Chapter 24
August
Less than twenty-four hours later, loud knocking on his front door had Niko groaning and dropping his game controller, retreating to his bedroom and leaving August alone on the couch.
It had to be Quinn, but the knocking made no sense because August knew he had a key. He didn’t think too much of it since there were a ton of reasons why Quinn wasn’t using it, so he stood and went to the door, blood already heating in his veins.
August had a game that night before he left Vancouver to finish out the week with two away games, but he didn’t have to be at the rink for a few hours yet.
He could do a lot in a few hours. They could go more than one round, and August could finally try the thing he had been reading about—as long as Quinn was okay with it.
August swung the door open, smirking at Quinn.
Only…it wasn’t Quinn.
“Jinggeureowo,” said Su-jin Park, crinkling his nose like he had spotted something disgusting. “Why are you giving me sex eyes, Snow?”
Reeling from disappointment and Jin’s sudden appearance, August folded his arms over his chest and lifted his chin. “Why are you standing outside my door, Park?”
Jin took his phone out and held up a text message from Jett that showed August’s address and a thumbs-up emoji. “I’m making a pitstop before our game tonight. Now that we’re friends and not bitter rivals—”
“Rivals—”
“—I don’t see why we can’t visit each other when we’re in the same city.”
The mood was ruined, so there was no point denying Jin entry to his home. Sighing, August stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. “We’re playing the newest game in the NHL series if you’re interested.”
Jin blinked his pretty, dark eyes, and August studied the shorter man’s stunning beauty, giving himself permission to acknowledge that yes, he did find other men attractive.
Right until the moment Jin scowled, and all his prettiness went straight out the window.
“You’re a hockey player who plays hockey video games. Lame.” Jin pushed past him, politely removing his shoes and setting them neatly out of the way before stepping further down the hall.
August closed the door and watched as Jin shuffled around, his gaze snapping in every direction to look at the décor, and then he turned with wide eyes.
“Did your grandmother die, and you inherited her house? I know you’re from Vancouver, but damn, this is creepy as fuck. Why haven’t you moved your shit in yet?”
August raked his fingers through his hair, already regretting his choice to let Jin into his home.
“Where does Niko sleep? In the attic with the ghosts, or in your bed like the snuggly kitten he is?”
Niko—a snuggly kitten? The disbelief must have shown on his face because Jin chuckled when he looked at him.
“You’ve obviously never seen him pass out in a patch of sun,” said Jin. “It was weirdly cute, but he looks a lot nicer when he’s not all storm clouds and grumpy expressions.”
Niko did have a temper, and he was a quiet and grumpy personality type, but August had seen him in the softer moments, too. The reason why Jin was so unfamiliar with it was because he annoyed the shit out of Niko.
“Oh, fuck’s sake. Is that Park?” Niko’s head popped around the corner from where his bedroom was hidden. “I would rather have Quinn over and spend the next hours blocking out your sex noises than dealing with him.”
August also would have preferred that, but alas.
“You guys were seriously made to be platonic besties,” said Jin, setting his hands on his hips. “Misery loves company.”
Chuckling, August gripped the pink-haired fiend by the shoulders and led him into the living room. “Sit down and shut your damn mouth. We’re going to order our pre-game meal; do you want anything?”
He expected Jin to go for the chair so he could have his own space, but he surprised August by taking the couch, choosing the spot beside him. For a guy as abrasive and ill-tempered as Jin, he seemed to crave physical closeness and touch.
August wasn’t one to judge, and he didn’t care if Jin leaned against him or how obnoxious he was when he tried to crawl into his lap to see his phone screen. They were becoming friends, and Jin could be funny when he wanted to be, and sometimes nice, too.
“I know most guys like pasta before a game, but I prefer ramen and like, tonkatsu and shit,” Jin plucked August’s phone out of his hand so he could look through the restaurants on the delivery app.
“I don’t mind Korean food either, but if my nutritionist finds out that I loaded up on a bunch of junk, he’s going to have words with me. ”
Niko scoffed and picked up his controller, handing August his before unpausing the game. “Doesn’t all that spicy food upset your stomach? I’ll fucking laugh if you shit yourself on the ice.”
Jin scoffed right back. “Fuck off, it’s not spicy to me. I don’t get how people find kimchi and Jeyuk Bokkeum too hot. It’s delicious.”
