19. Blake #14
That earns him a swat on the arm, and unfortunately, I don’t miss the flare of heat in his gaze that comes with it.
We sip our beers and make small talk for the next hour or so, mostly about the work projects we all have going on.
Since we all consider our jobs to be more like play, it's less of a bitchfest and more of a brag session. I’m so engrossed, I totally forget about this being our big reveal until I hear Deacon’s voice echoing through the room as he orders a round of shots.
“When are they ever gonna get tired of that game?” Lennon groans.
“It is pretty funny.” Jace faces me, waggling his eyebrows. “How come you didn’t try to pick me up with some sexy shots the first time I came through town?”
“Because I tried to pick you up with an offer for a massage instead, which you didn’t take me up on by the way.”
“I would’ve if we’d stayed in town.” He bites the corner of his lip suggestively. “Did you buy Kane a sexy shot?”
“Actually, I picked him up.” Kane gives Jace a little half-shrug when he gapes at him .
“You both picked me up in that bar. Best two nights of my life, until you both moved here permanently.” I sip my beer while astonished looks zing around the table.
“Wait – are you saying we picked you up back-to-back? As in the three of us narrowly missed each other in Utah?” Jace’s mouth drops open.
I press my lips in a straight line to hold in my grin.
Kane leans forward to see Jace. “Did you know he was that easy?”
Jace looks me up and down slyly. “Manwhore. Are we sure we want to claim this guy as ours, Kane?”
He taps a finger on the corner of his lip as he pretends to mull that over. “I’m sure.” He leans in to give me a shy kiss on the lips.
“Okay, fine. Me, too.” Jace tugs my head towards him and presses his lips to mine, soft and reassuring. Before we break away a hand slams down on the table, shaking the glasses and causing us to jump apart.
“So, it’s true?” Ryder half-shouts, half-slurs. “What other secrets are you keeping from me, Blake? You’re the one who broke Chase’s heart and forced him to move away, aren’t you?”
My jaw hangs open as I blink my eyes, trying like hell to make sense of what he’s saying. “What?”
“Admit it. You preyed on him then screwed him over. He moved away so he wouldn’t have to see you everywhere.”
Holding my hands up in surrender, I hold Ryder’s cloudy gaze. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Ryder. I’ve never been with Chase. He was like a brother…”
“Don’t you say that,” he sneers. “He was my brother, not yours. And you drove him away. It took years, Blake. Years for him to get over you. But he did. He found someone and he was finally happy. I backed out of that trip so he could take his new boyfriend. Now he’s dead.
He never would have moved from Katah Vista if you hadn’t screwed him over. ” He thrusts a shaky finger in my face.
I know how messed up Ryder’s been since his brother died in that plane crash, so part of me just wants to ignore this rant and chalk it up to his drunken grief. The other part of me wants to defend myself against his totally insane accusations.
“I didn’t hook up with Chase, man. I wouldn’t. I’m sorry he got his heart broken, but don’t put that on me because I like dudes.”
“Then why didn’t you help him? You’re just like him and you didn’t help him. He felt so alone. You should’ve been there.” Ryder’s voice loses some of its heat as he starts to ramble.
“I would’ve if I’d known, Ryder.”
“How could you not know?”
My hand cramps from how tight I’m fisting it. “Just because I like guys doesn’t mean I have some special skill at picking out other guys who feel the same way, especially if they want to keep that private.”
“What’s up, bro?” Deacon slings an arm around Ryder’s shoulder, eyes searching the stunned faces around the table for a clue about what’s going on.
“If it wasn’t you then who was it? Who broke him and drove him away from his home? If you’ve been gay this whole time it had to be you.”
Deacon’s playful expression turns somber, as he leans his head toward Ryder and talks to him in a level tone. “Ryder, think about this man. Blake wasn’t with your brother. He isn’t who you’re mad at.”
