Page 83 of The Best Parts of Him
“Both things can be true,” he muttered to himself.
On a day that had turned disappointing, the sign and the trophy were bright spots.
As was the man waiting for him inside his house.
Standing in his foyer, he stared at Dabbs for a long moment, his heart giving a sharp tug. Where the hell had he come from? He hadn’t been here this afternoon when Ryland had left for the arena.
“Are you my consolation prize?”
Dabbs took his hand and kissed the back of it. “I was hoping to be your victory prize.”
“I do feel like I won the lottery with you, so that fits.”
Eyes widening, breath catching, Dabbs didn’t appear to know what to say to that. He looked as flummoxed now as when Ryland had surprised him with Reginald P. Stokes’ event.
Ryland had made him speechless. He let out a delighted laugh and caught Dabbs’ lips with his. “Hi,” he said belatedly, setting the sign and trophy aside.
“What’s that?”
“I’ll tell you about it later.” Ryland took Dabbs’ hand and led him toward the bedroom. “First, I want consolation sex.”
Dabbs’ answering growl sent a shiver up his spine. “That can be arranged.” He scooped Ryland up, threw him over his shoulder, and ran into the bedroom to Ryland’s delighted laughter.
Where he was both Ryland’s consolation prize and victory prize.
All night long.
epilogue
THREE YEARS LATER
“This is you.” Ryland gestured to a stall on the left-hand side of the Glen Hill College Mountaineers locker room.
“Whoa.” Wide-eyed, the rookie—Van Asten—took in the empty room, his jaw halfway to the floor.
Had Ryland been a college rookie, he would’ve been impressed by the newly renovated locker room too.
Black carpeting with the Mountaineers logo in the center. Mahogany-finished stalls along three sides of the room, with black-on-green LED-lit nameplates and green-and-black jerseys hanging from each one. Photos of successful Mountaineers alumni circling the stalls, showcasing the school’s success. Green LED lighting along the perimeter of the floor.
Yeah. The Mountaineers Alumni Foundation had shelled out for this upgrade.
“Through here is the lounge.” Ryland led Van Asten down a short hallway connected to the locker room. “You’re free to use this as a study space or just to hang out.”
“Whoa,” repeated the rookie. “This is nice.” He sat in one of the green leather armchairs. “Fancy.”
Had Van Asten’s recruitment followed the normal process, he would’ve gotten a tour of the facilities when the athletics department and Mountaineers coaches had been trying to convince him to play for their team. But Van Asten hadn’t gotten a tour for reasons Ryland hadn’t been privy too, and his excitement over every little thing was almost contagious.
“Do the players use this space often?” Van Asten asked.
Ryland shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’m as new to this team as you are.”
“Right. I read about that in the news.” Van Asten popped out of his chair, only to sink into its neighbor. “I can’t believe you retired so early. You’re only thirty-three.”
“It was time,” Ryland responded blandly.
“I’m going to play until I’m fifty.”
Ryland didn’t laugh. Let the kid dream. “You can try.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “What’s your major?”
