Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
JONAH
A fter practice and showering, I slipped my athletic shorts up my legs, then shucked my team shirt over my chest. Something wasn’t right with Ryan. He’d barely looked at me the last few days. I knew he was upset over his mom’s new cancer diagnosis, but it felt like something more was going on. I picked up my duffel and glanced at Archer. “Hey.”
“Yeah?” He dressed across from me.
“I need some advice.” I stepped close to him. He knew better than anyone what it was like having a sick parent. Okay, and what it was like to lose a parent.
After pulling his shirt over his shorts, he faced me. “What?”
Looking around the room at all the guys, I grabbed his elbow and pulled him into a corner. I didn’t need the whole room hearing me. My breath caught. But shit, should I even tell him what was going on? Nobody knew.
“What?” He smoothed his blond bangs off his forehead.
Leaning close and in a low voice, I said, “Ryan’s mom has cancer again.”
“She does?” He dropped his jaw.
“Shh.” I covered his mouth for a beat, then released him. “Yes. He’s probably going home to be with her after the Frozen Four.” I wrung my hands together. “But he’s been distant with me. Should I say something? I mean, I don’t want to bother him.” And if I went with him, I risked not finishing my finals and not graduating.
Archer relaxed his shoulders and breathed in deeply. “When my dad was in the hospital, the first thing I did was call Leo.” He winced. “Leo was there for me took care of everything. I barely had to think. It was great.”
“So, should I be doing that for Ryan?” Shit, how would I even do that? I studied him.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I suppose everyone is different and this is a bad situation. I found out before the holidays when I was going home anyway. This is happening right before the biggest games of the season.” He tapped his lips. “I guess if I were him, I’d be under a lot of stress. Maybe you could see what you could do to take some of the stress off him.”
I nodded. “Yeah, okay.” I’d text him and see if he’d let me come over. Even if it was to just to have dinner together, maybe it would help. My gaze met his. “Hey, not a word of this to anyone.”
“You can count on me, man.” He hugged me to his side.
I stepped to my duffel bag, fished out my phone, then texted Ryan.
Jonah
Hey, can I see you tonight?
My phone buzzed.
Rhonda
Shouldn’t you be studying? We have some busy days coming up.
I snapped my brows together. Didn’t he want to see me? Pain sliced through my chest. Were we falling apart? Fuck. I covered my lips with my fingers. No, we were solid. He was just going through some shit. I thought a minute. But shouldn’t this make us closer? I tapped my phone.
Jonah
I have time. We both need to eat dinner anyway.
Shit, I sounded a little desperate. But then I sort of was. The little dots popped up on my screen. What if he said no?
Rhonda
Yes, please come over. I miss you.
Warmth fluttered in my heart. I hadn’t lost him. He was stressed out like Archer had said he might be. I’d do what I could to help him.
I picked up some Thai food on my way over to Ryan’s apartment and made my way through his parking garage with the food bags swaying in my hand. He’d said to meet around six, so here I was. I scanned around me. Was Owen still hanging around? No one had caught him skulking around the rink as of yet. Hopefully, the asshole had finally given up. Maybe he was too busy with finals too.
I used my keycard to unlock the door to Ryan’s building, then made my way up the elevator and down the hallway to his place. When I got to his door, I stopped and knocked. I was never sure if I should just go in or not.
The door flung open, and Ryan stood there, dressed down in shorts and a T-shirt, beaming at me.
I’d never seen him wear shorts. They showed off his leg muscles in the best way. “Hey.” I stepped inside and shut the door. “I brought Thai food.” I held up the bag.
“Thank you.” He set the bag on the kitchen island then wrapped me up in a tight hug, nuzzling into my neck. “Fuck, I’m so glad to see you.”
Hooking an arm around his waist and pulling his head into my neck. I kissed his hair. “Missed you too. Everything all right? How’s your mom?” Would he want to talk about it?
He held me closer, kissed my cheek, then let me go, but grabbed my hands. “She’s okay for now. The cancer is treatable and they’re running some scans, then she’ll be starting radiation in the next few weeks or so.”
