Page 83 of The Trade Deadline
“No shouting, so I’m guessing it was your mormor and not your brother.”
Lars wrinkled his nose. “I would never talk to Anders on the phone. Not even to shout at him.”
…maybe to shout at him.
Ryan gave him a look that said he knewexactlywhat Lars was thinking.
“She calls to check in on me,” he said. “She wanted to know who I was sleeping with that kept me from calling for so long.”
“And what’d you tell her?” Ryan asked, his voice flat and his expression unreadable.
“Nothing.” He waited to see if relief washed over Ryan’s face, but he remained impassive, so he added, “She guessed.”
That worked: Ryan’s jaw dropped. “Guessed? What exactly did she guess?”
“That it was you. That I’m sleeping with. She knows I have a type.”
“What’d she say? About us? Me?” Was he eager because he liked that Lars had talked about him, or upset?
It didn’t much matter either way: Lars had said it, and he wouldn’t lie about it now.
“She said that you’re pretty and a good hockey player. And that she’s glad I’m happy. That was about it, except for family gossip about some of her cousins.”
“Shut up. She didn’t say I’m pretty or a good player.” Ryan rolled his eyes, and now Lars could detect traces of annoyance.
“I was surprised about the pretty. I didn’t think she liked brunets. But she’s been saying you’re a good player all season.”
“You’re lying.”
“I would never lie about hockey. Or Mormor.”Or you.
The corner of Ryan’s lips twitched. He wasn’t angry, then. That was good. “Well, tell your mormor I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
“I will, but it’ll go to her head.” He sat back down on the couch, giving up his better vantage point to gain proximity. “Is that okay?” he asked nervously. “That I told her?”
Ryan considered. “It’s fine.”
Lars nodded. “And have you told anyone…?”
Ryan shook his head and then abruptly stopped. “Well, I guess my neighbor knows. The one who helped with the apartment stuff.”
His stomach did a weird swoop that should’ve been uncomfortable but wasn’t. Someone Ryan cared about knew he was with Lars. Had he said they were dating? Sleeping together?
Ask and you could find out…
Ask and you might not like the answer.
“Is that okay?” Ryan prompted, possibly because he saw some of Lars’s spiraling thoughts in his expression.
“Of course,” he said easily. He slung an arm around Ryan’s shoulder. He couldn’t bring himself to edge closer to the “what are we” conversation right now, not with things going so well. “Let’s finish the movie.”
* * *
“Lars!”
Lars startled at the sound of a female voice calling his name. He was in a practice facility in Orlando, a place he’d been to once a year and never learned the name of. It had garish pythons on the walls which was the only notable thing about the place.
He saw a petite woman that looked about his age, a familiar look to her.