“He has to be,” Ryder slurs. “He has to be.” He points a finger at me before spinning from Deacon’s hold and bolting for the door.
Once Ryder’s gone, all eyes turn to me. “I had no idea Chase left because of a broken heart, and I have no idea who he might’ve dated. If I’d known, I would’ve tried to help him. ”
Lennon reaches across the table and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to explain anything Blake. We all know Ryder’s in a weird place right now. He’s angry at everyone, mostly himself, and is lashing out.”
“I knew he was struggling.” I drop my head in shame. “I should’ve been there for him, but I was too wrapped up in my own stuff.”
Regardless of the things happening in my life, I should’ve been more aware of this.
His brother is dead, for God’s sake, and instead of helping him through that I’ve been living my life to the fullest, working my dream job and falling in love twice over.
I may not have been the one to drive Chase away, but I can’t blame Ryder for being pissed at me now.
“We all knew he was struggling, I just don’t think any of us realized how bad.” Deacon glances toward the door Ryder disappeared out of. “Drowning his feelings seemed natural given the circumstances, but maybe…” He ducks his head and rubs it awkwardly.
“Should I go after him?” I look around the table for input.
“It’s probably best if I do that. No offense.” Deacon offers me a weak smile.
“None taken.” I exhale heavily. “Go.”
No one’s in the mood to hang out after Ryder’s outburst, so we thank Axel and Lennon for the night and make our way back to my place. Our place.
“So,” Kane drawls as he gets comfortable sandwiched between me and Jace on the mattress. “ Do they make beds for three?”
God, I love him for trying to lighten things up. “Are you feeling crowded in my California King?”
“Not at the moment. But I’ve only stayed over once and that’s not enough time to form an opinion. I guess I could always sleep at my place if you two are bed hogs. ”
Jace shoots upright, staring down at Kane with a pained expression. “You’re gonna keep your place? I was sorta thinking you’d move in with us.”
Kane’s plump little lips form a surprised ‘o.’ “It’s not too soon for that? I mean, we only just made things official.”
“Pretty sure in our circumstance there isn’t any particular roadmap to follow.” I link my fingers with his. “We’d love to have you move in, but if you want to ease into things that works, too.”
Jace is still frowning, signaling he doesn’t like that idea, but I’m determined that Kane make the call on this. We owe him that.
“I mean, employee housing is convenient and all, but it’s not really home, you know?”
“This is home,” Jace insists.
“Yeah. I kind of think it is.” He gives him a shy smile before turning to look at me. “So, a bed for three? And do we each have an assigned spot, or do we rotate? Just because I’m the smallest doesn’t mean I want to sleep bitch all the time.”
Wrapping a hand around his neck, I pull him to me and slap a lingering kiss on his lips.
“I love you.” I grin. Then I lean up and do the same to Jace.
I fall asleep knowing that while fate may have knocked me around a bit to get me to this place, it led me to the future I was meant to have, just like I always knew it would. And it was definitely worth the wait.
***
Ryder
“Ryder Vohrees,” The judge’s voice echoes through the high ceilings of the courtroom. “You’ve been charged with one count of driving under the influence. How do you plea? ”
My lawyer’s face is expressionless as he gives me a curt nod, and I parrot the words he drilled into my head during our last meeting. “No contest, Your Honor.”
I’m guilty as fuck–we all know it, thanks to the breathalyzer they gave me.
Apparently, pleading no contest is like accepting punishment without admitting guilt.
I think it’s supposed to look better on my record or something, as if I give a shit what my record says.
If I gave a shit about anything these days, I wouldn't be in a court, awaiting the inevitable clink of handcuffs being locked around my wrists.
“Very well. I hereby sentence you to one hundred hours of community service. You will report…”
“If I may, Your Honor,” my attorney interrupts.
Based on the deep lines between the judge’s eyes, I get the impression he may not , but that doesn’t stop the guy on my left from plowing ahead.
