7. Jake
Jake wasn’t getting a boyfriend for Christmas; he was getting a husband.
That’s what he kept telling himself anyway. He knew Allen would never go for it, but it was nice to dream big, right?
When Jake had made his intentions clear, and Allen had challenged him by saying there was no way he would win his heart, he expected to be stonewalled at every turn.
Instead, he fell into a rhythm in the two weeks leading up to Christmas of playing hockey, hanging with Riley, and spending every night and morning at Allen’s apartment.
By the fifth day, Allen had given him a key because he was tired of waiting for him on nights he had to go to bed early for work. By the tenth day, Allen started expecting morning kisses. And it was on Christmas Eve that Allen invited him over, asking if Jake had any plans for the day.
Jake was supposed to go to his parents’ house to eat too much turkey and open presents he didn’t need from his grandmother, but that all went out the window the second he received Allen’s flustered text.
“Dude, what are you doing?” Riley asked, pausing their video game so he could stare Jake down. “You’re smiling like a budding serial killer who just landed a pet-sitting job.”
Jake blinked at him, and Riley rolled his eyes.
“Don’t start,” he said, elbowing Jake. “That wasn’t even in the top ten worst things I’ve said.”
Jake shrugged and unpaused the game, filling the room with the sounds of roaring dragons and swords clattering off impenetrable scales.
Riley’s character wasn’t moving, and Jake knew he was still staring at him, but he didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t great at expressing himself, and he knew the answer was simple to give, but the thought of putting a voice to his words felt like climbing a mountain some days.
“Okay, Mouse. If you’re not going to tell me, then I’m going to start guessing.
Jake shrugged.
“Your dad bought you that stupid electric car he’s been trying to convince you to ask for,” said Riley.
Jake shrugged.
“Your mom asked you for grandkids again, or your grandmother asked you for grandkids again.”
Jake scrunched his nose and shrugged.
“You were given permission to play hockey for real.”
That would be nice, but alas, Jake shrugged.
“Allen spoke to you.”
This time, Jake didn’t move. He remained focused on the game, scowling when Riley’s chuckles began to grow in volume.
“You guys haven’t had sex yet?”
Riley would see that as a loss, but he had no idea that Jake was winning every time he walked away from Allen’s apartment without having sex. No sex meant there were feelings. Maybe.
He hoped.
“He asked me if I had plans for Christmas, and then he asked me to come over,” said Jake, finally breaking his silence.
Riley gasped and paused the game. “Shit. That’s a big deal.”
Jake nodded.
“What about the shindig at your parents' place?” Riley asked, and Jake caught the concern in his tone. “You’re not going to…skip Christmas, right? If I show up without you, your mom will kill me.”
“Don’t go,” Jake said simply.
“Don’t go?!” Riley dropped his controller and grabbed Jake’s shirt collar, giving him a shake. “And miss out on the best food and all the expensive clothes they buy me? Last Christmas, your dad bought me twenty hockey sticks and the best gear in the store.”
Jake groaned, letting his body go limp as Riley continued to shake him. It was easier to play dead opossum when Riles got like this, or he risked walking away with whiplash.
When Jake slumped onto his side, Riley followed him, practically mounting him as he pinned him to the floor. “You’re pissing me off,” Riley growled. “First Coach bothered me about Sloan, and now you’re being aloof with your parents because you have a guy.”
Jake’s eyes shot open at the mention of Riley’s rival. “What about him?”
Riley’s cheeks were flushed, and Jake could tell he was truly upset about the new guy who had been harassing him. At least now Jake knew why Riley was so worked up.
“He’s pretty and sweet, and I really like him, but—”
Jake kicked his feet and swung his arms, trying to get Riley off him so he could sit up, but all he could manage was to roll onto his back and blink at his friend in shock.
“You like him?” Jake asked, unable to hide his disbelief.
Riley’s brows pinched, and he readjusted his hands on Jake’s wrists to make sure he was securely pinned. “Yeah? What’s not to like? I know he has an attitude problem, but I can tell he’s a sweetheart, and you guys look good together.”
Oh.
Oh.
“Fuck,” Jake grunted, squeezing his eyes shut to stave off his growing migraine. “I thought you were talking about Sloan, not Allen.”
Riley made an awful choking sound and jumped to his feet, freeing Jake from his confines. “No! What the fuck? No wonder you were making a face. Sloan is an ugly bastard, and nowhere near as pretty as Allen.”
Jake sighed and pushed into a sitting position, rearranging himself with his back against the couch. “Sloan is attractive for a guy. He’s not as soft as Allen, but he’s still pretty.”
