's life, and doomed another Miller Being on a winning team should feel better than this. But when you barely step onto the ice, feel like a stranger in the city you live in, and only have teammates, not friends, not even the Stanley Cup can make you feel like you belong. So I recklessly ask for a trade. It’s a stupid move career-wise, but the chance to see more ice time and start fresh is pulling me toward the Austin Aces. It’s not until the deal is done that I remember who also plays for Austin… Lathan Silver, the guy who turned my life upside down with one touch. That was years ago, so surely the magnetic pull has lessened. I can’t afford to mess up my new team by falling for my teammate. I might be out in the league, but even that is a stretch on what would be accepted. Austin is my chance to belong, so I’ll stay far away from Lathan Silver. Lathan Being the son of a Senator puts a lot of pressure on me, but my discipline, determination, and dedication help me succeed. As a Silver, there is no room for failure—on and off the ice. I’ve cultivated myself into the perfect son and player, and at twenty-five, my life is flawless. I’m the youngest alternate captain in team history, and my role on the team is solid. I follow my routine, do my meditations, and avoid attachments at all costs. I don’t need any complications. Enter Miller Fahn—the Austin Aces’ newest left winger—the ultimate distraction. With one touch, he turns my world upside down. I can’t let him destroy everything. I’ll remind him we’re not friends but enemies. Austin is my town, and the Aces are my team. This is an MM enemies-to-lovers romance among teammates that includes forced proximity, a touch starved MC, friendship bracelets, cooking as a love language, and a gay awakening. This is part of a shared hockey world and can be read as a standalone.