Page 59 of Drop the Gloves
“Besides,” Barczyk interrupted.“We can always go a few rounds upstairs in my apartment after.”
And that was when he came at Evan with a right hook that hit Evan square in the jaw.Which was also exactly what Evan needed: he was so annoyed that he switched into fight mode.Not that his fight mode was, like, the Hulk or anything.It was more that he had no brainpower left for anything besides dodging, blocking, and punching.The only thing he avoided was tackling or getting tackled, because the less skin contact the better.Getting Barczyk in a headlock was less compromising than pinning him.
The give and flow of the practice was familiar, but Barczyk’s unpredictability kept him on his toes.Whenever Evan got too comfortable, thinking he’d figured Barczyk out, he’d end up getting sloppy and whacked for it.
When they were done, Evan was sweaty and sore and relaxed.
“Honestly,” Barczyk panted as he tried to regain his breath.“There’s not much more I can teach you.I think once you’re in a real fight, you’ll be fine.”
“Really?”Evan beamed at the praise, then frowned.“So have I officially graduated from the Barczyk School of Hockey Goons?”
“Your diploma’s in the mail.”Barczyk sauntered over to a table and grabbed a couple of towels.He tossed one at Evan before vigorously rubbing his hair.
Evan toweled off his face, wondering how best to say what he wanted to.“Does that mean...that...we’re done...uhm...”He winced at how terrible he was at this.
Barczyk peeked out from his towel.“We done with fighting practice?We can still do it for funsies, especially if you think you’re getting rusty, but I don’t think you need it anymore.”
“Oh.”He slumped in disappointment.He had never wanted these lessons in the first place.Why was he upset they were over?“I appreciate you taking the time to?—“
“There are a few”—Barczyk licked his lips—“otherskills that you could use some work on.I’d be willing to help you practice those some more.If you wanted.”
Evan noticed the gym had cleared out while they were practicing.They were alone, nothing but the whir of the fans and the sudden weight of possibility settling between them.He gulped.
“I did kinda notice that I uh...that you’re better than me at...some of the stuff from the hotels,” he said.
Barczyk dropped his towel on the floor and walked over to Evan so they were chest to chest.Ish.With their height difference, there wasn’t a lot of overlap.
“I am pretty good at that stuff,” Barczyk agreed, voice husky.He was so handsome.Evan didn’t know how he hadn’t seen it before because, fuck, fuck he was so screwed here.He could drown in those hazel eyes and wouldn’t notice.
“Mhmm,” Evan hummed.
Barczyk put a hand on Evan’s hip, slipping under his tee to rest on bare skin and drawing him closer.“If you wanna kiss me, Abs,” he said, “just kiss me.We don’t have to fight first.You say the word, and I’m in.”
That was all the invitation he needed.Evan leaned down and kissed Barczyk, reveling in the salty taste.It was a gentle, quick kiss.Evan didn’t want to stop, but Barczyk drew back, their noses still pressed together.
“You wanna practice in my apartment?”he offered.“I've got a few things I could teach you.”
“Yeah,” Evan said.“I’d like that.”
* * *
They only stayed in Pittsburgh long enough to play Buffalo again (this time with a loss, though both Evan and Vassiliev scored) and the Chicago Storm (a low-scoring 1-0 win where Barczyk drew three penalties).In the five days they were in town, Evan had spent three of them at Barczyk’s apartment.Not that he’d seen more than the bedroom as they’d stumbled down the hallway, kissing and undressing before unceremoniously pushing each other onto the bed and getting off as quickly as possible.
He never stayed long after.Barczyk would kiss him and then pop off the bed and into the shower.It wasn’t so much a dismissal as an invitation to escape that Evan always took.They had a good thing going, but he was pretty sure it was limited to friendly blowjobs.He didn’t want to rock the boat by suggesting he wanted more than that.Because he didn’t, and he got the impression that Barczyk didn’t either.This was a casual, mutually beneficial hookup.And it was working out well for them on the ice: their line had found the chemistry that’d been lacking earlier in the season, and they were on fire.
Though Evan did wonder what would happen if he stayed.If he were still there when Barczyk got out of the shower.Would they make out lazily on the couch before a second round?Or would they order takeout and watch TV?Would Evan spend the night for once?If he did, would they sleep in each other’s arms?
The one time he’d felt brave enough to try, he’d lingered on the edge of Barczyk’s bed and listened to him sing an off-key rendition ofShake it Off.All Evan had to do was stay put.Barczyk would be surprised, but the worst that would happen is they’d hang out.He was sure Barczyk wouldn’t be a dick about it—he saved that for opponents on the ice.
But then Barczyk’s cat had sauntered into the room.She’d looked at Evan with a feline air of superiority, like how dare he still be here when her owner was done with him.She’d sat there in the doorway, looking at him and judging him.
So yes.Evan had been chased away by a cat.Not his finest moment.
“There any good mini-golf courses in Baltimore?”Barczyk asked as he plopped down next to Evan on the plane.“Dalton says the one in San Fran sucked ass.”
“I did not,” Dalton protested.He was sitting across the aisle with Winchester, an UNO deck on the tray table.“I said that I thought it must not be a good course ‘cause it gave Abs a headache instead of taking it away.Bro totally tanked the last few holes, and he never does that.I mean, he did when he hurt his shoulder last season, but normally he’s golden.”
Evan tensed at the mention of his shoulder.His Barczyk-injured shoulder.He worried that Dalton would remember it was Barczyk who’d nearly sent Evan on Injury Reserve, and...what?Would Evan have to say there were no hard feelings?Or would Barczyk apologize months and months too late?Evan wasn’t sure what he wanted, but he didn’t want to say any of it publicly.He didn’t want Barczyk forced into an apology he didn’t feel.
