Chapter 14 #2
Evan held a new sushi piece to his face and stared at me, then at Lucas. “You’re supposed to do this in private, bro.”
“Ssh.” Lucas hissed at Evan and then focused on me. “Well?”
“Uh, yeah, there’s no one else I want to date.” And hell, look at everything he’d done for me and wanted to take on? I twisted my hand and squeezed his.
“Good.” He freed my hand. “Then tomorrow, we’ll stop by your place and grab enough for you to stay another week.”
The next morning, after breakfast, I waited on Lucas’s bed for him to shower.
We’d spent a nice evening in watching an action movie with Evan and then spooned all night in bed after another round of blowjobs.
I’d never spent time with any of Tate’s friends like this.
Did Tate even have friends? Or maybe he never wanted them around me.
I rolled my phone in my hands. I should call Maddy and give her a quick update. After dialing her number, the phone rang a few times. Maybe she was busy with the kids. It was Sunday, after all.
The call clicked. “Hello? Ezra? Is everything all right?” She panted.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Why was she out of breath? “What are you doing?” I glanced at the window next to the bed, the long black curtains on either side and the bright sunshine beyond.
“I’m at the playground with the kiddos. West just tumbled down the slide, ass over teakettle. I swear, that boy can’t wait for his first broken bone.” She chuckled.
I tipped my head, an ache fluttering through my chest. It would be so nice to go home and see them. I’d never even met them in person. But I knew my sister told them all about me. “Anyway, I’m still at Lucas’s house and we’re…” I smiled as warmth wrapped around my heart. “We’re boyfriends.”
“Damn, boy. You move fast.”
“I know. Is it too fast?” I teased the hem of my tie-died shirt. I craved a splash of color for once. Did Lucas have anything to do with it?
“Nothing’s too fast if you’re ready for it. Are you ready?”
“I am. I think I’ve been waiting for a man like Lucas Hopkins to come along my whole life, Maddy.
He’s different. He’s a good man. He’s not love bombing, like Tate did.
” I pressed my lips together. “From the start with Tate, I always sensed something untrustworthy beneath the surface. I could never give myself fully to him. I always guarded my heart, no matter what he did.”
“Well, you sure sound different. You sound…happy.” She laughed. “Has Tate left you alone since you filed the order of protection?”
“Not really. Lucas wants me to stay at his place for another week.” I freed a heavy sigh.
“And if I see him, I’m going to call the police.
At some point, he’s got to stop, right?” I fisted the hem of my shirt.
Even if jailed, he would bail himself out and hire the best lawyer.
Would I have to face him in court? A knot formed in my gut.
“I think that’s a good plan,” she said. “What jobs have you got this week?”
“I’m editing some wedding photos, and then a few more families with babies are coming in.
” I had a pretty full calendar. What would Lucas’s schedule look like?
We hadn’t discussed it yet. “I need to take more shots for stock photos, too.” Selling photos on the stock sites didn’t make as much money as individual shoots, but it helped.
“If Tate shows up while a family is in the studio, what will you do?”
“I…I don’t know.” I’d escaped that scenario for now. It would be so embarrassing. “I guess I’d have to tell them the truth and call the cops.” I rubbed my temple. “Hopefully it won’t tarnish my reputation.”
“As long as you give them great photos, I’m sure they’ll forgive it, and I know you can do that.” She chuckled softly.
Stella’s conversation swept through my mind. Shit, I’d almost forgotten. “Maddy, I have something to ask you.”
“Sure.”
“Do you know what PFLAG is?” I tapped my index finger on my thigh and glanced at the closed door to Lucas’s bathroom. The water had shut off, so he would probably be ready soon.
“Uh, no. What is it?”
I inhaled deeply. “It stands for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. It’s a support group where allies and parents of queer people can meet to talk about their experiences. I thought maybe—”
“I could go to it with Mom?” she asked. “Hell yes, I’ll drag her ass there.”
With a soft snicker, I said, “No, don’t drag her. If she’s willing, then take her. I’m not sure it’ll help to force her.” Knowing my mom, you didn’t force things on her. She could be stubborn.
