Page 27 of Game Winner
“And I wasn’t able to get the holiday game for the same reason,” Soren adds. “How’d you manage to score them?”
Bax’s shoulders relax away from his ears. “One of Gavin’s coworkers at the music store has a brother who works at the game shop. He hooked me up.”
I lean into Soren to get a better look at his game. “Wanna play? We can create a character for you, Bax.”
“Why not? I want to see why you like it so much.” He strides to the couch and we make room for him to sit between us.
Soren loads his game and digs out a third controller. “The overall premise is a land of fantasy creatures ruled by magic. There are spells involving the different elements. Earth, air, fire, water. And different quests you can do. There’s also easy games where it’s more like racing against other players. Looks like this version is mostly a winter theme.”
Settling against Bax’s side, I navigate to the list of characters. “I’m always the purple gargoyle, and Soren is the orange one. Your options are a gargoyle, ogre, dragon, centaur, fairy, or gnome.”
Bax scans the list and stops on a blue gargoyle. “This is the one.”
He’s a quick learner with the game controls, and I bet his drumming ability aids his dexterity.
We pick an easy game, blasting each other with snowballs and spells, racing through a snow-covered forest. It’s silly and fun and we play round after round.
As the hour grows late, we turn off the game.Sitting together in the dark, cuddled under the blankets in Soren’s bed with our limbs entangled, we watchA Christmas Carolandtalk about our plans and resolutions for the new year.
WhenHow the Grinch Stole Christmasbegins, I can barely keep my eyes open. Soren tucks the blankets around me and Bax smooths my hair off my forehead. The best feeling is when they lie beside me. The three of us haven’t shared sleep before, and Soren and I haven’t either, not on the road or here at home. The peace I feel in their presence is unlike anything I’ve ever known.
Bax kisses me goodnight, and Soren follows, taking it deep enough to wake me up a bit and send current of longing rippling through me. With his arm around my waist, he spoons me, so I’m facing Bax, and our drummer stay close, folding his arm over my hip so he can touch Soren too.
When I’m with them, it feels like my heart has grown three sizes.
CHAPTER SEVEN
BAX
Lights flash patterns from the stage, bouncing around the partygoers, reflecting off sequined dresses, shiny party hats and headbands, and the massive disco ball hanging in the room’s center. The beat of the bass vibrates through my chest and thumps through the air like a heartbeat. As they have all night, people dance and cheer and sing along to the acts on stage, high on celebration and anticipation.
From our spot on the raised section of the bar, Tyler, Soren, and I have a good view of the entire space. My guys are dressed similarly in jeans and button-downs, with Soren in shades of black and gray and Tyler in softer blue. They both eye me like my T-shirt and jeans are something special, and since my band stepped off the stage half an hour ago, I’ve been riding the high that comes with performing and being in their presence.
The lights cast a pink hue over Soren’s blond hair. He passes fresh beers to Tyler and me. “To new beginnings and fresh starts.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I tip my bottle against theirs and take a sip.
Playing tonight and sharing the stage with so many of the bands we’ve become friends with over the years has been a blast.And getting to ring in the new year with Soren and Tyler fills me with a happiness and rightness I can’t put into words. But I can’t enjoy it like I want to because of the problem that is Layne.
He flits like a firefly from group to group, dancing with friends and strangers, downing drinks, kissing like he’s going for a medal in racking up the most partners of the night. And repeat, and repeat, and repeat.
On the edge of the dance floor, Gavin and Everett are locked in an embrace, swaying off-rhythm, gazing into each other’s eyes. For years, their friendship has extended to friends with benefits, and since we came off the stage, it’s clear they plan on ringing in the new year together in their own world. Which means I’m on my own watching out for Layne.
And because I’m doing that, I fear I’ve been poor company for my dates. Beneath the table, I stretch my legs until I’m touching theirs and I give them a smile and my full attention. “Where are your housemates tonight? I thought for sure that Sage would be here listening to all the bands.”
Tyler leans in, brushing his thumb under my eye, then holds it up to show the eyelash he captured. “He would’ve been, but the Metros had a game in San Jose tonight. Phil and Gio said to wish you a good show. They’re taking advantage of having an empty house.”
“I’m glad your game ended early enough for you to be here. I was worried I wouldn’t have anyone to kiss at midnight.” I shoot them a playful pout, the fire in their eyes scorching me.
Soren shifts in his seat, pressing his chest into my shoulder and his mouth to my ear. “Nothing would’ve kept us away from that.”
“Ending the year with a win would’ve been nice.” Tyler picks at the label on his beer bottle, peeling the corner until it rips. “Pavel’s taking the loss hard. He blames himself for that last goal slipping under his pad.”
“The same thing’s happened to me,” Soren shrugs. “Like I told him, it sucks, but you have to let it go.”
Taking a pull of my beer, I scan the dance floor. Layne’s kissing yet another guy. “Yeah, you need to have a short memory on things like that. I hate when I mess up the rhythm or sing the wrong lyrics during a show. You gotta roll with it and just keep going. I messed up tonight when I saw you walk in… But look at you two, who could blame me?”
Tyler lays his hand atop mine. “We wouldn’t have missed being here. I love watching you on stage. The way you lose yourself in the music.”
