CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sebastian looked up from his phone after Crawford let out a small groan.
He didn’t look good. He had a grim, gray look to his face, even in the sickly yellow light of the single bulb in the ceiling of the old garage.
Crawford didn’t reply after Sebastian lifted his eyebrows.
He didn’t say anything either, his gaze quickly sliding away from Sebastian’s when their eyes met.
“You get your ride lined up?” he asked gruffly.
“Yeah.” Sebastian tucked his phone in his pocket, his breath steaming in the cold. “It’ll be about twenty-five minutes. Just trying to figure out how to get to the front of the house.”
“We can cut through the yard,” Crawford said. “It’s gonna be a bitch of a walk though. Snow’s been melting and re-freezing and it’s probably icy.”
Sebastian nodded. Shit, if Crawford got injured worse, he was going to feel terrible. During the game he’d thought that he didn’t care if Crawford got injured on the ice. And he still felt that way. With the way Crawford played, he deserved whatever he got.
But the fact that he’d clearly done further damage during their hookup? Yeah, that didn’t sit well with Sebastian.
“You sure we shouldn’t just take the long way around on the sidewalk?”
“Trouble is, it’s a lot longer and it melts and refreezes too,” Luke said gruffly. “There’s a bit of a hill and water runs down onto the sidewalk for a good long stretch …”
Sebastian nodded. Okay, so somehow, they had to make it through the icy backyard with Crawford injured and probably unwilling to accept help. Sure. What could possibly go wrong?
“Okay,” Sebastian said with a sigh. “Let’s do this.”
There was a small path from the garage that led to a fenced-in backyard.
Sebastian chewed his lip as he carefully followed Crawford across the slippery ground. It was worse once they were through the gate and in the yard. The packed snow that Crawford had clearly trodden down on multiple trips back and forth had turned into a sheet of ice.
And although the slope was fairly gentle from the house to where they stood, they’d be going uphill on a slippery surface. In the dark. While Crawford was injured.
But what worried Sebastian most was the way he swayed as he stood there surveying the path ahead of them. Was it the pain? The medication he’d taken?
Sebastian had no idea and he didn’t think Crawford was likely to tell him. And if Sebastian pointed out that he needed help, he’d probably just lash out and do something stupid and macho.
“I’m kind of afraid of falling on my face,” Sebastian said aloud, which was true enough. “You know your way up here better than I do. Can I hang on to your arm?”
Crawford shot him a quizzical look, one eyebrow raised, but nodded.
Sebastian looped his arm through Crawford’s.
Was he convinced he could keep them both upright if one of them lost their footing? Not really but it was better than going it alone or watching Crawford topple over like a felled tree and be too far away to at least try to keep him upright.
“What I wouldn’t give for a tree branch right now,” Sebastian muttered, glancing around. “I could use it for balance.”
“I’ve got a couple of old hockey sticks in the garage.” Crawford glanced back toward it. “If you wanna grab them.”
“Yes,” Sebastian said, relieved. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Crawford huffed but he tugged his beanie down over his hair and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Make it quick.”
Sebastian walked as fast as he could down the path back to the garage and just as he unlocked the side door to get inside, he heard Crawford yell out, “There’s a motorcycle covered in a tarp on the left. Sticks are hanging above it.”
Sebastian found the sticks quickly enough and pulled out a couple of them, then locked the garage again.
By the time he returned to the yard, Crawford was leaning against the fence with his eyes closed. He looked even worse than before, tired and in pain.
Damn it, Sebastian was starting to feel bad for Crawford. Ugh, that was the last thing he wanted.
“Hey,” he said nudging Crawford’s shoe with his.
Crawford gave him a slow blink. “Hey,” he said roughly. “You came back. Thought you were gonna leave me here or something.”
Sebastian huffed. “I thought about it. But you’re not allowed to sleep standing up in the freezing-cold yard.”
“No?”
“No.” Sebastian sighed. “C’mon, asshole, let’s do this.”
With their arms looped together and using the butt ends of the hockey sticks to dig into the snow, they started up the small hill, one careful step at a time.
“Fuckin ridiculous,” Crawford grumbled after a few steps.
It made Sebastian laugh. “Don’t look at me. You’re the one with the deadly backyard.” He planted the stick in the snow and took another careful step forward.
“It’s never been this bad before.” Crawford jammed his stick in on his side and took a step up. He grunted and Sebastian wondered if he was still in pain.
“Suuure,” Sebastian threw back.
Crawford shot him a dirty look but didn’t reply.
They made it halfway up the hill before one of them lost their footing.
Crawford stepped forward but his foot slid back and suddenly he was clutching Sebastian tighter. The weight of his body yanked at Sebastian’s shoulder, and he jammed his stick harder into the icy snow and held on for dear life, wondering if Crawford was going to take him down with him.
The image of them tumbling down the small hill and landing in the broken heap against the fence flashed through Sebastian’s eyes but Crawford righted himself at the last second, his breath hissing out in what Sebastian was certain was a pained noise this time.
The second time that happened, Crawford let out a string of particularly vivid oaths and Sebastian glanced over and burst into laughter.
“What’s so goddamn funny?” he grumbled.
“You?” Sebastian said. “This fucking situation? I don’t know. Ever think we’d end up doing this?”
Crawford huffed. “No.” But he was almost smiling now.
They made it a few more steps without incident and then Sebastian was the one sliding backwards, both feet losing traction. Crawford tightened his grip and somehow kept them both from wiping out.
Sebastian let out another breathless laugh when he was steady again.
“All I fucking wanted was to get laid tonight,” Crawford muttered under his breath. “The whole day was a fucking shitshow. Should’ve known something like this would happen.”
