10. Riley
Riley had never seen Jake so animated and comfortable in his own skin, and he didn’t know why it was bugging him.
It was crazy to think that all his friend needed was a tiny ball of explosive sarcasm wearing a pretty face to make him happy, when Riley had been trying for years to break him out of his quiet shell.
But he liked Allen, and he liked seeing him with Jake—even if it made Riley feel inadequate because he hadn’t been able to give Jake what he needed.
Some best friend he was.
Christmas was nice at least. Riley got to do all the things he wanted, like eating turkey for the second time, watching his favourite movies, and opening more gifts. Spending Christmas Day with Jake was different from going to his parents’ house, because here, they could just be them.
No good behaviour and proper manners were necessary.
Riley walked around shirtless for the most part since Allen insisted on keeping the electric fireplace going because he was tiny and probably fucking anemic.
He sat in the living room to eat, wrestled with Jake when he backtalked him, and brought snacks and drinks to Allen when he called for him from the hot tub.
Riley had been unsure of how Allen would fit into their lives and their friendship, but if anyone asked, he would shamelessly admit to having a small crush on the beautiful man.
Allen was just so—yeah, he was different.
Maybe it was because he was a guy like them instead of a clingy girl.
Allen was the opposite of every woman Jake had dated.
He was independent and snarky, and even though he clammed up when he confronted Jake’s father, Riley could tell Allen was fiercely protective of Jake. That made him all the more likable.
And unlike Jake’s past girlfriends, who always tried to physically get between them, Allen preferred to have Riley sit in the middle so he could kick his feet up over their laps.
“If you ever break up with him, I’ll murder you,” Riley said to Jake while gripping his chin, forcing him to make eye contact. “I love him. You need to keep him.”
Jake fluttered his lashes because he was a brat, his expression unreadable.
“I’m not a damn pet,” said Allen. “No one is keeping me. I can walk out the door if I want.”
For a guy in his thirties, Allen could act like a grumpy teenager at times.
Riley let go of Jake and lay his head back, sighing loudly as Allen began poking Jake on the thigh with his toe to get him to talk. They were so cute, and Riley had been single for too long. But where was he going to find a girl who matched him like Allen matched Jake? Was it even possible?
Fuck, he was so tired of feeling lonely. It was like someone had carved the marrow out of his bones, leaving him feeling hollow inside.
“Don’t,” said Jake.
Riley couldn’t look at him. He didn’t want to cry today.
“We’re here, Riles. Don’t drift away.”
Riley didn’t know how much Allen knew about his past, but one glance at the man’s confused frown said enough.
“You good?” Allen asked, touching a hand to his arm. “Shit—hold on.”
Riley couldn’t dodge fast enough when Allen threw a blanket over him and started tucking him into it like he was swaddling a baby. The dread Riley had been fighting vanished instantly because he was more concerned about getting heat stroke than he was about his depression.
“Goddamnit, Allen. I can’t fucking breathe—I was already sweating.”
“Shhh…” Allen wrapped his skinny arms around his head, nearly suffocating him. “I got you, big guy. No need to feel sad.”
He knew Allen wasn’t being serious, but despite being overheated, the cocoon method did work. Riley endured it until he couldn’t take it anymore, then he carefully pulled Allen’s arms away and pushed him back onto the couch.
“You’ve healed me,” said Riley. “Please stop trying to smother me with your love. It’s painful.”
Allen scoffed and propped his legs over their thighs again. “If you stop making sad puppy faces, then I won’t have to cute aggression choke you. It’s as simple as that.”
Weird. He was so weird.
“Has your roommate moved in yet?” Jake asked, abruptly switching the topic.
And there went the rest of the joy inside his soul. Riley was fuming just thinking about that smug bastard, Kingston Sloan.
“Why do you think I came here so early?” Riley barked, glaring daggers at Jake as if he could actually stab him with them. “He was supposed to move in on the first day of January, but he decided he didn’t want to stay at the hotel anymore and barged into my fucking apartment this morning.”
Allen leaned forward to stare at Jake, his eyes darting between them. “What’s happening? Who’s Riley’s new roommate?”
Jake lit up, looking far too excited. “Do you remember that jerk who sat next to you at the game?”
Allen’s head tilted slightly. “You mean Sloan? Jake—you didn’t—”
“He fucking did,” Riley interrupted, his temper flaring, making his face feel flushed. “And now I have to put up with that annoying fucker in my space. He was already trying to boss me around while I was still in bed, telling me I needed to move my shit out of the living room.”
