Page 77 of Drop the Gloves
“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” he said.It sounded lame even to him.
There was a moment when he worried Riley (Riley!When had his brain accepted that switch?) might ask the obvious question, but he squinted at Evan like he could read it on his face.
“Well,” Riley said as he dug into his own sandwich and talked around it.“If you wanna fuck, lemme know.It’s my favorite distraction.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Evan said.“It’s disgusting.”
“Oh please, you love my mouth when it’s full.”
“Not when it’s full of food, dumbass.”It sounded too harsh, so he muttered, “Sorry.You’re not a dumbass.But it’s still gross.”
“I mean”—Riley swallowed and took another bite—“I can be, for sure.A dumbass.Just gotta embrace it, y’know?”
Evan tried very hard not to smile.It wasn’t working.“Stop.”
“Stop what?”Riley asked, sandwich still in his mouth.
“You’re the worst.”
“Nope.”He went back in for another bite, and Evan reached over the island to stop him; Riley let him.“I’m the best, Abs.I’ll convince you one of these days.”
Evan wasn’t sure which possibility he dreaded more: that Riley would try and fail, or that he’d already succeeded.
32
Evan had fuckedup by letting the Eastern Canada trip slip under his radar.He sent his mom and his cousin his schedule for Toronto as soon as he got home that night, then he sent out a few messages to friends in Ottawa.He’d lived in Ottawa for a few years as a teenager, and he was still close with his billet family; he tried to visit when he was in town.Maybe being back home in Canada would help him feel normal again.
You’re not just magically gayer in America,he told himself.
I’m magically gayer when I’m around Riley,he argued back.So who the fuck knows?
The trip gave him something to focus on, at least.And plenty of excuses to avoid Riley if needed.Evanshouldavoid him, though he wanted to less and less.Their warm-up routine was comforting.Riley’s encouragement on the bench and at practice was reassuring.His loud mouth during games was entertaining.His presence on plane rides was soothing.He’d gone from Evan’s biggest stressor this season to the thing that helped Evan hold it together.
And the thing most likely to shatter him apart.
“That’s not fair,” Evan mumbled to himself as he packed his duffle for the trip.“If you said you were done with him, he’d let you walk away.You’re doing this to yourself.”
It didn’t make it any easier.
* * *
His cousin’s schedule didn’t align with his, which wasn’t uncommon.With each team having their own practices, outings, and training, it didn’t always work out that Evan got to see the people he wanted to when he traveled.But his mom would bend over backwards to see him whenever she could, so he was unsurprised to find her waiting outside the locker rooms after their practice in Toronto.
“Mom!”He leaned down to pull her into a hug and already felt lighter.Home was where the heart was and all that.Evan didn’t think it was possible for him to feel stressed when Carol Abernathy was around.
“Hi, sweetie,” she cooed, not letting go until Evan had to stand up straight so his back wouldn’t cramp up.“Ready to head out?”
A few of his teammates waved as they passed, on their way out to museums, restaurants, or the hotel.Their game wasn’t until the next evening, and most planned to enjoy their afternoon in Toronto now that their team responsibilities were done for the day.That meant Evan had a half day with his mom, and since she was in charge, he assumed that meant a trip to the aquarium (her favorite) and a meal.
“Sure, I?—”
“Is this Mama Abernathy?”
Evan’s stomach did an uncomfortable flip.Oh no.
“Riley Barczyk,” his mom said, her tone unreadable.“The man himself.Nice to meet you in person.”She held out a hand.“Evan’s told me a lot about you.”
Riley shook her hand.“Only the bad stuff, I hope.”