“Carter Quinn would like to propose Ryder perform his community service at the Katah Vista resort.” My attorney waves a hand in Carter’s direction. “They have an adaptive program for disabled riders, and they are in need of instructors.”
What the fuck? This was not part of the plan. I did not plead no contest to get stuck back in the absolute last place I want to be.
I glance over my shoulder to the only other guy wearing a suit here, besides my lawyer.
In a manner of speaking, Carter’s sort of my boss.
His resort is my biggest sponsor, and without him I wouldn’t be able to compete on the snowboard circuit.
But he already bailed me out of jail when my parents called him in a panic after my arrest, so it’d make more sense for him to drop me than to do it again with this community service gig. What is he playing at?
“Is that correct, Mr. Quinn?” The judge arches a thick brow in Carter’s direction .
“Yes, Your Honor. Our program is just getting off the ground, and I’m sure you’re aware of Ryder’s expertise on a snowboard. His experience would be invaluable.”
“What experience?” My attorney shoots me a warning glare–I’m not supposed to talk unless I’m asked a question or I risk being out of order or in contempt or something–but speaking up is the only way I can see to stop this train wreck, even if it gets me in more trouble.
“I don’t know how to teach disabled riders. ”
“You will once you complete the training program,” Carter replies without missing a beat.
I open my mouth again but can’t get any words out before my attorney clasps my forearm in his iron grip. He’s stronger than I expected for a suit.
“Your mission would seem to meet the requirements for community service, but as it’s not yet recognized by this court, I’m reluctant to grant this request, even in light of Mr. Vohrees’s reputation on the snow.
” I breathe a sigh of relief as the judge puts an end to my nightmare.
My celebrity isn’t going to get me any special favors. Good. It’s short lived.
“I could really use Ryder’s help, Your Honor,” Carter appeals. “I’ll personally oversee his hours to ensure compliance with any instructions you have, and perhaps with the successful completion of our program, will be recognized by the court going forward.”
My jaw is locked so tight I think my teeth might crack. I’d rather go to jail than strap on a snowboard. As it is, I get fucking chest palpitations when it snows.
“Seeing as how Mr. Vohrees is a very capable rider, and this is his first offense, your idea has merit. Very well, Mr. Quinn, Mr. Vohrees is in your charge.” The judge bangs his gavel, and the courtroom starts to clear out .
“Stay out of trouble.” My attorney pats me on the back and stuffs a bunch of papers in his briefcase before heading out the door, leaving me alone in the room with Carter. Great.
“You didn’t have to do that.” I ask him what his deal is without asking outright.
“No, I didn’t.” The asshole doesn’t elaborate.
“Is this how you want me to pay you back for the bail money? Indentured servitude?”
“You don’t owe me bail money.”
I ball my fists at my sides, seething. “Then why the hell put me on the mountain with a bunch of people I have no business working with?”
“Because you have more business on the mountain than anyone I know.” He casually picks his jacket up off the bench, his voice way too calm for my liking.
“I doubt that considering I need special training for whatever you have in mind,” I snort.
“The training isn’t for what to do on the mountain, it’s for what to do with your mouth. Ideally, it will prevent you from saying the wrong thing to the wrong person, like you did with the judge earlier.” His brows disappear underneath his hair, daring me to object.
“I know what you’re doing. And it won’t work.” Court order or no, I’m not getting back on that mountain. He should know by now I’m a bad investment.
Carter’s eyes roam over me, calculating. “We’ll see.” He spins toward the door, pausing before he pushes it open. “Be at my office by nine a.m. tomorrow for training. You have two days to complete it before you report to Hayden on Thursday, and trust me when I say you don’t want to piss him off.”
“Who the fuck is Hayden? ”
“Your new manager.”
If I wasn’t shooting daggers at him I might've missed the wicked gleam in his eye as he saunters out the door. He thinks he’s won? That a ballsy dude will make a difference? Bring it on, boss.