Riley folded his arms. “Pretty for a dick, I guess. I still wouldn’t fuck him. You couldn’t pay me enough—”
“Five million,” Jake said, smirking.
Riley paused and muttered a curse. “Nope.”
“Ten Million.”
Jake waited, holding his breath as Riley glared at him.
“You know what?” Riley flipped him off and then dug his phone out of his pocket, ignoring Jake’s questioning look while he tapped the screen and then held it to his ear.
“Hey, Allen? Jake’s parents are having their annual Christmas Eve party tonight, and he’s trying to get out of it.
Do you want to be my plus one and help me eat through an entire table of homemade food? ”
“Hey!” Jake lunged to his feet, aiming to tackle his stupid best friend, but he wasn’t fast enough.
“Uh-huh. Okay, I’ll pick you up in an hour. In Jake’s car. He’ll be driving.”
“Riles—”
“Don’t worry about it, Ally.” Riley had moved behind the couch, keeping the piece of furniture between them for protection. “I still say you chose the wrong friend. We could have been so good together.”
Motherfucker. Jake was going to strangle him once he caught him.
He had been looking forward to spending time with Allen—to maybe ask him to be his boyfriend while they sat in the glow of the Christmas lights. To give him his damn gift, the purple lacy object he had been dying to see against Allen’s beautiful, soft skin.
“See you later, baby.” Riley made kissy noises at the phone, and then Allen was gone, leaving him alone with Jake and his soon-to-be consequences. “So, he’s mad that you were willing to disappoint your family to be with him.”
“Fuck you,” Jake spat. “Why did you do that? Allen doesn’t want to meet my family, but you made him feel guilty and forced him into it.”
Riley’s grin immediately triggered the urge to punch him in the face. “You’re looking at this backwards, Mousey. If you bring your boyfriend, and your parents like him, then it will make things more official.”
Jake didn’t understand the reasoning, so he held off on killing Riley until he explained.
Riley sighed and smacked his hands onto the couch, making eye contact to keep Jake fully engaged. “You said Allen was hesitating because he doesn’t think you’re being serious. Dude, there is nothing more serious than introducing a boyfriend to your family.”
The tension in Jake’s shoulders gave out, and he crossed his arms, taking a deep breath. “I’ve never introduced a girl to my parents. They think I’m asexual.”
“Exactly,” said Riley. “And that means you’re even more serious about Allen.” He paused, and his grin faltered. “You are…serious about him, right?”
Serious wasn’t a deep enough word to describe it. He wanted to be with Allen. He wanted to protect him, possess him, love him and worship him. He knew he had to say these things out loud because his facial expressions and mannerisms didn’t match up with his feelings, but he was working on it.
“You like Allen?” Jake asked.
Riley gave him his don’t ask me stupid questions face.
“Duh. You’ve been hogging him all to yourself, but I think he’s perfect for you.
I know you can’t see it, but you get all…
glowy when you’re with him. I’ve never seen you light up like that, and I’m shit at explaining this, but let’s just say that you seem more like yourself when he’s around. ”
Jake couldn’t see it, but he felt it. Riley made him feel the same way, but Allen had something extra that he couldn’t explain.
“I love him,” he admitted.
Riley nodded, like it was obvious. “Then let him meet your family, show him that it’s real, and tell him that. He acts like a brat, so you know he’s not going to say it first. Take the fucking initiative for once in your life.”
Jake hated hearing those words, but Riley wasn’t wrong. His relationships always failed because he was never fully present, and he didn’t care enough to put in the effort.
“Alright,” said Jake. “But don’t…help me. I can do it on my own.”
He knew Riley wanted to see this relationship work, but Jake was an adult, and he had to learn how to fight for love on his own.
“Fine,” said Riley.
“Fine,” Jake echoed, then he smiled. “So, what were you talking about with Sloan?”
Now that the threat of death had passed, Riley swung himself over the back of the couch and slumped into the cushions.
“It’s so fucking stupid. The idiot refuses to rent a place because he’s waiting for the Citadels to call him up so he can buy a penthouse, and he’s been staying in a hotel since he arrived. ”
Jake sat beside him and faced his body toward Riley to show he was listening.
“Coach is worried the big, important jackass from Alberta is going to run out of money due to pure stubbornness, and he knows I have a big place with spare rooms, so he’s been hinting for me to offer Sloan a place to stay. You know, to build team chemistry and all.”
Jake hummed, rolling the idea around in his head. “Is it because the son of one of the owners of the Halifax Citadels bought you the penthouse?”