Chapter 27
Ryan
The horror movie playing on Connor’s desktop monitor is supposed to be terrifying, but some masked dude chasing kids through a fake haunted house? Kinda tame.
I’m stretched out on my bed with a bag of Sour Patch Kids.
The sugar burn helps keep me more grounded than the movie.
Merci's in my desk chair, making these dramatic gasping sounds like he's the one getting chased. Eli’s on the floor, knees tucked up, hiding behind a pillow every time the killer shows up.
I pop another candy into my mouth and flip through the notes Merci gave me for Ethics class, if half-finished doodles and curse words can even be called notes. No wonder he’s barely passing.
Tomorrow, I finally get to be back on the ice.
Can’t wait. I’d shown up for practice the day after we got back from Erie, but Nieminen told me to take time off to get my head on straight.
Rinne face-palmed so hard he left a mark on his forehead, and Harper started cursing Nieminen out for being an insensitive prick.
Pretty sure Coach didn’t mean it the way it sounded. He’s just . . . abrasive.
I’m not the only one missing ice time. Connor’s sidelined with a concussion. The night he showed up in Erie, I saw my foster dad helping him up the stairs. Rushed back inside to find out what happened. When Larry said Connor almost faceplanted in the kitchen, I helped get him to bed.
Thankfully, he slept through the night. I, on the other hand, never got a wink. Kept going into his room to make sure he was still breathing.
His face looked even worse the next morning, the bruising having turned dark purple. Larry had asked me if we should call the police. I almost laughed. My foster dad would shit bricks if he found out what the Titans are like and that this is normal for them.
Guess I’m back to hating Knight again. Wanted to come back and bash his skull in.
Except Eli’s husband beat me to it. When I finally turned my phone back on, the team group chat was blowing up with a video of the incident. Alexei Petrov showed up at practice, put Knight through the plexiglass, then broke a couple of his fingers. Even threatened to cut one off.
Won’t say I didn’t smile.
But it also means Knight is out until his fingers heal.
“Oh my god, don't go in there!” Merci shrieks at the monitor, throwing popcorn at it. “These people are so fucking stupid. Who hears creepy noises and thinks, 'Yeah, let me investigate that alone in the dark'?”
Eli rolls his eyes. “It's a horror movie. If they made smart decisions, it would be over in ten minutes.”
Merci gives him the finger, then looks at me. “How’s it going with Dr. Lomando?”
“Okay, I guess.”
Been to three counseling sessions this week. While in the waiting room for my second appointment, Merci had skipped out of one of the rooms, like actually fucking skipped while smiling. His poor therapist looked like he needed to talk to someone.
I feel bad for that guy.
When Merci saw me, his smile dropped. He ran over and hugged me. My body locked up so tight. Merci didn’t notice and just kept rambling about how he was so worried, then about the fight between Connor and Knight.
When he finally stopped talking, I told him what happened to my family, which only caused him to start rambling again about being sorry for talking too much.
“I’m glad you came back,” Eli says.
“Me too.” I pick through the Sour Kids searching for a blue one. “I just feel funny about Connor paying my tuition.”
But I’m also grateful. It’s nice not to have the extra stress of worrying about meeting the scholarship guidelines. And I do like playing hockey for the Titans. Not sure if any other head coach would put in the time over the summer to help me the way Coach Nieminen did.
There’s also the fact that I’m comfortable with the team. Mostly. Away games are much easier since I share a room with Connor. I actually sleep and am rested for the games. I can’t see starting over with a new team and new coaches.
But still . . . it’s a lot of money.
Merci waves me off like I'm being ridiculous. “Ryan, his family has stupid money. A year's worth of tuition is literally nothing to them. It's like you or me buying a coffee.”
“Hello, your family's loaded too,” Eli points out, stealing a Sour Patch Kid from my bag.
“And so is your husband’s, Mr. Petrov,” Merci shoots back. “Plus, you have access to an army of bodyguards.”
I shake my head, grinning despite myself, and grab a handful of popcorn from Merci’s bowl. Glad they aren’t letting their men get in the way of their friendship.
“So, uh, Connor told me he’s in love with me.” My voice cracks a little on 'love,' and I shove the fistful of popcorn in my mouth.
Merci huffs a groan. “No shit. We all figured that out when he lost his fucking mind after you left.”
