Page 26 of Breakaway Goals
Like Morgan wanted to be felt.
He certainly hadn’t tugged himself away, either, even though there was no reason to stay.
There was a part of Hayes that wanted to cut through all the haze and ask bluntly,what are we doing? What areyoudoing?But if he did that might spook Morgan, and God knew, if Hayes never got anything else but this, he was going to hold on to this scrap forever.
“I was unfair to you,” Morgan said, still very quiet. “When we met.”
They’d run into each other casually, incidentally, so many times. It was impossible not to. But yes, this tournament was the first time they’d exchanged more than just basic pleasantries. Morgan must be talking about the first day they’d been here.
“It’s awkward, everyone talking about how I’m the new you,” Hayes soothed.
It was awkward, too, being the person doing the replacing.
“Not just that.” Morgan huffed out a breath. He was so close Hayes could feel it against his cheek. “You made me feel old.”
“You must’ve hated that.” It was actually a fucking miracle Morgan had given him even a passing consideration if that was really true.
“I didn’t love it.”
“What do I make you think now?” Hayes knew he shouldn’t push. But he gazed up at Morgan and hoped his eyes said what he really meant.Tell me something else. Something better.
Morgan swayed closer. Or maybe that was Hayes. They were rapidly running up against the point of no return. Hayes knew it. Morgan had to know it too. They couldn’t be this close in a hotel hallway for this long without eventually getting interrupted.
Hayes opened his mouth, to ask again, to maybe suggest something even crazier, which was that they should continue this inside the privacy of his room, but before he could, a door way down the hall slammed shut. Morgan sprang back, eyes wild. Like he’d just gotten caught, even though they hadn’t actually done a goddamn thing.
“I should go,” Morgan said and looked like he regretted the words the moment they came out of his mouth. “It’s late. The game. Tomorrow. Finland.”
Hayes’ tongue felt thick and swollen in his mouth, his brain even more sluggish. “Yeah.” For a semi-insane split second, he considered again inviting Morgan into his room. But he didn’t. “Alright.”
Morgan turned and, without a word, headed back down the hallway towards the elevator.
Hayes waited one second, then two until he was almost out of sight down the long hallway before he pulled the keycard out of his pocket, opening his door.
Then proceeded to flop down on the bed and scream loudly into his pillow.
Why hadn’t he justsaidit? Morgan hadn’t seemed freaked out by their closeness, only by the possibility they might be discovered, which frankly, was more likely than not, considering where they’d been.
Hayes rolled over. Wondered if he should call Zach. It was late. And what would Zach even say?Geez, dude, you totally just whiffed. And with Morgan freaking Reynolds. You’ve only adored him forever.
Because Morgan had been right. There’d been two posters. One above his bed, the other across from it.
He might have more chances, but Hayes wasn’t sure that was true. This tournament wasn’t that long and then it would be over and their only reasons to see each other would be when the Mavs played the Bandits, twice a year.
Maybe he wouldn’t get another chance. Maybe that had been it, and he’d fucking blown it.
Hayes groaned. Leaned over to grab his phone from the charger, but before he could dial Zach, there was a muffled knock on his door.
Shit, it was probably Danny, too keyed up to sleep still. Hayes slid out of bed and padded to the door, pulling it open.
It was not Danny.
It was Morgan. He looked even wilder around the eyes.
“Can I . . .”
Hayes felt shocked into silence, and only pulled the door open farther, stepping back to let Morgan in.
The door shut behind him with a decisive click, leaving them in silence.
