Chapter 17
Mark
Mark set the last skewer onto the grill, watching the flames flicker beneath the steak kabobs. The air smelled of seared meat, garlic, and the smoky bite of charred wood. The wings were already crisping to perfection in the oven, and the charcuterie board sat prepped on the kitchen island, an array of cheeses, cured meats, olives, and crackers arranged with meticulous precision. He had gone all out, but it felt good. A little indulgence for the second game day. A tradition, maybe.
He glanced at the clock—Ethan should be here any minute. The house felt different now, lighter somehow. Not so hollow.
A sharp rap on the front door made him smirk. “It’s open,” he called, expecting Ethan to stroll in like he had been doing all week.
Instead, Ranger entered first, followed by Ethan, who looked like he had just come off a twenty-hour shift. His eyes were tired, the kind of tiredness that settled in deep, the weight of too much responsibility pressing down on his shoulders.
Mark’s smirk faded. “Rough day?”
Ethan waved a hand, dropping a six-pack onto the counter. “Nah, just been running around like crazy. This is my first actual break in, like… two days.”
Mark didn’t comment, but he noticed. The way Ethan stretched his shoulders, the way he exhaled as if trying to shake the exhaustion from his bones. He worked too damn hard. And Mark was starting to hate seeing it.
Ranger padded past, throwing Mark a side-eye before sitting near Ethan’s feet, like a sentry on duty.
“Yeah, yeah, I see you glaring at me,” Mark muttered at the dog. “You’d think after all these nights together, we’d be cool by now.”
Ethan grinned, reaching down to ruffle Ranger’s ears. “He’s just making sure you’re not planning anything sketchy.”
“Yeah, well, tell him he can stand down.”
Ethan snorted and cracked open a beer. “You’re assuming he takes orders from me.”
Mark shook his head, amused, as he plated up the food. “Eat. You look like you need it.”
They settled onto the oversized sectional, food balanced on their laps, drinks in hand, the pre-game commentary rolling in the background. It felt easy. Comfortable. The sarcasm flowed freely, the playful jabs a natural rhythm now.
At halftime, Ethan stretched with a groan. “I’m taking Ranger out. He needs to burn off some energy.”
Mark waved him off, looking through the back windows as Ethan sprinted across the yard, Ranger in full pursuit. The dog was a machine, sharp and fast, never taking his eyes off Ethan. But what really caught Mark’s attention was Ethan himself.
The way he moved effortlessly, full of unfiltered energy despite how drained he had looked earlier. He was sweat damp by the time he jogged back inside, flushed and grinning, shaking out his hair like a wet retriever.
“You look like a kid who just won recess,” Mark quipped.
Ethan flopped onto the couch, grinning. “I forgot how much fun it is to just run. Feels good.”
Mark hummed, handing him another beer. It did feel good—watching Ethan light up, bringing life into this house. It had been a long time since something as simple as company had made him feel…
Less alone.
By the end of the fourth quarter, the Ducks had completely obliterated their opponents, an incredible 45-37 game. Mark was grinning, triumphant.
Ethan, on the other hand, was sinking deeper into the cushions. His eyelids were heavy, his posture loose.
Mark sat beside him, staring at the now-muted TV.
Something in his chest ached—something unfamiliar, protective.
He hadn’t realized how much he had missed this.
The presence of someone. The warmth of easy company.
Mark let him sleep.
And for the first time in years, he realized…
Maybe he didn’t mind not being alone.
Ethan stirred, blinking up at the ceiling like he wasn’t sure how long he’d been out. He rubbed a hand over his face and sat up, looking around like he had just remembered where he was. His eyes landed on Mark, still sitting there, arms crossed, studying him.
Mark smirked. “Two beers and you’re done huh?”
Ethan groaned, laughed, while stretching his arms. “Sorry. How long was I out?”
Mark glanced at the clock. “Forty-five minutes. Enough time for me to consider charging you rent.”
Ethan scoffed, shaking his head. “Shit. I didn’t mean to—”
“Relax,” Mark cut him off, standing. “You needed it.” He hesitated before adding, “Which is exactly why we’re going in the sauna next.”
Ethan blinked. “Uh, what?”