“You know what I mean. Do I just Google it and find a meeting that’s close?”
“Yes.” A thin wall around my heart cracked. Could I dare hope she’d go?
“Okay, consider it done. I didn’t know there were things like that. Why didn’t you tell me about it sooner?”
“I didn’t think of it.” As the door opened to the bathroom, my gaze swept to Lucas, his pecs and abs on full display, his hair wet and a towel wrapped around his hips.
“Hey, who are you talking to?” A warm smile ghosted across his lips.
“My sister, Maddy.” I stared at his carved body. Damn, he was nice to look at.
“Oh, can I say hi?” He bounded to the bed and flopped down next to me.
“Ah, sure.” I put the phone on speaker. “Maddy, Lucas is here, and he wants to say hello.” I held the phone between us. My pulse picked up speed. She’d never actually spoken to Tate.
“Maddy? This is your brother’s new boyfriend. Just wanted you to know that I’m taking good care of him. He means a lot to me.”
She squealed. “Oh my God, Lucas, I’m so happy to talk to you. Ezra says the sweetest things about you,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind, but I looked you up on Instagram. My brother is one lucky guy.”
“Thank you.” He glanced at me with a sly grin. “He told me some about you, too. I can’t wait to meet you someday and your lovely family.” He dipped his forehead to my shoulder and came up.
“I think we can make it happen. You know, Ezra has never met his niece and nephew.”
Lucas’s grin waned. “He hasn’t? We need to change things, Maddy. Family is everything. Hell, if it weren’t for mine, I don’t know where I’d be.”
My eyes stung. Holy hell, he was so right. What had I been running from?
He planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Anyway, I need to take your brother to his place so he can get fresh clothes. Did he tell you he’s staying with me this week?”
“He did. Thank you, Lucas. I was so worried about him.”
“Don’t be. I’ve got this.” His grin returned. “I’ll let you both talk now while I get dressed.” Hopping off the bed, he sauntered to his dresser and dropped the towel, the round globes of his ass taunting me.
Oh, holy hell. I might fuck that ass. Heat built in my balls and I squirmed. “Okay, keep me updated and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Same.”
“Bye now.” I ended the call and dropped my phone onto the bed. My gaze trapped on Lucas’s ass as he bent to slide his briefs up his legs. “That’s quite a show.”
“It’s all for you, babe.” Twisting around, he held the back of his hand to his mouth. “Shit, do gay guys say that or is it a straight thing? I think my brother calls Jett that, but they’re married.” He wrinkled his brows.
As a grin played on my mouth, I crawled off the bed.
“Gay men say that. We’re all just people.
” I stepped to him and wrapped his muscled body in a tight hug, resting my cheek on his chest. I’d never felt so safe before.
This was how love should be. Fuck, love?
Yep, love. I was falling hard and fast for him. There was no need for walls.
After exchanging clothes at my apartment without seeing Tate, we headed into downtown Scottsdale for a pleasant lunch. Things were so easy with Lucas. No arguments, no eggshells, just absent touches and laughter.
I strolled along the sidewalk hand in hand with Lucas, taking in the old historic Mission in white stucco with a restaurant tucked in next to it. “I’ve never been to this place.”
“Yeah? Well, you’re in for a treat. My brother told me about it.” We stepped under an overhang in the style of old Mexico, with a red-tiled roof and a rounded facade. It reminded me a little of Taco Bell, but I wouldn’t tell Lucas that.
Upon meeting a hostess, she directed us to a covered patio at the restaurant’s back featuring a Saltillo tile floor.
Plants and flowers in colorful Mexican planters rested along the walls and wooden tables and chairs scattered the area, none of which matched.
The place had a fun, creative vibe to it.
I took a chair next to Lucas and picked up my menu. “This place is nice.” I scanned the extensive margarita menu. “Are we drinking today?” It was Sunday, after all.
“I am.” He pointed at his menu. “A prickly pear margarita sounds great.”