Squeezing his hands, I asked, “Does that mean you’re sticking around longer?”
With a wince, he averted his gaze. “Don’t know.” He threw a glance at me. “I’m sorry, Jonah. I don’t have all the answers yet.” He hung his head.
“Don’t worry about it. We can take it day by day.” I ducked to peer into his face. I had to take his stress away. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be here.”
“When is your graduation?” He lifted his head, his brows knitting.
“May sixth. It’s coming up soon.” If he had to miss it, so be it. I shook our hands between us. “It’s okay if you need to be with your mom. I can come up and join you right after.” Isn’t that what Leo did for Archer? He was by Archer’s side all through his father’s heart attack.
“That would be really nice, Jonah.” He freed my hand, keeping one wrapped in his. “Let’s eat our dinner and enjoy each other’s company.”
“Sure.” Guess he was done talking about it. I followed him into his kitchen.
He grabbed plates out of the cupboard, then opened the containers of food I’d brought. “So, looks like we’ve got a pad Thai and a yellow curry dish?” He offered me a warm grin.
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure what you’d like and those are the two most popular things on the menu.” I snatched two orange Gatorades out of his refrigerator and twisted them open. I could tell tonight was not a drinking night.
He spooned food onto two plates and carried them to his dinette along with silverware, then sat down. “This looks delicious. I do love Thai food.”
“Good.” After setting the Gatorades on the table, I fell into the chair next to his. “I haven’t seen Owen around.” I picked up noodles with a fork. I’d never told him about the guys keeping an eye out for him.
“Yeah?” He scooped curry and rice into his mouth.
“And I think if he were still hanging around, we’d have seen him. The guys—” Widening my eyes, I held my fork over my plate. Fuck, I wasn’t going to tell him about our plan.
“The guys what, Jonah?” He set his fork down and peered at me. “The guys what?”
“Shit.” I dropped my fork and scrubbed my face. Here I was, about to stress him out even more. “I told the guys about Owen’s letter to Coach Finley. We’ve been keeping tabs on the rink, you know, taking turns going over there when we get a chance to try and intercept him.”
“I told you to leave him alone.” With a scoff, he tipped his head back for a second, then drew his hardened gaze to me. “And what were they going to do if they saw him?”
With a shrug, I said, “I don’t know. Stop him from handing out more letters? Maybe take them after he delivers them?” I mashed my teeth together. “We weren’t going to beat on him.” Under my breath, I said, “Even though the fucker deserves it.”
Shaking his head, he stared at his plate. “We’ve only got two days before we head out to St. Louis. I think you can stop and just…” His gaze flicked to mine. “Just focus on the game and finals. Okay? Please?” He rubbed his neck.
“I’m sorry, Ryan. I wanted to come over here tonight to relieve the stress you’re under, not make it worse.” I caressed his forearm lying next to his plate .
“It’s okay. I know you’re doing your best to help.” Snatching my hand, he pulled on it. “Come here and kiss me.”
“Gladly.” Leaning across the table, I cupped his cheek and pressed a lingering kiss to his soft lips. God, I’d missed the feel of him.
“Let’s eat and quit talking about Owen, my mom, the game, everything. Okay?” Gazing deeply into my eyes, a soft grin teased his lips.
“You got it.” I freed a long exhale and ate my dinner.
After eating and cleaning up, we sat on Ryan’s sofa with a whisky for dessert. I sipped the honey-flavored liquor and let it burn down my throat. As I threw an arm around his shoulders, we looked out over the twinkling lights of downtown Tempe with only a single canned light on in his kitchen behind us. These were the moments I lived for with him. The quiet ones when the world outside this apartment couldn’t reach us.
“Tell me what you need, Ryan.” I shifted toward him, then set my drink on the coffee table. Maybe I could ease his mind with my touch. I nibbled on his earlobe and skimmed my hand over his shirt, teasing a nipple through the thin fabric.
With a deep moan, he tipped his head to the side, exposing his neck. “You. I need you.” He brushed his hand over my thigh, then palmed my swelling dick through my athletic shorts.
