Page 39 of Love of the Game
I burst out laughing at the cheese inthatline. Absolutely ridiculous when combined with his try at a leering expression given those innocent blue eyes and that curly blond hair. Like the elf they put on shelves trying to be sexy.
The joy in me shook my whole body, and I had to pull my knees to my chest. I ended up sideways, trying to gulp for air as tears caught in the corners of my eyes.
Drake sputtered into laughter and ended up kneeling by the couch. We both calmed down, but then I snickered and said, “Package,” and we were both gone again.
“God,” Drake said, as he wiped his eyes. “I fucking love you.”
My breath caught. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He put his hands on his thighs. “Yeah. Merry Christmas, Jon. I love you.”
I tipped myself upright. “That’s the best present I could get.”
The way Drake looked at me… Felt like my chest might burst open from happiness. “Yeah?” he said again, this time with a grin that was twinkling more than the lights on the Christmas tree.
Fuck yes. “C’mere.” I beckoned him forward with my index finger and when he was close enough, pulled him into a hard kiss that I hoped left no questions about how I felt.But just in case, I spoke between devouring his lovely mouth. “I love you, too.”
“Oh. Good. Does that mean you’ll take me upstairs and unwrap me?”
I smiled against his mouth. “Absolutely.”
Unwrap. Taste. Feel. Fuck. Love. I did all I could to make Drake understand just how much I loved him.
The daybefore Drake’s birthday, we played at home, thank goodness. No road trip meant I could plan the next day carefully. I was utterly grateful the scheduling had worked out to my advantage. As it was, today had been nice so far—one of those uneventful late December days. Cold and gray. The roads were dry, but that could change. There was a hint of smoke in the air, and that made it feel like it might snow.
After our morning practice, we took my truck over to the bar. I had some end-of-the-year bookkeeping to do and wanted to make sure we were all set for New Year’s Eve, especially since we’d play a game that night, too.
New Year’s Eve was one of Hideaway’s busiest nights of the year, since we were a safe place for local queer people. I’d witnessed more kisses and proposals on the last night of the year than I could count. It was always a night full of hope and music, dancing, laughter, and love.
This year, after the game, I’d get to experience that with Drake, with my boyfriend. That thought was enough to make me giddy.
But for New Year’s to be a success, I needed to do a little work, especially since tomorrow was all about Drake. “Are you sure you don’t mind hanging out while I do paperwork? I could drop you at the house.”
“It’s fine.”
I couldn’t tell his tone, I hazarded a quick glance over, but his expression was unreadable, too. “You okay?”
“Huh?” He shook himself. “Yeah, yeah. Sorry. No, I love the bar. It’s just…” He trailed off, and the silence stretched out for longer than I liked before he heaved a sigh. “Jerkface messaged me to wish me a happy birthday.”
“Ah, fuck. I thought you had him blocked?”
“I did.” He shook himself. “I shouldn’t let it get to me.” He ticked points off on his fingers. “Number one, he got the date wrong. Two, he disregarded my boundaries. Three, he’s an asshole. Four—” He paused and dropped his hands to his lap. “Four, I’m here with you and we’re going to the bar. Red Dog said next time he and I were both there, he’d play a game of pool with me.”
Oh God. I bit my lip as I turned onto the road that led to the bar. “Don’t bet on that game. Red Dog will want you to, and then he’ll clean your wallet out.”
“Is he that good?”
I huffed a laugh. “Oh yeah. He’ll pretend he isn’t at first, but that man must’ve been a pool shark in his past.”
A few moments later, I pulled my truck into the farthest spot from the door. Red Dog’s Indian was with a pack of other bikes I recognized from Red Dog’s club. Bunch of cars in the lot, too. Pretty nice crowd for a Sunday afternoon.
Indeed the place was packed, and over the loud conversations about the football game on the TVs, Merrick called out “Jonny boy!” and there was even more noise as various people called my name. I saw Drake smiling when Red Dog gestured to him to join the crew.
I caught his elbow. “Don’t lose all your money!”
He laughed. “I won’t,” he said, then kissed me. Just a peck, but on the lips and in public. Sure, we were in a queer bar, so no worries there, but it wasmyqueer bar so the hooting and hollering had my face uncomfortably warm in no time flat.
I headed to the end of the bar where Lorelei, one of my weekend bartenders, was serving. She was an older white woman with hair that changed color at whim. Like Ella, she took no shit from anyone.
