Playing With Love by Ava Thorpe

Hockey superstar Ash McCleod didn’t get to be captain of the Ottawa Admirals by playing it safe. On the ice, he’s known as a powerhouse forward; to his teammates, he’s a respected leader; and to his family, he’s a devoted son. But there’s one risk Ash just can’t take, and that’s coming out as gay. Nothing is as important as hockey, not even love.

Once upon a time, Cam Smith was willing to risk everything, including his hockey career, for the man he loved. But that was then, before Ash McCleod broke his heart. Four years later, he’s a little older, a little wiser, and lot more sure of himself. He knows what he wants, and he’s never going to be anyone’s dirty little secret again.

When a mid-season trade has Cam skating in an Admirals sweater, both men realize that time and distance have only fueled the fire burning between them. But fire needs oxygen to survive, and Cam won’t live his life in the closet, even for Ash. With both of their hearts on the line, will Ash and Cam waste the second chance they’ve been given, or will they decide that love is worth risking everything?