“Fuck,” I whispered against the shell of his ear as heat grew low in my belly. I flicked my tongue inside his ear, then unfastened his shorts and fondled his lengthening cock through his briefs. It reminded me of the first time I’d touched him, at the gay bar after Owen had attacked him. Slipping my hand inside his underwear, I slowly stroked him.
Turning to me, he claimed my mouth with his, tangling our tongues and groaning into our kisses. He threaded his fingers through my hair and tugged on it. In a ragged voice, he asked, “Will you suck me off?”
“Oh, hell yes.” I crawled over his thighs, then slid down between them and mouthed his hot dick through his underwear.
“Oh fuck.” He gasped and clutched at my hair, his hips rocking. “Jesus, I need this.”
Hooking my fingers into the waistband of his shorts, I tugged on them. “I got you, Ryan. Anything you need, I can provide.”
As he lifted his hips, I shimmied his shorts down and freed his solid cock, stretching to his navel and already leaking for me.
My cock pulsed and my balls ached. I palmed them through my shorts for a beat, then focused on his perfect dick, flicking a bead of precum off the tip.
He sucked in a breath as a shudder rolled over him, and his thighs quivered. “Take it, Jonah.”
With a smirk, I swallowed him down, fluttering my tongue along his shaft and cupping his balls.
He tipped his head back and let out a rough moan, his dick twitching against my tongue.
Opening my throat, I pumped him with my mouth, my cheeks hollowing. I could do this one thing for him, make him feel amazing. As I fisted the base of his cock, I swirled my tongue around his flared crown.
“Jesus, fuck, Jonah, that’s good.” He tugged on the back of my head and thrust with his hips, fucking my mouth.
As my saliva dribbled down his balls, I quickened my pace, then slicked my fingers with it and drove them into his crease, circling his hole.
“Fuck yeah.” His body trembled and his breath grew ragged. “Close, Jonah. So fucking close.” His dick swelled further in my mouth.
I slid my finger inside his clenching entrance and twisted my mouth around his shaft.
He cried out, his face tensing and jaw dropping open, then his dick spurted hot cum down the back of my throat .
I stayed on him, lapping and slurping every drop, the heady taste of him filling my mouth. My own cock jerked in my shorts and dribbled precum into my underwear.
As it slowed, he panted and pushed on my shoulders, my mouth sliding off him. “Your turn. Come up here.” He waved for me to stand, his hair falling across his still-dazed eyes, his cheeks flushing.
“Oh, hell yeah.” I stood and dropped my shorts and briefs to the floor, then kicked them off. So what if someone might see my ass in the patio doors. Oh hell, they might have just seen worse. I glanced behind me. Fuck it. I knelt on the couch, my knees on either side of his hips, my aching dick bobbing at his lips. “This good?”
“Perfect.” Fisting the base, he plunged my cock into his mouth and sucked me down as if ravenous.
“Holy shit,” I gritted out as sensation sparked all through my body, curling my toes.
He gripped my hips, his fingers digging into the flesh, and bobbed over me with his tongue flicking at my slit.
Tension knotted in my gut and my balls drew up. I wasn’t going to last. Threading my fingers through his curls, I held on for the ride of my life. Sweet pulses surged inside me with each stroke of his tongue and my legs trembled. A moan rumbled out of me. “Gonna come, Ryan,” I said through my teeth as a surge of sensation rolled over me. “Fuck…”
He quickened his pace and sucked even harder, then moaned over my dick.
The vibration sparked heat in my balls, and I tumbled over the edge, each wave of my release shooting cum into his willing mouth. I gasped and held onto his head, my ass flexing with the thrusting of my hips. As it calmed, I pulled out of him with a wet pop and sat on his thighs. “Holy fuck, Ryan.” I fought to slow my heaving breaths.
Grabbing my shoulders, he tugged me to him and leaned his forehead on mine. “I love you, Jonah. No matter what the future brings, you remember that.” Lifting his head, his gaze locked on mine.