Mark was already moving, heading toward the garage. “You need to take care of yourself, and the sauna is great for that.”
Ethan let out a short laugh. “Are you seriously prescribing me a sauna session?”
Mark didn’t look back as he flipped the switch in the doorway, firing up the sauna. “Absolutely. Heat therapy helps with circulation, reduces stress, and promotes muscle recovery. You’ll feel a hell of a lot better.”
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen anyone so passionate about sweating.”
Mark shot him a dry look. “It’s an investment in your health, Williams.”
Ethan threw his hands up. “Fine, fine, I’ll indulge your love affair with the sauna.”
Mark gave a satisfied nod. “Good. I’ll grab towels. Need a pair of shorts?”
“Nah, I’ll just wear my boxers.”
He stood, rolling his shoulders as he made his way to the guest bathroom to change.
Mark reappeared from his bedroom, tossing Ethan a thin towel. He was in a pair of black running shorts that rode high on his quads, his torso bare, every defined muscle glistening under the soft lighting.
Mark raised a brow. “Those are… bold.” Looking at Ethan’s purple boxer-briefs with white hearts all over them
Ethan looked down at his boxer briefs. “What, these? They’re classic. Timeless. They were a gift from my mother.”
Mark snorted laughing. “They’re ridiculous.”
“Jealous?” Ethan shot back.
Mark rolled his eyes. “Let’s go, Casanova.”
They stepped into the sauna, the heat enveloping them instantly, sinking deep into their muscles. Mark leaned back against the wooden wall, exhaling in satisfaction. “See? Best decision you’ve made all day.”
Ethan stretched out his legs, already feeling the tension melting from his body. “I’ll admit, this isn’t bad.”
Mark smirked, then leaned his head back. “So, is there a lady in your life?”
Ethan chuckled. “Nope. No time for dating.”
Mark hummed in understanding. “Yeah, it’s hard. Jessica and I met before my career really took off, so we grew together. We met in college junior year—she was studying interior design. I was already drowning preparing for law school. One day, I was walking through the student center, half-dead from exams, and she—out of nowhere—handed me a coffee and said, ‘You look like you need saving.’”
Ethan smiled. “Smooth.”
“She was smoother than I deserved,” Mark admitted. “We dated for three years, then were married for ten. She made everything better.” His voice softened. “She made me better.”
Ethan stayed quiet, letting Mark sit with the memory.
After a pause, Mark cleared his throat and turned to Ethan. “What about you? Any great love stories?”
Ethan hesitated, debating how much to share. Then, he shrugged.
“Nothing like that. I’ve dated here and been in a few relationships, but nothing took.” He stretched his arms behind his head, grinning. “Also, full transparency, I’m bisexual.”
Mark laughed. “Oh.”
Ethan waggled his eyebrows. “Are you ok with that?”
Mark rubbed the back of his neck. “Of course, I am.”
Ethan relaxes, “My family knows, everyone at work knows as well. I wanted to tell you since we’re becoming friends.”
Mark smiles, “Thanks for trusting me. Is it hard being a bi-sexual police officer in a small town?”
Ethan exhaled, running a hand over his jaw. “Yeah, it can be. Most folks here don’t care, or at least they don’t say it to my face. But there’s always that look—like they’re waiting for me to fit some box they’ve already built.” He paused, glancing at Mark.
“I told the chief when I started. He just nodded and said, ‘As long as you do your job with integrity, that’s all that matters.’ He’s been supportive, but not everyone is as open-minded. You still hear things—offhand comments, the occasional joke that stings more than it should. Most days, I let it roll off my back. But some days… it wears you down.”
Mark sat back on the bench, his expression steady. “I get that. People can be small-minded, especially in small towns. You’re a good man Ethan. You have a way to make people around you feel better about themselves. You have a great reputation, you are a man of honor, and you care about others. That’s what matters to me.” He met Ethan’s eyes. “And if anyone’s got a problem with you, they will have to take it up with the both of us.”
Ethan nodded slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Appreciate that, man. Means a lot.”
Mark smirked. He hesitated, then asked, “So, do you… uh, have a preference?”
Ethan raised a brow. “You really wanna have the ‘who do I like better’ conversation in a sauna when I am wearing my Cassanova underwear?”
