Page 117 of Drop the Gloves
“Yeah, and it’s fucking handsome.”He huffed when Evan didn’t laugh.“I’m not saying we should get out the boxing gloves, but it’s fine.Just please stop hesitating like you’re worried you’re gonna hurt me.Fuckingtouch me.It’s been weeks, Ev.”
Evan groaned.He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Riley’s.“You’re gonna kill me.”
“There are worse ways to die.”He tilted his head to kiss Evan’s chin, then nudged his hips.“I know you’re like a virgin or whatever, but you’ve got lube, right?”
Evan’s snapped back open.“I was wrong.I’m gonna killyou.”
“Ohh, Mr.Nice Guy gets in one fight, and suddenly he’s all tough.”This time, he pushed Evan hard enough to force him up.“Answer the question.”
“Yes, I have lube,” Evan said.God, why was it so embarrassing to admit this to the man he had sex with?“And condoms.”
“Fuck yeah.Now show me your bed and show me how much you missed me.”
Evan wasn’t about to argue with that.
* * *
The grilled cheese sandwiches had long gone cold by the time they made their way back to the kitchen.Evan stood in the doorway of his room, enjoying the view of Riley Barczyk inhisapartment, wearinghisclothes, eating the foodEvanhad made for him.He could get very used to this.
Riley stuffed half a sandwich in his mouth and went to rummage around in the fridge, but no sooner had he opened the door than he slammed it shut and stared intently at the door.It took longer than it should’ve for Evan to realize what he was looking at.
“Shit, that’s?—“
“Yuhhgwaatuhpin?”
He’d been expecting Riley to be upset about the list, but he’d never heardthatstring of curse words before.
“...what?”
Riley swallowed, coughed, then repeated: “You got a pen?”
“Oh.”That...wasn’t what he’d expected at all.“Yeah, in the top drawer there.”
Seconds later, Riley had a pen in hand and was writing something on the paper.He clicked the pen shut when he was done and tossed it back in the drawer, looking very pleased with himself.Evan held his breath as he tiptoed over, scared of what he’d find.When he read it, his heart did a somersault.
Plan:
- Give Riley space
- Reach out to talk
- Apologize
- Try to get back together
- Prove I’m worth a second chance
- Date Riley and win a Stanley Cup together
Game on.
Epilogue
Plausible deniability.
A strange balancing act, especially when Evan was dating a man who didn’t understand the two words separately, never mind together.
Evan had left his condo before Riley had.Driven his own car and parked in his usual spot in the player parking section of the arena.He’d expected to get up to the team area of the arena before Riley had made his appearance.Plausible deniability, right?