“Of course. I love you too.” I pressed my palm to his cheek, then planted a deep kiss on his mouth. Why was he talking like this? Was something else going on besides his mother’s cancer? My gaze searched his face. Surely, he’d tell me if there was. “Just think, Ryan, after this weekend’s games, we can be together whenever we want, however we want.”
He nodded, his gaze drifting off to the side. “Yeah, sure.” He pushed on my hips, moving me over.
“What’s wrong?” I shifted to sit next to him with my legs falling from the edge of the couch, then draped an arm around his shoulders. “Is there something you’re not telling me?” Way to blurt that out, Jonah. God, I was supposed to be lessening his stress, not demanding things from him.
“It’s nothing. I suppose I’m still worried about my mom.” He jerked the edge of his mouth as if trying to grin and failing. Leaning against me, he wove his fingers into mine. “I’m glad you came over tonight, Jonah. I’m glad we got to share a moment.” He kissed my knuckles. “We have a busy week coming up.”
“We do.” Did he want me to leave already? I kissed his hair. “Maybe we can go out dancing or something after we win the championship.” I squeezed his shoulders. “What do you say?”
He lifted his head and offered a sad grin. “Yes, I’d like that.”
“Good, then it’s a plan.” I left him to skim my briefs and shorts up my legs, hopping my ass off the couch for a moment.
“Jonah? It’s getting late.” He stood and held out his hand to me. “I’d love to have you stay the night, but?—”
“I know. I have shit in the morning.” Taking his hand, I rose from the couch. “And so do you.” I followed him toward his door.
“I need you to focus on the game for me. I want you fully present at practice the rest of the week, okay?” He stopped at his door. “I don’t want you worrying about me. ”
“Yeah, sure.” I hugged him into my chest and breathed him in. Maybe that’s what all this was about. He was afraid I’d be too worried about him to play well. “I’m going to play the best game of my life, Ryan. You’ll see, and it’ll be all for you.” I hugged him tighter, then released him.
“I’ll be watching and cheering you on, Boehm.” He tapped the tip of my nose. “Love you.”
“Love you more.” I smirked at him, then opened his door and left.
A few days later, we were in the first game of the playoffs. We were playing Cornell, and the place was insane with a full house and people screaming. It was the second period, and we were down by one. I’d played well the times Coach Finley had me on the ice and I was itching to get back out there. This was my first time in the championship, and it felt good.
I glanced at Ryan, standing behind Archer with his hands on hips. He’d been all business since I’d left his apartment two nights ago. We’d texted on and off, but they weren’t anything serious. I hadn’t wanted him to think I wasn’t focused on my game. But fuck, this sucked. My boyfriend was dealing with shit, and I had to pretend it didn’t matter. I flicked my gaze to the ice.
Hopkins had the puck and drove it past center ice and into Cornell’s defensive zone. Their D-man came at him and checked him, then grabbed the puck.
“Get out there, Boehm.” A tap landed on my shoulder. With a glance at Richardson, we hopped over the board and took to the ice, while Branson and Taylor skated in.
We beelined it for the puck and as the Cornell D-man swung around by the net, I hightailed it to him, then smashed him against the boards.
“Ah, fucker!” He swung his stick at me.
Nabbing the puck, I ducked and flung it at Hopkins .
As he glided by, he picked it up. “Glad to have you back, Boehm.” With a smirk, he worked it down the ice, then popped it over to Richardson.
I knew what they were up to. We’d practiced this play a million times. With my eye on Richardson, I skated toward the crease.
Richardson dodged the Cornell center, chirping at him, then shoved the puck my way.
With a glance at the goal, I shot, the puck pinging off my stick.
The puck hurled across the ice and the goalie dropped onto his leg pads.
A horn blew and the red goal light lit up.
“Fuck!” The Cornell center swung around and glared at me. “Cheap fucking shot.”
“Cheap? That was right on and Goddamn perfect.” I cackled and twisted around as Richardson and Hopkins threw their arms around me in hockey hugs. Yeah, I was on fire tonight. I’d show Ryan I was one person he didn’t have to worry about. After they freed me, I slipped off my glove to touch my nose, my gaze finding his.