That made Sebastian laugh harder for some reason and then they were both laughing.
When it finally faded to soft chuckles, they began moving again. Somehow, they kept their feet under them the rest of the way and Sebastian quietly cheered when they finally made it to the top of the hill.
Crawford abruptly let go.
Sebastian hadn’t expected it and he windmilled, feet sliding out from under him.
He frantically jabbed at the snow with his stick but the butt end skidded across an icy patch and he reached out, grabbing for Crawford.
He clutched at his coat, which tugged him forward and Sebastian landed on his ass on the icy patch, the breath leaving his lungs in a forceful woosh when Crawford landed on top of him.
Sebastian groaned, struggling for air, until Crawford lifted onto his elbows and took a little weight off him. “You okay?”
Sebastian let out a pained noise, his head swimming, his lungs gasping to pull in air. “Probably cracked a rib or two,” he said with another groan. “Jesus, I don’t know how guys take it when you check them. It’s like getting hit by a fucking house.”
“Well, they’re usually wearing gear at least,” Crawford pointed out.
Somehow that struck Sebastian as funny too and he laughed, staring up at the sky, half-convinced tonight had all been a really weird fucking dream.
“You hit your head or something, man?” Crawford asked with a frown, looming over him.
“No. I don’t think so,” Sebastian said, still smiling. His ass was gonna be bruised and snow was melting and seeping into his jeans but otherwise, he felt okay. He swallowed hard as Crawford looked down at him, his face in too much shadow to see his expression clearly. “Are you okay?”
“Ask me tomorrow.” Crawford dropped his head, resting his forehead against Sebastian’s chest, the top of his hat brushing Sebastian’s chin.
Sebastian fought back a smile. “So tonight was …”
“Yeah.” It almost sounded like Crawford was smiling too and when he lifted his head, he was. “It’s never boring with you, that’s for damn sure.”
Sebastian licked his lips because Crawford’s face was so close to his and even though they were lying on the ground in the snow, he was tempted to kiss him.
“Maybe next time we just brave the sidewalk?” Sebastian offered instead. “Or, like, walk on the street?”
“Fuck, I didn’t even think about the street.” Crawford huffed. “Guess I know what my off-season backyard project is gonna have to be.”
“Stairs?” Sebastian guessed.
“Fucking heated ones that melt the damn ice.”
“Good call. Is this actually your house or do you rent?” Sebastian asked curiously.
“I own it.”
Sebastian glanced around. What he could see of the yard looked nice. “Wouldn’t mind seeing it in the daylight sometime.”
“Yeah.” Crawford rolled away with a groan.
That was a no if Sebastian had ever heard one. He hadn’t meant it like that, hadn’t been angling for more than what they currently were. But he could see how it had probably sounded that way.
Crawford made it to his feet somehow, the air escaping his lungs in a sharp whistle of pain. Sebastian winced, wondering how badly hurt he actually was. But he could imagine how that would go if he asked.
Sebastian shivered, the cold finally beginning to grow too uncomfortable to ignore any longer. He sat up. “Okay, help me up.”
“You’re really fucking needy tonight,” Crawford muttered but he did hold out a hand.
“Fuck off,” Sebastian said, reaching for the hockey stick and poking around until he found a solid place to plant it. Needy. Crawford was the one who’d demanded to be fed, then had to be driven home and helped up to the house.
Sebastian got to his feet with Crawford’s help and just as he was about to apologize for his earlier comment about wanting to see the yard in daylight or clarify what he’d meant at least, his phone buzzed.
“Shit, I bet my ride is here,” he said with a frown. He dug in his pocket and pulled out his phone. Crap. He’d definitely cracked the screen protector. Hopefully the screen underneath was still intact.
“C’mon,” Crawford said gruffly as he turned away. “We’ll go through the house. It’ll be quicker.”
“Until I got the notification, you were planning to send me though more of your booby-trapped yard?” Sebastian asked, carefully picking his way through the yard and across the deck after him. “Thanks, jackass.”
His feet were starting to cramp and ache with the cold. He’d thrown on tennis shoes, not winter boots. He’d expected to drive Crawford home, then hop in a rideshare, not tromp through several feet of snow.
“Maybe.” Crawford stopped in front of a set of French doors and held out a hand. “Keys.”
Sebastian dug through his pocket and pulled them out, glad he hadn’t accidentally lost them in a snowbank somewhere. That would be just their luck tonight.
They entered the house through the doors and into a room that appeared to be under construction.
“You having work done?” Sebastian asked, glancing around.
“No, I do it myself.”
“Huh,” Sebastian said, glancing around.
“Look, do you want to stand around gawking or do you wanna get home?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes and shook off some of the snow clinging to him. It fell harmlessly onto a canvas tarp below. “Need me to take off my shoes?”
“No.”
Crawford sounded terse now and Sebastian sighed and followed him through the room. The man was a moody bastard, that was for sure.
They crossed through a tidy kitchen and dining room into a surprisingly homey and well decorated living room, before arriving at the front door.
“Thanks for the ride home,” Crawford said gruffly.
“Sure,” Sebastian said. “Sorry about your leg. I hope tonight didn’t fuck you up too bad.”
“Yeah.” Crawford kicked off his shoes with a groan. “Me too.”
“Well, good night then.” Sebastian hesitated. What was the protocol now? Did they hug? Kiss? Give each other manly handshakes?
“G’night.” Crawford turned away, hanging up his coat.
“Right, yeah. Good night,” Sebastian said, reaching for the door handle just as his phone buzzed again.
He fled out onto the front stoop and down the properly shoveled and salted sidewalk, hurrying toward the ride waiting for him.
What a weird fucking night all around. The hazards of hooking up with Luke Crawford, apparently.