Chapter 6 #2
“Yeah? We’ll see about that.” A wicked smirk played over Tate’s mouth. “You know, this isn’t the first time we’ve had a fight. We always work it out.”
I swayed to see around Lucas, heat burning in my veins. Tate thought I’d take him back? Fuck no. “Not this time, Tate. Don’t text, don’t call and don’t show up at my studio or my home.”
“Or what?” A smug grin curled his lips.
“Or I’ll…” Call the cops on him? They wouldn’t do much unless he hit me again.
“You’ll have me to deal with.” Lucas’s chest swelled, and he stood taller. “And not just me, other hockey players, too.”
Tapping the rim of his water glass, Tate said, “You should know my family business sponsors your fucking team, Lucas. So, you and your dumb jock friends should stay out of this.”
Fuck. I didn’t know that. I couldn’t let Lucas get in trouble for me. “Lucas, let’s go.” I pulled on his arm, but he stood firm.
“Go ahead. I’d rather eat alone, anyway. Ezra isn’t good company and gives a terrible blow job. You’ll find out soon enough, puck boy.” Tate released a sharp chuckle. “Wonder if your team knows you’re queer?” He cocked a brow.
“I’m not—” Lucas peeked at me. “Just leave Ezra alone.” With a snarl, Lucas turned and grabbed my hand. “Come on.” He led me from the restaurant and into crisp night air, the square buildings, lights and tall palm trees of the mall laid out in front of us. “Jesus, that guy is a creep.”
As I ambled behind Lucas with my hair veiling my face, an ache grew deep inside me. Was I bad company? Even Lucas noticed I never smiled. And the blow job comment…he’d been too rough. But was it me? Did Tate have the power to ruin me now?
“Hey.” Lucas stopped in a walkway with a bubbling fountain next to us. “You okay?” He turned to me and cupped my cheek. “Look at me.”
My gaze crept to his, the glow of the lights glinting off the lighter blue specks in his eyes. He was gorgeous, but he’d said he wasn’t queer. It was too early for me to—
“You don’t look okay.” He glanced toward the restaurant, wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and pulled me into his chest. “Fuck, Ezra, I can’t believe what you had to put up with. You don’t deserve any of that.”
I melted against him, my eyes stinging. In a croak, I said, “Thank you.” Emotion swelled inside me. I didn’t want to break down. Not here. “Can you take me home now?” Despite Tate being an asshole, it was shocking to leave him. Why though? What the hell was wrong with me?
“Yes.” He squeezed me before letting me go. “My car’s parked nearby.”
Shit, how had Lucas known when to show up? “Were you in the restaurant with us?”
“I was. I was in the bar. I went in there when you didn’t respond to my text.” He stopped at his black jeep and opened the door for me. “When you tried to leave and Tate grabbed you…” He scoffed. “Fuck, I wanted to punch him right there in the restaurant.”
As my jaw dropped, I stared at him. Why was he so affected by this?
“Well, you showed up right on time.” I might have given in and waited even longer to leave.
I climbed into his Jeep. As he stepped into the vehicle and started the engine, my mind buzzed with incoherent thoughts.
One thing I needed to do right away was block Tate.
Sliding my phone out, I tapped on his contact info and blocked him. Now he couldn’t reach me.
“What are you doing?” Lucas drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
“I blocked Tate.” With a sigh, I threw my head back, tapping it on the seat’s headrest.
As he watched me, he flinched. “That’s a great idea. I’ll get you home and we’ll talk. Right now, you don’t have to say a word. Okay?”
“Okay.” I wasn’t sure what to say, anyway. I might be in shock.
After getting back to my apartment, I unlocked my door and let Lucas inside. The weight of the evening fell heavily on my chest and I breathed through it. “You don’t have to stay. I’ll be all right.” I twisted around. Why didn’t I mention that in the car?
“No, I’m staying. You’re not all right.” He stepped close to me, setting a hand on my shoulder. “Ezra, sit down. Do you still have beer? Or would you rather I get you some water?” His gaze searched my face and landed on my mouth.
“I’d like a beer. Thanks.” Maybe it would numb me. I stepped to my couch, dropped into one end, and stared at the black television across from me. “Did you eat?” It was still early. We could order something. Pizza? I huffed. Fucking Tate.
“No, I haven’t.” He grabbed two cans of beer from the refrigerator, strode to me, and sat beside me. “Here.” He opened a can and handed it to me. “How’s your stomach? Are you hungry? Nauseous?”
“I’m…” I rubbed my belly. I wasn’t anything at all. I should be hungry. “We should get something to eat.”
“Okay. What do you want?” He slipped his phone from his jean’s pocket. “My treat.”
“Just order some pizza. I don’t care what kind.” I slumped. Fuck Tate and his jabs at me. I sipped my beer. “Tate gave me shit about eating pizza tonight.”
“What? Why?” Lucas tapped his screen and then set his phone on the coffee table. “I got pepperoni.”
“Great.” I choked out a snicker. “It doesn’t matter why.” It was too stupid to explain. I peeked at Lucas, looking so at home on my couch, like he belonged here with me. My mind replayed Tate’s last words. “Lucas, I don’t want you getting in trouble with your team because of me.”
“I won’t.” He shifted to angle toward me, his beer tucked between his thighs. With a smirk, he said, “I’m too good for them not to play me.”
“But could they trade you?” I wrinkled my brows. He was always so sure of himself.
Shaking his head with a soft snort, he said, “Naw, I’m a Hopkins. We have deep ties in hockey too. Tate’s full of shit.” He drank some beer. “By the way, what company does Tate’s family own?”