The apartment was a large two-level place, originally meant for him and Jake. But Jake’s father had insisted he stay in the penthouse instead, forcing him deeper into the family business by making it impossible to dodge meetings.
Riley had tried downgrading to an apartment with fewer rooms, but Jake owned the building and refused to let him move out. He had no need for that much room, but Riley had shared an interest in renting it out to rookies on the team if he ever made it to the NHL, so he stayed.
That also meant Sloan had no reason to tell him to move his things because he had his own damn living room on the second floor, far away from Riley’s section. The guy could take the empty rooms or fuck off—he was done putting up with his bullshit.
“Earning a spot on the Citadels is in your own hands,” said Jake, in his matter-of-fact tone.
“The GM has found a solid amount of talent, and you’re on the list. Sloan happens to be higher because he’s an enforcer, and he needs to protect that talent.
So, if you’re not capable of getting along with him… ”
He wouldn’t get selected.
Riley understood that, but he had never been good at swallowing his pride, and doing it when Sloan was involved felt more like swallowing poison.
“Ah, the good ‘ol forced proximity trope,” Allen said wistfully. “That, with a side of rivals, is peak romance material. Too bad you guys are straight, or you could just fuck the animosity out of your systems.”
Riley felt a chill go down his spine at the thought of being anywhere near Sloan. “I’d rather thrust my cock into a thornbush, thanks.”
Allen’s cute face crumpled, and he groaned. “Thank you, Riley Evans, for the dramatic visual.”
“Any time, Ally.” Riley patted Allen’s thigh, raising an eyebrow when Allen hissed and knocked his knee against Riley’s chest to stop him.
Allen must be…tender.
Riley didn’t need eyes to know that he had been thoroughly fucked the moment they walked into the penthouse. The hickeys on Allen’s neck and the wincing when he moved were a dead giveaway, and Riley had seen the scratches on Jake’s back, too.
He didn’t want to think about their sex life too hard since he was already questioning how the fuck Jake had fit his above-average dick into poor, tiny Allen, but he felt like he needed to congratulate the guy.
Good job. Here’s a gold sticker for being a champ. Wait—here’s nine stickers for every inch you conquered.
That thought had Riley sighing, because he hated the fact that he knew his best friend’s dick size, and it was information he had learned against his will. Jake’s last girlfriend had been a loud drunk, and once she was in a social setting with other girls, it was hard to tune her out.
Hearing the words, “He’s so big that I can’t take all of him,” followed by, “Oh my god, he’s nine inches, and he breaks me every time,” was not something he needed to know. Especially not when Riley had to shower next to that guy all the time, and now it was a fight to keep his gaze at eye level.
Riley was a good friend in many ways.
In fact, he was such a good friend that he decided to go home after they had eaten and watched the last of the Christmas movies.
He was not interested in listening to Allen and Jake fucking all night, and even though the alternative was dealing with Sloan, he would take that over hearing moaning and slapping all night.
Respectfully.
“You have practice tomorrow?” Jake asked, following Riley while he got dressed on his way to the door. “I thought they gave you the day off?”
Riley glanced at Allen’s frowning face, and his cheeks immediately began to feel warm. There was no way he could stay while his imagination continued to threaten him with gay sex scenarios, so he had to pass.
“I want to make sure Sloan didn’t steal my shit,” Riley lied. “I can stop by tomorrow and hang out if you guys aren’t busy, but I don’t want to intrude on your honeymoon phase.”
“I haven’t said yes yet!” Allen snapped, shoving them both. “Are you two communicating telepathically or something? Jeez.”
Allen didn’t wait for an answer; he grabbed Riley in a hug, shoved them again, and then stomped back to the couch.
Riley had Jake pushed against the wall before Allen disappeared. “You proposed?!”
Jake did, and Riley knew it. He knew it because Jake’s ears always turned fucking red when he felt guilty, and he would start fidgeting with his hands—like he was doing right now.
“I’m surprised he didn’t get on a ladder and choke the fuck out of you,” Riley hissed. “You take hyper-focusing to a new level, Mouse. We need to have a talk about relationships and timing, for sure.”
Jake shrugged, and Riley groaned, bumping his head onto Jake’s chest. “You’re unbelievable.”
Jake shrugged again. “He’s going to say yes.”
“Oh?” Riley lifted his head, grinning up at Jake’s already smirking face. “Wanna make a bet?”
“Within the first half of next year,” said Jake.