Eli wings the pillow at him. “Don’t be such an asshole. We have enough of those in our group.” He turns to me. “And? How did you respond?”
Heat crawls up my neck, the stupid grin on my face giving me away. “Told him I am too.”
Merci throws his hands up. “Fuck me sideways. Get a new therapist. Dr. Lomando is worthless if you still love that jackass.”
I glare at Merci, then quirk a brow. “Says the one whose stepbrother practically did the same thing.”
He glares back. “Zach didn’t hold a gun to my head.”
Eli smirks. “But he did chain you up in a warehouse. Didn’t you pee your pants?”
Someone knocks on the door.
Merci slumps in his seat, crossing his arms. “Ugh, is your husband back already? I really don’t want to see his stupid face.”
I pause the movie, then get up to answer the door. Connor left before they showed up, partly to avoid Merci and partly to give me time with my friends. Maybe he forgot something?
But the moment I open the door, I huff out an audible breath, shoulders slumping. There goes my peaceful afternoon.
“Hey, Monster Cheeks.”
Merci springs up out of his chair. “Oh, fuck no. I’ll take Connor over him. Close the door. Don’t let him in.”
But my eyes drop to what Viktor is holding. “Is that?”
“You need your real best friend.” Viktor saunters into the room, smirking at Merci. “Plus, my princess misses you.”
I can’t stop the giant smile on my face. He barely has Mouse out of the crate before I scoop her up and cradle her against me. She growls and hisses but still curls against me.
“Hey, sassy girl.” I pet her soft fur and scratch under her chin.
Viktor sprawls out next to Eli on my bed, one arm tucked behind his head.
Merci puts his hands on his hips, glaring at him. “Oh, fuck no. That's Ryan's bed, you pretentious ass, not your personal throne. Get the fuck off and sit on the floor.”
Viktor helps himself to a whole handful of Sour Patch Kids, then pops one in his mouth and smiles. “Everything's my throne.”
“Yeah? Well, the hospital bed's gonna be the next one after I shove that entire bag up your ass.”
Merci lunges forward like he's going to grab the candy bag, so I snag his shirt. “Sit. Or would you like me to drag you on another run? Because I will.”
He glares at me, face scrunched. “Go ahead. I’ve been practicing.”
“Really? You’ve been practicing?”
He rolls his eyes and huffs. “Okay, fine. I'm lying.”
I let go of his shirt, and he flops back down into the chair, muttering under his breath as he grabs the bowl of popcorn off the desk. He shoves a bunch into his mouth, chewing vehemently.
Jesus fuck. These two are going to give me a headache.
I sit on Connor’s bed, scratching behind Mouse’s ear.
Eli looks at Viktor, brows furrowed. “Monster Cheeks?”
Viktor sits up and drapes an arm over Eli, then juts his chin at me. “Have you looked at his ass?”
I duck my head, heat crawling up my neck. They need to talk about literally anything else.
“And his husband is Baby Cheeks.” Victor winks at me.
My fingers tighten in Mouse's fur. Connor needs to start changing at home. Don’t want anyone else checking out my husband’s ass.
Eli covers his mouth, shoulders shaking as he giggles. “Because Connor's is small?”
Viktor grabs more candy from the bag. “Exactly.”
“At least it’s not flat.” Can't believe I just said that out loud. But Connor does have a nice ass. Small, yeah. But firm and round.
Merci makes a gagging sound. “I'm gonna throw up.”
Eli bites his bottom lip, gaze bouncing between me and Viktor, practically vibrating in place. “Can we add him?”
The back of my neck prickles. “Add me to what?”
Viktor sighs, lolling his head in Eli’s direction. “You know the rules, Feisty Mouse.”
Merci points at Viktor with a fistful of popcorn. “Oh, for fuck's sake, just add him. Ryan’s better than the asshole downstairs.”
I look between all three of them, chest tightening. “What are you adding me to?”
Eli's got that big smile of his going. “Our group chat.” He scoots closer to Viktor. “They both told each other they're in love. Come on, please?”
Viktor sets the bag aside. “We don’t even know if he meets the criteria.”
I put Mouse on the floor to let her explore. “Uh, what’s the criteria?”
Eli turns red. His cheeks are all blotchy.
Merci rolls his eyes. “We’re all bottoms. Or vers.”
Oh.
