Chapter 7 #2
“When he’s over, we’ll definitely make a night of it,” I said.
“Damn straight we will,” he declared, rolling his eyes at me. “I need to check the guy out who’s had you by the short and curlies since you hit puberty.”
I snorted. “In that case, maybe not.” My brain then stumbled.
If Ryan wasn’t straight, he wasn’t out, so what I’d already sort of hinted at—my interest in Ryan—was already too much.
It was something I’d need to be discussing with Tallis—the need for discretion—and of course Ryan, if it was evident I needed to.
Tallis grinned wide and leaned back, smiling at John when he returned with a round of drinks. “You’re family now. There’s no chance of us not seeing him.”
A flutter of warmth unfurled in my chest at his words. I simply nodded, heat filling my cheeks, not quite sure how to respond without sounding like a tool.
As I thanked John for the fresh bottle of beer, my phone vibrated. I tugged it out, seeing an incoming call from the man who was always on my mind.
“That him?” Tallis leaned in and peeked at my phone, grinning widely when he spotted Ryan’s name.
“I’ll just step out—”
Before I could move or complete my sentence, Tallis swiped at the answer button. “We all want to say hi.”
Amusement danced through me. I figured Ryan wouldn’t mind at all, especially since he knew I was out, yet he’d video called me anyway.
As soon as his face came into view, my heart flipped over itself. His dark hair was damp, as if he’d not long showered. A tight, pale blue tee stretched over his tanned chest and biceps, providing a sexy image of the guy. His focus was connected firmly to me, his smile bright, wide, and real.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey, Broadwater. Crashing my night out?”
He gave a light shrug, a smirk on his face. “Maybe. Thought I needed to check out who keeps stealing you away.”
This time tiny wings took flight in my chest. I swallowed, my grin true and fixed. “Missing your early wake-up chat, huh?” Humor laced my voice, but I was sure my words carried truth.
“That’s pretty much the gist of it. You having a good time?”
“Yeah. There’s an act on in about an hour, so we’re just shooting the shit.”
Ryan’s gaze shifted to my left, to where Tallis’s face dipped into the screen, wearing a huge grin.
“G’day, Ryan. Tallis.” Tallis followed up with a chin lift and a smile.
“Hey, Tallis, good to meet ya. Nate here’s told me a lot about you,” Ryan answered. He flicked his gaze to me briefly before refocusing on Tallis.
“Back at ya, mate. I’m sure there’s a shitload more stories I need to hear, but Nate’s told us a few.” Tallis chuckled and nudged me.
I snorted. “I’ve barely touched the surface.”
“Just only believe the good stuff, yeah?” Ryan said, his smile still in place, but I saw the small shift in his gaze, already figuring what the “not so good” stuff referred to.
“Sure thing. Heard you’ve got another big game coming up on Monday.”
“They’re all big games,” I answered for Ryan. At my words, Ryan tilted his head slightly, his gaze roaming my face before settling on my eyes. “What? They are. They all count, right?” Since reconnecting with Ryan, I made no bones about watching every replay and some games on livestream.
“Shit, I forgot Nate here was your biggest fan,” Tallis jested.
My eye roll was teamed with a smirk, not even caring that he was right. The four beers I’d had probably helped with my not caring. That combined with the sweet smile Ryan cast my way, and I absolutely didn’t care that he knew just how important he still was to me.
“You’re still my biggest fan, Nate?”
For all that was holy and hot, Ryan’s voice dropped a good octave when he spoke.
And hello gruffness! I swiped my tongue across my bottom lip, finally thinking perhaps that fourth beer wasn’t the best idea.
I was far too needy and horny when I got to that fuzzy, happy place, the one I reached before I got hammered.
It was impossible not to notice the way Ryan’s gaze zeroed in on the action. I swallowed hard before remembering to answer. “You’re no longer so high on my shit list, so I thought I should make the effort.”
Tallis snorted beside me, while Ryan’s eyes narrowed a fraction just before he smiled once more. “Can’t ask for more than that, and you know, that visit guarantees a good seat courtside.”
“We were just talking about Nate’s visit,” Tallis butted in, and I cast a furtive look my new friend’s way. His words sounded like it was a done deal. I sighed before returning to focus on the screen and the new light in Ryan’s eyes.
Fuck.
Who was I kidding? There wasn’t a chance I could not go and see him.
“Your visit as in when you arrive here?” Ryan directed his question just to me, an eagerness in his expression that once again sent those wings in motion.