“It’s a real estate empire of sorts.” I tapped the pull tab on my beer. “It’s called Graff Realty Group.” Would Lucas have heard of it? He was new to The Valley.
“GRG? I’ve seen the logos at the rink.” He tsked. “I think I’ll shoot a few pucks at them. Maybe I can put some dents in the fuckers.”
A smile pulled at my lips. “You do that.” My gaze wound to his and my breath caught, my heart fluttering like a scared bird. He’s not queer, Ezra. And I didn’t need more complications in my life.
“How do you feel about leaving Tate? Are you as relieved as you thought you’d be?” He planted his hand on my thigh.
The warmth from his hand threaded to my dick, and it twitched. Every time he touched me, it set me off and he didn’t have a clue.
“Ezra?” He lifted his brows.
“I, uh…” I should reassure him. “Yes, I’m relieved. But I’m also a little worried about what he might try next.” I drank some beer. “I think the crowded restaurant spared us. I was sure someone would recognize him in a place like that.” How long before he’d show up here?
“He won’t leave you alone, will he?” Lucas furrowed his brows. “I can’t lie. I don’t feel good about you being here by yourself tonight.”
What was he saying? “Okay, but this is my home.” Did he think I should move? My chest tensed. I was too busy for that.
“Okay, I’ll stay tonight. And if Tate shows up, you can stay with me for a while.” His gaze locked on mine.
“You have a roommate, right? Evan?” Where was he going to stay? In my bed with me? I’d lose my mind. I glanced at his cock, filling his jeans in the best way.
“I do, but I’m sure we can work something out.” He scanned the apartment. “I, uh, can sleep on your couch tonight.”
I pushed out a long breath. “You don’t have to—”
“I want to, and I will.” He leaned in close, skimming his fingertips over my cheek as he brushed the hair from my face, his gaze locking on mine.
“I’m not leaving here when that asshole could show up any minute and hurt you.
” His gaze fell to my lips. “I won’t let that happen.
” He leaned in closer, his eyes shutting.
My eyes widened. Was he going to kiss me?
The door rattled with a knock.
“Fuck. The pizza.” I clambered from the couch, stood, and smoothed my jeans down my thighs. But what if it was Tate?
“Ezra, let me get this.” He rose and stomped to the door, his gaze hardening. “If it’s Tate, he’s going to meet my fist.”
We’d been thinking the same thing. With a hard swallow, I nodded once.
He hurled the door open.
The pizza guy startled. “Oh, shit. Sorry, wasn’t expecting that.” He held the pizza box to Lucas. “Here you go, man. Thanks for the generous tip.”
“You’re welcome.” Lucas grabbed the pizza and, as the delivery guy left, looked around the area outside the apartment.
“He’s not out there, right?” I rubbed my hands over my chest as my skin prickled. Here I’d left Tate, and he still made me fearful.
“Nope, I don’t see him.” Lucas shut the door and set the pizza on the coffee table. “Sorry, but I’m starved.” He dropped onto the couch and opened the box. “If I don’t eat every few hours, I get shaky.” Pulling a slice from the box, he stuffed the end into his mouth.
“Here, I’ll grab napkins and plates.” I ambled into my kitchen, grabbed a few plates and paper towels, and then set them next to the box. “I suppose you have to eat a lot since you’re a professional athlete.”
“Yeah.” He ate more pizza, set the slice on a plate, and patted the couch next to him. “Please, sit down.”
“Okay.” I fell in beside him and eyed the pizza. Fuck Tate. The comment still pissed me off. Leaning forward, I slid a slice on a plate and took a bite, the melted cheese mixing with the tang of the pepperoni and sauce. “This is good, Lucas.”
“You like it? It’s a place I order from a lot. You were right. I don’t live very far from you.” He snuck his tongue out and licked a sauce blob from the corner of his mouth.
My gaze chased his tongue. What would it feel like—?
“You said you didn’t love Tate, right?” He picked up a fresh slice of pizza, glancing at me.
“No, I don’t. I don’t think I ever did.” Tonight, Tate had been ugly. Why had I stayed with him so long? I slowly chewed my food.
“You don’t seem very upset. Like, you’re not sad. Are you?” He wiped his mouth with a paper towel.
“I’m…numb.” He was right. If I had loved Tate, I’d be upset right now. “I’m not sure what to feel. Maybe stupid.”
“You’re not stupid, Ezra.” He planted his plate on the table and twisted to me, resting his forearm on the back of the couch behind me. “People like him manipulate others.”
“Guess I’m easily manipulated, then.” I hung my head. What did Lucas think of me? I’d always wondered why people stayed in abusive relationships. Now I knew why.
“No, well, maybe at first. You said he alienated you from all your friends. Maybe you became lonely?” He creased his brows. “Ezra, are you lonely?”
I gazed deeply into his stark blue eyes, full of obvious concern for me. Setting my plate in my lap, I said, “I guess so. I have my business, but I don’t have anyone to—”
“You have me.” He leaned in, his lips so close to mine. His gaze dipped and came back. “We can do things together.” He bit his lip. “I have a few games next week, but when I’m home, we can hang out.”
As friends? Of course, as friends. “Okay.” I’d never met a straight guy so interested in hanging out with a gay man before. But then, his brother was gay.
He covered my hand with his. “I...like you, Ezra. You’re the kind of person I want to know better.”
Staring at him, my lips parted, and I nodded. I felt safe with him. I should stop questioning this and just go with it.