Chapter 16 #2
“Sure, if you think he’s amazing, he must be.” She snickered.
“He is.” And he may become a close friend. I drank my coffee. “Anyhow, I’ll speak with you soon.”
“Sure. Bye, Ronan.”
“Bye.” I ended the call. I knew I could count on her if things went south.
My phone buzzed with a text message.
Jeff
When can we get together next?
I ground my molars. With Evan travelling, it would be beneficial to have Drew here to assess the situation with Jeff. Maybe we could watch Evan’s game together? I texted Drew.
Ronan
Hey, what are you doing tomorrow evening?
The three dots blinked at me.
Drew
Nothing, why? Does Evan have a hockey game?
With a smile pulling at my lips, I tapped the screen.
Ronan
He does. Jeff wants to get together too. I was thinking of having you both come watch the game?
Drew
I’ll be there. Tell me what time.
Ronan
Come over at 6.
Biting my thumbnail, I texted Jeff. He’d met Drew at the gig in Seattle. Would he be comfortable watching the game with him? Who the hell cared what he was comfortable with?
Ronan
I’m watching a hockey game with Drew at 6 tomorrow. Would you like to watch it with us?
Jeff
Sure. I’ll see you then.
Would the fucker be late again? He promised he wouldn’t be. It would be a test of sorts. After a calming inhale, I drank more coffee.
As I settled in with a bourbon on the patio sofa, watching the sun set over the mountains while Bean sniffed around the pool, my phone buzzed. I plucked it from the cushion next to me. It was Evan. With warmth embracing my heart, I said, “Hey, Evan. How are you?”
“I’m good. I’m in the stairwell.” He let out a soft chuckle. “No one saw me this time.”
He was trying so hard to keep us a secret. But it wouldn’t be forever. “Are you ready for tomorrow?” I sipped my drink.
“Ready as I’ll ever be. Vegas is a good team this year. They’ll be hard to beat.” He sighed. “I miss you, Ronan.”
Emotion bloomed in my heart, followed by a hint of tightness. It was scary how much I enjoyed hearing that. “I miss you too. When you return, we’ll make up for lost time.” And maybe, for once, fool around in my bed?
“About that…I was thinking. When I come home, maybe we could, uh—”
“You want to have sex? Do you want me to bottom?” My cock heated and swelled. It was about time.
“Yeah. I’m ready. Is that okay? Do you want to bottom?” he rasped.
“For you? Yes.” I adjusted my cock as it pushed into a fold in my jeans. Just discussing it with him turned me on. “I’d do anything you want, Evan.”
“Okay.” His breath grew quicker. “Fuck, are you hard right now?”
With a soft laugh, I said, “Yeah. You?” I palmed my cock, and it jerked. I might have to ease this later tonight.
“Yeah,” he said. “Are you on anything? Like PrEP?”
“I am.” Hell, given my many hookups on the road, it would be stupid not to be. “I use condoms as well.” Shifting on the couch, I watched Bean give me a sideways glance.
“Okay. I, uh, I do too, but you know, I’ve only been with women.” He paused. “I could get tested.”
My brows snapped up. “Yeah?” Did he want to go bareback? “Do you want me to as well?”
“Would you?” His breath caught. “I want nothing between us. It feels like this should be special. You’ll be my first, you know?”
And his fucking last. I wrinkled my nose. “Sure. I have a concierge doctor, so I’ll get him to order the tests tomorrow.” Most of the results should be available by the time he arrived home.
“With the team doc, I have access any time I need it.”
“How convenient for us.” I snickered. There were perks to dating a hockey player. I’d make sure and prepare myself before he came over. “When do you want to do this?” Since he was playing two games in Vegas, he’d be there for three days.
“We fly home early after the second game, so how about I come over that afternoon?”
“Do you want to stay the night?” My pulse grew faster. Please say yes. Once was not enough.
His breath caught. “I-I don’t know. Let’s see how it goes. I need to be at the morning skate.” His voice lowered. “I need to impress the coaches right now. The rumors surrounding Benson continue to surface. I don’t want a reason for them to think I’m not fully committed.”
“Yeah, I get it.” My heart fell. When this ended, I wanted him in my bed as much as possible. But by then, I’d be spending late nights in the studio. “Listen, we start sessions in the recording studio soon.” Did he understand what that meant?
“Okay,” he said. “And?”
“And that means I won’t be home much. After that, the tour starts. I know Lily is working on solidifying our schedule.” He’d be free when the playoffs were over. Could I take him on the road with me? My gut clenched. Not unless he was out. Not unless we were out.