With a nod, I said, “I’ll try pomegranate, then we can sample each.
” The menu had a mix of upscale Central and South American food.
“The tacos look good.” Tate would call me boring, having tacos in a fancy place like this.
Tenseness lodged behind my breastbone. Fuck, I needed to get Tate out of my head.
“They look good.” He tapped his lips. “I’m going to try the Cubano Torta and we can share?” His gaze lifted to mine.
“Sounds great.” I set my menu down and looked around us. I didn’t have to worry about lingering on anyone for too long. Lucas wasn’t a jealous control freak like Tate had been. Damn it, I needed to stop thinking about him.
“What’s going on in your head?” With a grin, Lucas peered at me.
No need to tell him the truth. “Reviewing my schedule for the week. I’ll be in the studio a lot.” After unrolling my napkin from my silverware, I set it on my lap.
“I can stay there with you after my morning skates and workouts.” He knitted his brows.
“No, it’s unnecessary. I can lock myself in and he can’t get to me.” Except he might show up as I was coming or going. Fuck. I pursed my lips.
“Don’t you need an assistant? I can help with things.” He gave me a playful grin.
Huffing a laugh, I shook my head. “Thanks, but no. You need to focus on hockey. I’ve got this.” It wasn’t fair to make him sit in my studio. He’d get bored at some point.
The server stopped by the table and took our drink and food orders.
Leaning in, Lucas focused on me and said, “Ezra, you will call the cops if he shows up, right? Call them and then call me.” He grabbed my hand, resting on the table. “Promise me.”
I stared at him. I had to be strong, like Stella. “I promise.” I squeezed his hand.
“Good.” Freeing my hand, he leaned back, spreading his forearm across the table. “I have a few home games this week. Do you want to go?”
The server dropped off our drinks.
“Yeah, sure.” I sipped my margarita through a straw, the fruit and lime hiding most of the tequila taste. “Damn, these are good. I can barely taste the alcohol.” Shit, would I be alone at the stadium? It wasn’t like I had any friends to go with me. I frowned.
“What’s wrong?” He cocked his head and drank his margarita.
“I’d be attending the game by myself, right?” I skimmed my fingers against the stem of my glass. Was I ungrateful?
“I’ll bet my brother and his husband would want to go. I’m pretty sure they’re home the night of the first game.” A grin teased his lips. “I want you to meet them, anyway.”
“Really?” My heart flip-flopped. This was a big step, but he’d already met my sister on the phone.
He shrugged, “Sure, why not?” He glanced at his drink and came back. “I’d rather be there when you all meet, so I can filter the shit that comes out of Mason’s mouth, but I’m sure Jett will do that for me.” He chuckled. “Mason can be a handful.”
“He sounds like a lot of fun.” And I’d be at a game with two NAPH players. How cool was that? “Will there be any media issues if we went together?” We’d be a target for the cameras, for sure.
He shifted in his seat. “Let me talk to our PR team, but I don’t think so. You contracted with the team on the calendars, so I’m sure they can spin something for the press if it comes up.”
“Okay.” I sipped more of my drink. “Let me taste your margarita.”
He slid his drink toward me. “When will the calendars release?”
“I think it’ll take a few weeks at least. Someone has to format them and then printing them can take a while.” I sucked in his margarita from his straw. It was less sweet than mine. “This is good, Lucas. Try mine.” I picked my drink up and handed it to him.
He drank it and handed it back. “Oh, sweet, but tasty.” He smacked his lips. “The first game is on Tuesday night.”
“Okay, I’ll plan for it.” My gaze caught on a man with plates in his hands. “I think the food’s here.” And it looked delicious.
The man set the plates in front of us.
“I’ll set up a FaceTime call with Mason and Jett this afternoon, so at least you’ll get to meet them virtually first.” He picked up his fork and cut into his food.
“That works.” Then I wouldn’t be as nervous at the game. I folded one of three tacos on my plate with meat, cheese, and cabbage spread over the small tortillas and stuffed it in my mouth.