Page 53 of Enticing the Elf
“Don’t get too upset on my behalf,” Felix says with a wry smile. “I really am an aggressive player naturally, and Coach never told me to beat up on my own teammates.” He winces. “Which is what led to that Ari guy saying I assault people.”
“You beat up your teammates?” Now I’m intrigued. “I had no idea hockey was a last-man-standing kind of sport.”
“It’s not,” Jared says firmly while Felix laughs. “Felix gets frustrated with his teammates. That’s all.”
“Part of it’s puberty,” Felix agrees. “It’s so fucking annoying that some of them are on the team just because of their size, even when they’re making sloppy mistakes. I used to deal with it better, but the last few years, hormones have been killing my patience.”
“So why haven’t they been cut yet? Jared said the other teams have a mix of player sizes. Why are the Warhammers so fixated on big players?”
He shrugs. “That’s the way Coach and the old general manager wanted it. I’m not sure if the new GM is the same—too early to tell.”
“Your coach sounds like a douchecanoe,” I tell him, and he nods.
“Fuck yeah. Any other coach would have suspended me the first time I belted a teammate on the ice, but he just ignores it.”
I make a mental note to talk to Eoin about the coach. If the king is going to be around that man, Eoin needs to know what to expect. Maybe I can call hockey Erik and get his take on the new general manager too. We’re not friends, but I bet I could sweet-talk him.
“But that’s my side of the deal done,” Felix continues. “And hey, good news is, I won’t have to see my ex or that Ari asshole ever again. Now I want to hear about your complicated boyfriend, Dáithí.”
I groan. “I’ve talked about this way too much lately. The short version is, I had my heart broken in the past by someone whose history is a lot like Eoin’s, he and I agreed starting out that we’d keep it casual, but now he wants to change that and he’s going to complete a bunch of challenges to prove his commitment.”
He stares at me. “I’m going to need the long version.”
Of course he does. I tell the whole story—with many interjections and additions from Jared—and every word I say makes it all seem even more ridiculous.
Felix lets out a low whistle when I’m done. “I thought I was fucked-up, but you’re giving me a run for my money.”
“Hey!” He’s not wrong, damn it.
“I’m just saying, that man must seriously want you. For one thing, he’s spending his Saturday morning cleaningyourapartment while you’re here bitching with us.”
I reach out to where Elsking and Marge are napping and stroke my sweetheart’s soft fur. “Yeah.” How dare he keep making factual statements that contain valid points?
“That’s only a fraction of it,” Jared adds. “Did you see the updated progress report last night? Ari says Eoin’s been researching custom accessories for Elsking because he doesn’t think what she’s got is good enough for her. And he told you to bring her so she wouldn’t be upset by his cleaning today. He’s killing it on the task he doesn’t even know about.”
“See?” Felix gestures to Jared. “He’s not only willing to tackle this stupid challenge, he’strying. I don’t know the guy, but from what you’ve told me, he’s determined to show you he can be what you want, and you’re comparing him to someone who not only didn’t try, but blamed you for it afterward.” He shakes his head. “There’s no guarantees in any relationship, Dáithí. But if you care about someone enough, you risk it anyway.”
Ouch. Stung, I demand, “Have you been risking it since your ex screwed you over?”
“Yes,” he says bluntly. “A bunch of times. Jared met me the day my last boyfriend broke up with me.”
Jared winces. “That’s why you threw your phone?”
He nods. “Uh-huh. I’ve been burned a whole bunch of times, and I’ll probably be burned some more, because I’m looking forsomeone who loves me so much, he’ll do whatever it takes to show me.” He cocks a brow. “Sound familiar?”
I guess we’re friends now, because only a true friend would call me on my bullshit like that.
Damn him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Eoin
Dáithí doesn’t get backuntil late in the afternoon, which works out perfectly for me. I had time to clean the whole place from top to bottom, including under the furniture and rugs. I even managed to give the inside of the windows a once-over. His place isn’t big—at all—but cleaning it that thoroughly took hours, even using magic to help move things around.
Technically, I had permission to use magic for the whole job, but the standard cleaning spells I already know wouldn’t have achieved the outcome I wanted, and it would have taken longer to design new spells than it did to just clean manually. Maybe if this was something I planned to do all the time, like if I was a cleaner or something, it would be worth the time.
By the time I hear the front door open, I’m sacked out on the couch, feet up, brimming with smug satisfaction.