August hadn’t tried much Asian cuisine, but he had always wanted to test more of it out. Not today, because that would be stupid to do before a game, but maybe during a break.
“Oh! I forgot the main reason I came here.” Jin pushed off August and went for the backpack sitting by his feet. He removed a Switch, books, and finally—
“Niko said you were looking for a specific tape colour, and I saw this at one of the shops last week.” Jin picked up August’s hand and dropped a roll of green tape into his palm.
August stared at the object, marvelling at the bright green colour that perfectly matched Quinn’s eyes.
The one he’d been using was close, but he had been looking for something lighter.
Niko must have heard him muttering about it, and like the genius he was, put two and two together once he looked at Quinn.
It was on the taboo side to bring something relationship-related into the game, but August was making an effort this year to change things up, and the results had been great so far.
Besides, he and Quinn weren’t in a relationship yet. He could easily lie to himself and say that the specific, green apple shade was his favourite colour, and only Niko would know.
“I bought their entire stock in case you liked it, but the rest of it is with my gear,” said Jin, returning to his food order. “Meet me after the game tonight, and I’ll dump it in your car.”
Niko gave August a side-eyed glance, trying to act like he wasn’t paying attention while he flicked through the settings of their paused game.
August decided that if the Bigfoot GM ever tried to trade Niko or him, he would follow his friend or quit hockey altogether.
“Thanks, this is perfect,” said August, making sure to show Jin appreciation for bringing it. “What games do you play if you’re not playing hockey? Fucking Mario Kart?”
August bumped his fist to Niko’s arm, silently thanking him for being the best friend ever.
“No, I play games that have a fucking purpose beyond inducing testosterone rage,” Jin snapped, grabbing his Switch and wiggling it to show it off. “You ever build a farm from scratch or try to complete the Pokedex? That shit is hard.”
August shrugged. “When I was five, sure.”
Jin looked up from the phone, frowning like he was truly hurt. “I hope your guy isn’t as boring as you, Gusty.”
“He’s not my guy,” August insisted. “And he’s an art major.”
He expected Jin to say something snarky, but August was surprised when he kicked his feet and laughed. “Really? Do you think he would draw me naked if I asked him?”
August took his phone back from Jin and smacked him on the head with it. “I will kick your ass.”
Just like Christmas break, Jin was calmer after he had food and was happily playing his pastel-coloured themed games. They spent a reasonable couple of hours together before heading to the rink for warm-up, where things took a swift turn from friendship to hatred on the ice.
The first period had been gruelling, even without the migraine sticking around to ruin his life. Jin was a small motherfucker, but he liked to play dirty, and he had no problems going up against August at every opportunity.
When Jin ripped his stick out of his hand after the whistle blew and tossed it behind the Bigfoot’s net to be an asshole, it took every ounce of composure in August’s body to keep his gloves on and not start a fucking fight.
They left the ice for intermission two points behind the Ottawa Conclaves, and August cursed as he was flagged down for an interview before he had a chance to avoid his duties.
“August, Su-jin Park seemed to be outpacing you in the first period. Is there any tactic you use to deal with a fast and agile player like him?”
Other than slam him into the boards and put him in the hospital? No.
“Uh, when you go against guys like him, you just keep your feet moving and try to guess their next play.”
“That does sound smart,” said whatever her name was. “Your rookie goalie got the chance to start tonight. Do you think he’s been a good addition to the team so far?”
He was doing just as well as Floyd, if not better.
“Sauce is doing great. The boys love having him around, and he’s been having a great game so far.”
“And why do you call him Sauce?” she asked.
August shifted his weight. His knee was annoying him.
“It’s actually Red-hot Hot Sauce because he has bright red hair, but we shortened it down to Sauce.”
She smiled, and August knew she was a nice girl, but he was thirsty, sweaty and fuck—he needed to sit down.
“Well, thank you for your time, and I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re excited to see you during the All-Star weekend.”
August nodded. “Thanks, I’m excited for it, too.”
He left before anyone else could stop him, checking his tape and leaning his stick against the wall before joining his teammates. August sat in his stall and pulled his jersey off, hissing when his right knee gave a sudden throb.
“Fuck.” August massaged the tender areas, trying to loosen the tight muscles of his thigh.