Page 113 of Perfect Storm
Things between them had been a little shaky since Mo’s return, but Aidan wasn’t surprised. At least Levi hadn’t left his bed. If he’d returned to the guest room, Aidan would’ve been actually concerned, but instead, it felt like more and more of Levi’s possessions were finding their way into Aidan’s bedroom.
First it had been the phone charger. Then an old Seattle sweatshirt, draped haphazardly over the bench at the end of the bed. And then his iPad, on the bedside table. His pillows, moving from the guest room to Aidan’s room.
He’d say something, but to his own surprise, he found he liked it. Like Levi was wordlessly staking his claim.
“You were right,” Aidan said. It was funny; he’d shied away from speaking his truths forever, but once the dam had broken, he couldn’t seem to stop.
Levi grinned. “Oh, I’m sorry, what was that, bro?”
“You heard me.” Aidan nudged him with his knee.
“Maybe I just wanna hear it some more,” Levi teased.
Aidan leaned in. Instructed himself very firmly not to cross a line and get too close, no matter how much he wanted to. “I can arrange that,” he said. “Tonight?”
“What’s the play?” Levi asked, eyes gleaming.
“You. Me. In bed. Me, telling you how right you were about getting fucked.”
Levi licked his lips. “I’m down.”
“Had a feeling you might be,” Aidan said, straightening. Trying not to sound smug and mostly failing. He’d never imagine telling Levi that he was right—about more than one thing—would be as hot as it was.
“Hell yeah,” Levi said, falling just short of an actual fist pump. Like Aidan was everything he’d ever wanted.
“And,” Aidan said with faux-seriousness, “you were right about playing left tackle, too.”
Levi was going to kill him, but Aidan was pretty sure that if he did, he’d die a very happy man.
Even though he hadn’t even played in the game, the reporters had wanted to talk to him. So there’d beenthatdelay, and then Aidan had needed to do his good leader-slash-QB1 act, talking to every guy, even the guys who definitely weren’t going to make the fifty-three-man roster.
Levi couldn’t be surprised, but every time their eyes met across the locker room, he could practicallyfeelLevi’s eagerness and his hunger, rolling off him in waves.
Aidan finished talking to Nathan, the backup center, who’d blocked for Wes and Perez today, trying to ignore the way Levi’s foot was tapping on the ground, just a few lockers over. Levi wasn’t even bothering tonotlook impatient. Anyone who noticed no doubt thought that the reason was because Aidan was giving him a ride home, but the truth was, Levi was probably impatient for a whole different kind of ride.
Just the thought made Aidan go hot and cold all over.
He was absolutely gonna give Levi shit about this later.
Maybe make him beg a little more about it. Nowthatwas a thought. But before Aidan could spend any more time on it, he realized he’d moved on to the next set of guys.
Wes and Nelson Perez.
“Great game, guys. Solid team win,” Aidan said, holding his hand out. Perez gave him a bro hug, which was exactly the right move, since they weren’t any more than semi-friendly teammates, but Wes ignored his outstretched hand and pulled him into a real hug.
It made Aidan want to smile, but he scowled instead.
Couldn’t let Wes figure out that he liked him. Because if he did, he’d never leave him alone.
“You’re doing the rounds,” Wes said, as Perez finished getting dressed.
“Yeah,” Aidan said. Didn’t say,you should be too,but only because Wes already knew. Aidan had seen him on the sideline, during the fourth quarter, working the o-line guys. Checking in with all the second-string skill players.
If Zane hadn’t already told Aidan that Wes was going to get the official backup spot, then he’d guess that Wes’ performance today—and not just on the field, but off it, too—had sealed that deal.
Perez would head to the practice squad, lying there in wait if anything happened to either of them.
Aidan felt a little bad about it, but it was also just the way the NFL worked, and if he cried about every unfair thing they endured, he’d never stop.