“Oh. Well, who’ll take care of Bean?”
“I usually bring him with me.” I glanced at Bean, sitting at my feet, panting. “We’ll figure something out.”
“Sure. Anyway, I need to go. There’s a team meeting starting soon.”
“Okay.” I sucked my lower lip into my mouth and released it. “Evan? Play well. I’ll be watching with Drew and Jeff.” I couldn’t believe I’d neglected to tell him this. But he’d distracted me with sex.
“Shit, you will?” He snorted a laugh. “It sounds like your relationship with him is improving.”
“Yes, we’ll see.” I patted the cushion next to me, and Bean hopped up. As my gaze rose to the far-off mountains, orange and red hues splashed across the sky. I wished he were here to witness this. “Go to your meeting, and I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Okay. Can’t wait.” He chuckled. “Bye, Ronan.”
“Goodbye.” As my chest stitched, I ended the call, pressing my phone against my chest. Falling? Hell, I’d fallen for him. I’d never felt so intensely about anyone.
The next evening, my STI testing had been done, and Drew had made himself comfortable on my couch while we waited for Jeff.
So far, he was five minutes late. “The pizza should be here any minute.” And if it were cold when Jeff arrived and the game was almost over?
So be it. At my kitchen island, I snicked a beer can open.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to share my expensive bourbon with Jeff. I still didn’t trust him completely.
The doorbell rang.
“I’ve got it.” Drew hopped off the couch while Bean barked a few times.
“Bean, quiet.” I picked him up and scratched his neck.
“Ronan, I’ve got the pizza and Jeff is here.” Drew rounded the corner with the pizza box in his hand and Jeff following.
“Hey, Jeff.” Forcing a smile, my pulse took flight. I was never sure what to make of him. I should be nice. He was dying after all.
“Hi Ronan.” He strode to me and gave me a side hug. “The pizza smells amazing.” He rubbed his hands together and licked his lips, like a man who hadn’t eaten in days. “I’m starving.”
Drew set the pizza on the counter and pulled plates down from my upper cabinet. “Here, have a slice.”
“Thank you.” Jeff opened the box and slipped two slices onto a plate.
“Beer?” After setting Bean down, I grabbed a beer for him. Drew already had one.
Eyeing Jeff, Drew said, “Should you be drinking with liver cancer?” He set a slice of pizza on his plate.
With a stumbling laugh, Jeff said, “It’s not the best.” He gave a small shrug. “But my doctor told me quality of life matters too.” He lifted the can. “One won’t kill me.”
Drew threw me a knowing look.
“Yeah, guess so.” I hadn’t thought of that. Leave it to Drew. I plated my pizza and then ambled to my couch and fell onto the end. The game was starting on the television.
An announcer said, “And what about Crosby? If the Coyotes don’t bring him back next season, I think they’re making a big mistake.”
My brows ticked up. When would Evan secure his spot? I couldn’t imagine the pressure he was under, and he’d seemed just fine on the phone.
“There’s your boy, Ronan.” Drew sipped his beer and sat next to me while Jeff took the other end of the couch.
“Have you met this hockey player yet, Drew?” Jeff ate a bite of pizza.
“Briefly at our charity event. But Ronan here’s been a little stingy with his time.” Drew waggled his brows at me.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get together when he comes back into town.” Maybe. I wanted Evan all to myself, but Evan had expressed wanting to meet Drew. I’d met Lucas and Ezra. It was time.
“Okay, let me know.” Drew studied Jeff. “So, Jeff, what are your symptoms from your liver cancer? You don’t look jaundiced at all.”
“Oh.” Scratching the back of his hair, Jeff said, “I’ve been able to keep the symptoms handled with the drugs I’m on.”
“Yeah? Like what?” Drew ate some pizza.
“I don’t know the names.” He scratched the back of his neck. “They’ve got me on a few things…immunotherapy, something else I can’t pronounce.” He huffed a soft laugh. “I just take what they tell me to.”
“Uh-huh.” Drew sipped his beer. “What about nausea? I’m surprised your doctor allows you to eat pizza. I thought salty and fatty foods wouldn’t be good for you.”
I slowed the chewing of my pizza. This hadn’t occurred to me. I hadn’t asked him what he wanted to eat. It was fucking callous of me. He was probably eating the pizza so he didn’t make waves.
“I’m sorry, Jeff. I should have asked about your dietary restrictions. If you want, I can cook you something healthier. I have chicken in the refrigerator and rice.” How uncaring I’d been. I gauged his reaction. “I’m actually an excellent cook.”