Just as I started to nod, a body brushed up to my other side, an arm going around my shoulders. Startled, I turned to see it was Lenny.
“What’s happening, and who’s this we’re talking to?
” Lenny’s expressive eyes were filled with what I was sure was mischief.
And holy hell, with my brain spinning out with having agreed to go to the US, the booze in my system, and Ryan’s face like thunder now my gaze had returned to his, I could barely think straight.
“Erm—”
Tallis cut me off, saying, “This is Nate’s Ryan.”
Was it wrong that I liked the sound of that? I’d always hoped he’d be mine one day, and with the new dynamics settling between us, just maybe that would happen. A guy could wish while equally crapping himself.
“Hey, Ryan.” Lenny gave a goofy wave, appearing unaffected by the daggers shooting from my best friend. “I’ve heard plenty about you.” He squeezed my shoulder, and I looked at him through the image of us on the screen. “So, he really is hot, huh!”
I frowned, sure I hadn’t said that to Lenny, but… I glanced at Tallis. He, I had told. Tallis winced and offered me an apologetic smirk.
Once my gaze was back on the screen and Ryan, his frown had smoothed out a little. “You want to just call me later?”
I nodded a little numbly, overwhelmed all of a sudden. “I can do that.” I’d also need to be making a fast apology. The last thing I wanted was to make him uncomfortable.
“I’ll be sure to answer.” A small smile tilted his lips, and he looked at the two guys on either side of me. “Good to meet you both. Be sure he gets home safe, yeah?”
Tallis nodded. “Absolutely.”
Ryan’s gaze connected with mine once again, a softness there I liked to think was reserved just for me. “Call me.” The call then ended, and I was left a little shaken and aware that the room seemed a lot louder than a few minutes ago.
The next afternoon, I sat out on a blanket in the garden with Amber and Ivy. The flowers on the frangipanis had begun to fall, yet it didn’t prevent their sweet fragrance from reaching us in the light autumn breeze.
I’d already told Amber all about my night. She listened intently between tickling her daughter’s feet and trying to stop her from reaching out to the blades of grass so she could ram them into her mouth.
“So, did you score?”
I shook my head at her.
“Seriously, Nate, give me something. At least tell me about the hot guys who were there.”
I relented with a snort. “There were all sorts of men there. A fair few women too. The blokes I was with were up for a good night.”
She bounced her brows up and down. “They were, huh?”
“Piss off. I mean, we had a laugh, talked shit.”
“But you hooked up?”
My cheeks heated, and she chuckled. There may have been a couple of guys who’d offered to take me home with them. I didn’t plan on telling her that, though.
“You did, didn’t you. Nice.” She dragged the word out.
“I didn’t, not really,” I admitted, not wanting her to get far-fetched ideas of me hooking up with anyone.
A frown creased her forehead. “Why not? You’re hot and single.”
“You saying I’m hot makes me want to gag a little.
” She simply stared at me in expectation.
“I could have gone home with someone if I wanted to.” It should have felt weirder that I was having these talks with Amber, but we spent so much time with each other that it seemed natural to overshare with her.
Amber’s brown gaze narrowed. “Is this about my brother?”
The heat in my cheeks dialed up a degree or fifteen.
A few years back, I’d admitted to Amber how I’d crushed on her brother.
This was after far too many beers one night and a moment of weakness.
I shouldn’t have been surprised that she’d figured as much.
The woman was too observant for her own good. Even when she was much younger.
“I’ve actually sort of made up my mind to head over for a visit, watch his last game of the season and take a holiday there before he comes home for a visit.”
Her brows shot high, and I was silently proud of myself for shocking her.
“Wow, okay, wow.” She pursed her lips a moment before they twitched and a smile formed. “I think this is a great idea. It’ll do you a world of good to have a break. Plus, I imagine you’ve got a lot of stuff you need to talk about.”
The hammering of my heart filled my ears, so much so I could barely hear my “What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s been years since you’ve really talked, let alone seen each other. A whole lot has changed since you were eighteen. It’ll be good for both of you, come to think about it.”
I silently agreed, thinking more and more that me visiting him would be the right thing to do, and for once, the right thing for me.
I loved my life, my home, but it didn’t mean getting away wouldn’t be awesome.
And the truth was, cutting through the tension between Ryan and me was something I wanted to do.
Last night and his reaction to the possibility of me actually visiting had reaffirmed that even more.