Mark held up his hands laughing. “Hey, just making conversation.”
Ethan laughed. “Alright, fine—give me girls with curves that could stop traffic or guys with chest hair thick enough to hide evidence in a frisk.”
Mark chuckled, putting his arms over his powerful chest covering his well-manicured chest hair. Shaking his head and laughing. “I should’ve just let you nap on the couch.”
Ethan sighed dramatically. “Too late now. You’re stuck with me.”
Mark rolled his eyes, but there was no hiding the amusement on his face.
He watched Ethan close his eyes, letting the heat soak into his skin. It was rare for him to slow down. Even rarer for him to just… be.
He was a surprising young man. There was something solid about him, something steady. Something special.
Mark liked his confidence.
He liked him.
The heat of the sauna wrapped around them, thick and comforting. Beads of sweat gathered on Mark’s skin, sliding down his back, his arms, his chest. He let his head fall against the wood, eyes half-lidded, his muscles finally unwinding after weeks of tension. Time fell away.
Mark shifted, rolling his shoulders. “So, are you going to answer the question seriously of not?”
Ethan cracked one eye open. “What question?”
Mark gave him a pointed look. “Do you have a preference? Men? Women?”
Ethan smirked, tilting his head. “You really are curious, huh?”
Mark exhaled through his nose. “I’m just trying to understand.”
Ethan stretched his arms above his head, the muscles in his chest pulled. “It’s not about what sex someone is, it’s about what I feel when I am with them. It’s always been about the connection for me.” He dropped his arms and let out a slow breath. “I’ve dated both men and women, but in ten years of dating I haven’t found the one person I’d want to come home to every day.”
Mark tilted his head, his voice low but steady. “Ten years, huh? That’s a lot of stories. What’s that been like for you?”
Ethan hesitated, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The towel on the bench by his waist shifted slightly, but his gaze stayed steady. “I’ve been in three relationships. Two with women, one with a man. All of them… they ended badly. Not because I didn’t care—God, I cared too much sometimes—but because they couldn’t give me what I needed from them.”
Mark’s brow furrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “What did you need?”
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. “When I am in a relationship, I am all in. I have expectations that my partner should feel the same way. I am a giver. I like to please people. I also love and respect myself. So that means that I have certain expectations of how I should be treated.
Mark listened attentively,
He continued, “I set the boundaries and the expectations early on when I start dating someone. I let them know that I only drink moderately, absolutely no drugs, that I love God, I hate lies, and that I am very close to my parents.”
“Those are very responsible and meaningful boundaries.” Mark said and he shifted in his seat and turned sideways to put his legs up on the bench and lean against the side wall.
“I think people get bored with me. they all started out great, but then when we settled into a relationship routine each of them wanted more. They wanted to go out to bars frequently, one wanted to invite a third into our bed, or they would just cheat on me. All of those are deal breakers and I kicked them to the curb.”
Mark looks at him thoughtfully, “You are very mature for your age. Most guys with your looks and at your age are out there partying it up and getting laid constantly.
Ethan smiled, “that has never been me. I have a very low body count. I have to really care about someone before I put my tongue in their mouth.”
Mark laughed.
“I’m looking for that special someone who thinks I’m enough, I want to find someone that wants a future, I want the romance, I want to stupidly be in love with someone who feels the same way about me. In today’s world, people always look for someone better to come along.”
Mark nodded slowly, letting the words settle. The sauna’s heat pressed in, but the weight of Ethan’s honesty felt heavier. “That sounds exhausting,” he said quietly. “Loving that hard and not getting it back the way you need.”
Ethan met his eyes, a flicker of vulnerability there. “It was. Still is, sometimes. I mean, I’m not broken over it—I’ve learned a lot about myself. But it’s why I’m careful now. I don’t just want a fling or to go through some wild phase. I want something real, something like my parents have. I want someone I can trust who builds me up and grows with me, like you described with Jessica.”
Mark’s jaw tightened, that protective streak flaring. “You deserve that, Ethan. Hell, I’ve only known you for a little while, but I can tell you’re the kind who’d move mountains for someone you care about. Anyone who doesn’t see that doesn’t deserve you.”
