Page 52 of Unrivaled

Hedgie exhaled audibly. “Physical dumb or emotional dumb?”

When Max laughed, it came out tinged with hysteria. “Oh, definitely both, but we had safe sex if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Fuck.” There was a thump and the SUV jolted as Hedgie’s head went back against the seat rest. “Tell me you’re not hooking up with one of the Firebirds’ girlfriends.”

Max had never been a homewrecker, but he couldn’t find the energy to be offended at the question. “Not a WAG, no.”

The interior of the SUV filled with a gradual, oppressive silence.

Then the penny dropped and Hedgie said, “Jesus fuck, Max.”

“I didn’t mean to!” He should’ve seen this coming, but he hadtriedto keep a lid on things. Everything would have been fine if Grady had kept treating Max like a very irritating itch he had to scratch. Max wouldn’t have gotten in his feelings about that.

Probably.

“Grady Armstrong, though?” Hedgie paused. “I’m assuming it’s Armstrong. Unless it’s another Firebird who’s not out or whatever.”

At this point Max might as well own up. “It’s Grady.”

“First-name basis,” Hedgie wailed.

“This isn’t helping.”

Finally Hedgie unclenched. “Yeah, okay, sorry. It’s been an interesting few days for surprise revelations, between you and El.”

“Oh thank fuck she finally told you.” At least Max could stop worrying he’d spill the beans.

“We’re gonna come back to why you knew before I did, but let’s focus on the crisis at hand.”

“It’s because your wife’s tits got bigger and I noticed.”

Now Hedgie was the one with his hand over his eyes. “You’re the worst gay best friend ever.”

“I’m bi,” Max said. “And my eyes work fine.”

“Max. Focus.” His tone went sober. Max slouched further. “You and Grady Armstrong. Is it serious?”

“Define ‘serious.’”Max wasn’t having this conversation in the car. “Can we go in? Gru’s probably losing his mind.”

Unfortunately Hedgie didn’t let it go once they were in Max’s kitchen, with Gru thumping his tail on the floor as Hedgie rubbed his chest. “So,” he prompted. “You and Armstrong. You were about to tell me how that happened.”

Max sighed and opened the dishwasher. “I thought he was catfishing on Grindr. We made a bet. Imagine my surprise when I showed up and it was actually him.” Ugh. There was still a ring of coffee in his favorite mug. He took it to the sink.

Hedgie’s judgmental gaze bored into his back. “And he just… went along with it.”

Max scrubbed out the mug. “I promised an orgasm.”

“Of course you did.” Hedgie paused. “You really need to get a new dishwasher.”

Not anymore, Max thought. His shoulders sagged. “Yeah,” he said. Once he explained about his appliance-related insanity, there was no going back. Hedgie would read between all the lines and judge him, because Max did something stupid and he should know better.

But at least he’d have someone to whine to. Max sighed. “You wanna call El over so I only have to go through this once? Because it’s funny you should mention the dishwasher….”

THE ROADtrip started fine.

The Firebirds downed the Ts 4–2 in regulation, and the team risked going out to the bars even though they were in Toronto, where someone always had something to say about it. Grady stuck with Coop and Zipper in a booth in the back corner and tried not to feel hunted every time one of the other guys glanced his way.

“We’re celebrating,” Coop reminded him. “Stop looking over there.”

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