With a shake of his head, Jeff said, “I probably shouldn’t.” He glanced at the slice. “But…I didn’t want to make things complicated.” He gave Ronan a quick grin. “This is nice.”
“Are you sure?” I’d hate to make him sick. “Really, it’s not a problem.” I set my pizza on the side table.
“No, don’t. Really, this is perfect.” Jeff’s grin widened. “I don’t get dinners like this much.” His gaze drifted over the kitchen, the appliances, the open layout, before snapping back to his plate.
With a sly smirk, Drew drank his beer.
Jeff focused on Drew. “I get why you’re asking.” The corner of his lips twitched. “If it were me, I’d be suspicious too.”
With under three minutes remaining, the Coyotes were down by one. As Ace skated to the boards, I said, “What are they doing?” I sat on the edge of the sofa. Vegas could score easily now. I’d watched hockey, but I didn’t understand some of the more nuanced practices.
“By pulling the goalie, the Coyotes can put an extra man on the ice, so they have a better chance of scoring and tying this game,” Jeff said, now on his third beer as he settled into the couch like he’d been visiting for years.
“Oh.” I rubbed my sweaty palms across my thighs. This game had been a nail-biter. But Evan’s performance had pleased the announcers, so there was that.
The forwards pushed the puck back and forth, keeping it in the Vegas defensive zone, and then Mason Hopkins drew back and shot.
Falling to his leg blockers, the Vegas goalie blocked the puck and slipped it to his defenseman.
With the Coyotes’ defense shift change, Evan took to the ice with Laine. They powered into the Vegas defensive zone and skated along the edges of the rink.
The puck flew from Hopkins to Jarvis and back to Volkov until a Vegas player hit Jarvis, knocking him to the ice.
The puck sprang free, and Laine sped toward it.
Reaching the puck first, a Vegas player drew his stick back.
Evan dashed toward the Coyotes’ net.
As the puck shot down the rink, Evan barely outpaced it and threw his body onto the ice with his stick out.
With the puck sliding into the crease, Evan swiped his stick, tossing the puck from the net just before it went in.
“Oh my fucking God, did you see that?” I hopped up from the couch.
“That was your boy, Ronan.” Drew jumped up and gave me a high-five. “That save will be in every replay.” He laughed.
“He’s a skillful player, that Evan. I’m sure he’ll become a star in these playoffs.” A smirk played on Jeff’s lips as he drank his beer. After scanning the room, his attention returned to me. “Yep, you and your friends have really done well for yourself.”
The Coyotes won in overtime, and Jeff left the house, assuring me he hadn’t drunk too much to drive.
Hell, I wouldn’t be the one getting a DUI if he had.
After shutting the door, I ambled back into the main room, where Drew rested on my couch.
He had a few things to say. I knew it. “Well?” I stopped in front of him and planted my hands on my hips.
“I don’t trust him, Ronan. I think you should be careful.” Drew swirled the bourbon in his glass.
My chest clenched. I had let my guard down. “Why do you say that?” I dropped onto the couch next to Bean and petted him. I didn’t want to believe Drew, but deep down, I felt it too.
“I took it upon myself to do some research on liver cancer. If he’s so far along that he’s terminal, he should be sicker than he looks.” He took a sip of his bourbon. “He’s not showing any signs of it.”
“Yes, but it’s probably different for different people, and he said he’s taking drugs to manage the symptoms.” Drew wasn’t a doctor. I crossed my arms over my chest. Evan had thought Jeff was genuine. Shit, I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
“Just…be careful, Ronan.” Leaning over, he squeezed my thigh. “I’m uncertain about his motives, but don’t let him bother you.” He narrowed his eyes. “Hey, didn’t he tell you he went to rehab?”
“Yes.” I clenched my jaw as an ache wound through my heart. I’d already let Jeff in too much. I’d actually enjoyed his company.
“Then why is he drinking? Why would he drink even with liver cancer?” He wrinkled his forehead.
“I don’t know. Maybe the rehab targeted drugs and not liquor?
” I raised my chin. “I know people who’ve been in rehab for liquor and now use pot just fine.
” In the music industry, drugs and rehab stints were rampant.
Thankfully, I hadn’t fallen into that trap.
I glanced at my empty bourbon glass. Yet.
“Yeah, okay.” He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Are we working on music now?” Slapping his thighs, he rose and picked up his glass from the side table.
Music would let me process the evening. “Yes, let’s.” I grabbed my glass and strolled to the bar. “I’ll meet you in there.”