I rub the back of my neck, ears burning. “I, uh, guess you can add me then.”
“Yes!” Eli pumps his arm, then pulls out his phone.
A second later mine chimes. I pull it out of my pocket.
Eli: Welcome to Bottoms Up.
I stare at the screen. “Bottoms Up? Really?”
Viktor doesn’t answer, just stands and starts walking around the room, touching everything. He picks up one of Connor’s cologne bottles and smirks, then he puts it down, moving on to open the desk drawers.
Why did I let him in here?
Merci throws a piece of popcorn at him. “What the fuck are you doing, you nosy piece of shit?”
“Well, well, well. Look at what we have here.” Viktor turns around, holding up Connor’s wallet.
“Viktor, put that back,” I say.
He ignores me, walks to my desk, and then grabs my laptop. “We’re going shopping.”
Oh, no. Oh, fuck no. “That's a terrible idea.”
“It's perfect.” Merci slaps his hands over his mouth. “Fuck! I didn't mean—I'm not agreeing with the fungus!”
I snort. “Too late. We all heard it.”
Viktor grins as he plops onto my bed next to Eli. “Everyone knows brilliance when they hear it.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Merci puts the popcorn down, then joins the two. “I’m getting something for myself after what your husband did, Ryan.”
Eli giggles as he scoots closer to Viktor. “Come on, it'll be fun.”
Great. Even Eli's on board with this.
My phone starts chiming, over and over. I pull it out and then read the string of text messages flooding the group chat.
Uknown number: Who the fuck did you just add, Feisty Mouse?
Eli: Ryan.
Uknown number: Why? You know that marriage is fake.
Uknown number: Asshole, Ryan can see your messages.
Unknown number: Like I’m saying something he doesn’t already know.
Uknown number: You’re the one who’s getting the belt when I get home.
Uknown number: Yeah, sure. If you’re not crying because your team loses to the Penguins. Rangers suck.
I look at Eli. “Who else is in the chat?”
“Oh, that’s Killian and Jackson.”
Merci huffs. “Yeah, they fight in there, too. Also, get used to knowing way too much about their sex life.”
Eli giggles. “You share just as much about yours. You even put a picture of yourself in the sex swing.”
“With clothes on,” Merci says.
Maybe I need to rethink being part of their group chat.
“I'm in,” Viktor says before handing my laptop to Merci.
My brows shoot up, mouth agape as I blink rapidly. Did he just . . . yeah, he hacked into my laptop.
I need a better password.
Merci perches on the edge of my bed while Eli pulls out a black credit card from Connor’s wallet. Shit. This is gonna be so bad.
Merci's fingers fly over the keyboard. “Ryan, what do you want? Say 'nothing' and I'm buying you assless chaps.”
My face burns. “Jesus, Merci.”
“Tick tock. Tick tock.”
Shit.
Maybe if I give them something small they won't go completely insane with Connor's money. “New running shoes? The souls of mine are falling apart.”
Merci shoots me an incredulous look. “Boring as fuck. What else?”
I rub the back of my neck. “A better laptop? That one's from high school.”
“Now we're talking.” Viktor leans over Merci's shoulder to look at the screen. “Get the newest MacBook Pro. With all the upgrades.”
Goddamn. They're really going for blood. “Guys, maybe we shouldn't—”
“Add the extended warranty,” Viktor continues, completely ignoring me. “Oh, and this.”
I walk over and nearly choke on air. “An eight-hundred-dollar gaming chair?”
Viktor waves a hand dismissively. “You spend half your time hunched over that desk. You should be comfortable.”
I cross my arms. “How do you know that?”
Viktor glances up with a smirk. “Your husband, who else?”
Eli hands Merci the credit card, and they check out, then open a new tab. Not sure what they're buying now, but it's not for me.
At least I don't think so.
Then the page loads.
Oh. Shit.
An adult toy store.
Fucking fuck.
“Guys—” I try to grab the laptop, but all three pull it away.
“Nope!” They say in unison.
This is a losing battle, so I give up and flop onto Connor's bed, praying I don’t end up with a pair of assless chaps .
. . or worse. Mouse immediately climbs into my lap, batting at my hand until I pet her.
I rub her belly while the three of them argue about whether Eli needs a stand mixer or an espresso machine.
They’re completely insane. And my friends.
Even if they're currently destroying Connor's bank account.