Ethan blinked, caught off guard by the fierceness in Mark’s tone. A small, grateful smile tugged at his lips. “Thanks, man. That’s… that means a lot coming from you.”
Mark leaned back, exhaling through his nose. “I mean it. And hey, I get it—wanting that connection. With Jessica, it wasn’t just the coffee or the smooth lines. It was how she showed up, day after day, even when I was a mess. That’s what made it work. You’ll find that too. Someone who’s in it for you, not just what you can do for them.”
Ethan chuckled softly, the sound breaking the heavier air. “Yeah, well, I’m not holding my breath. Ten years of strikeouts doesn’t exactly scream ‘optimist.’”
Mark grinned, the mood shifting as he nudged Ethan’s hip with his foot. “Come on, don’t sell yourself short. You’re rocking those heart boxer-briefs like a champ. That’s got to count for something.”
Ethan laughed, louder this time, the tension melting away. “Oh, yeah, underwear that my mom bought for me is clearly my secret weapon. One look at these, and they’ll be lining up to treat me right.”
Mark smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. “Exactly. You’re a catch—purple undies with white hearts and all. Just don’t let them talk you into a threesome or some rooftop rave. Stick to your guns.”
“Deal,” Ethan said, still grinning. “But seriously, Mark… thanks for listening. I don’t talk about this stuff much. Feels good to get it off my chest.”
Mark’s expression softened, his voice dropping back to that steady, reassuring tone. “Anytime, Ethan. I’ve got your back. I don’t just invite anyone into my sauna. You’re my friend and your stuck with me now, whether you like it or not.”
Ethan nodded, the warmth of the sauna mingling with the warmth of something new, a friendship that felt like it could last. “I think I can live with that.”
Mark smirked. “Now kindly ask your dog to stop staring at me through the glass, he really creeps me out.”
Ethan laughed, shaking his head. “He is probably mad because you have no toys for him in your house. You’re a poor host.”
Mark laughed and shook his head, “Noted.”
Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was… easy. The heat pressed against their skin, the scent of cedarwood and steam filling the space between them.
Mark was the first to shift, grabbing his towel and swiping it over his face. “Alright, I’m tapping out.”
Ethan cracked an eye open. “Already? And here I thought you were some kind of sauna champion.”
Mark huffed. “Unlike you, I don’t have the stamina of a twenty-six-year-old.”
Ethan smirked. “You sound jealous.”
Mark stood, rolling his eyes. “I sound realistic. ”
Ethan grinned, standing too. “Alright, grandpa. Let’s get you some water before you pass out.”
Mark gave him a dry look. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to get me back for calling you a lightweight earlier.”
Ethan flashed him a cocky grin. “Oh, I’m definitely getting you back for that.”
Mark shook his head but didn’t argue. Instead, he left the sauna, grabbing a couple of water bottles from a mini fridge near the garage door. He tossed one to Ethan, who caught it easily and twisted the cap off.
They drank in silence for a moment before Ethan spoke again. “Hey, thanks for this.”
Mark frowned slightly. “For what?”
Ethan shrugged. “For today. For the game. For letting me crash here like a damn college kid who can’t hold his liquor.”
Mark smirked. “I didn’t say that exactly .”
Ethan pointed at him. “Implied.”
Mark chuckled, shaking his head. “It was good having you here. You bring… energy.” He hesitated, then added, “It’s been a while since this house felt alive.”
Ethan didn’t miss the weight in those words. He nodded, his voice softer when he spoke. “I get that.”
Mark studied him for a long moment before exhaling. “Are you heading out?”
Ethan stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. “Yeah, I should get home. Ranger’s probably ready to pass out too. I’ll get dressed and order a Lyft.”
Mark nodded. “Alright.”
After about 10 minutes Ethan’s phone buzzed as the Lyft neared the house.
Ethan laughed, shaking his head. He grabbed his stuff and headed for the door, pausing just before stepping out. “Hey, Mark?”
Mark looked up. “Yeah?”
Ethan smirked. “Next time, I’m bringing a Huskies jersey for you. Just to balance out the room.”
Mark scoffed. “You bring that into my house, and you’re banned.”
Ethan winked. “Guess we’ll find out, huh?”
Mark just shook his head, watching as Ethan walked out the door.
He didn’t want the night to end.