21. Jake #2
Normally, Jake would have kicked him for making a comment like that, but Kingston was already on it, jabbing his elbow into Riley’s ribs deep enough to make him holler a curse.
“How did you get traded to Halifax?” Allen asked over Riley’s hissing. “Wouldn’t Edmonton be a better place for you since your family is there?”
Kingston’s expression tensed along with his posture, and Jake understood that Allen had touched on a sore topic.
“My aunt had a kid, and he’s on the autism spectrum,” Kingston explained. “I knew she would be pulled in too many directions if I stayed, so I took the choice away from her. I wanted her to focus on my cousin because he’s a good kid, and I’m old enough to take care of myself now.”
“Debatable,” said Allen. “And you can argue about not being sweet all you want, but that right there proves it. I rest my case.”
Kingston mumbled something Jake didn’t catch, but he never corrected Allen, even though he looked grumpy about it.
“I’m guessing you guys wanted to have dinner so you could tell us you’re boyfriends now, right?
” Allen asked, his eyes brightening as if he’d just remembered.
“I’m so excited. We can go on double dates like this all the time when you’re back for home games.
And Jake said we could travel for away games too, so we can hang out during your downtime. ”
“Actually—”
A hand covered Kingston’s mouth, cutting him off before he could say anything. Jake stared at Riley, trying to get a read on what he was doing, but then the door opened, and their food was brought in by the staff.
The silence was tense and awkward as plates were set on the table, drinks were refilled, and Riley gave curt answers to the questions from the host that Jake couldn’t be bothered to answer.
Once the door was closed and they were alone again, Riley removed his hand from Kingston’s mouth and let out a sigh.
“I’ll talk because Kingston’s explanation will involve a lot of swearing, and we don’t want you guys to think this is a joke. So, I know last week was a teaching thing, but Kingston and I had fun, and we wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
Riley had started talking slowly, but the longer his explanation ran, the faster the words came—until it sounded as if he were being chased.
“What I’m trying to say is—I think I’ve had ‘more than friend feelings’ for you and Allen for a long time, and Kingston likes you guys, too.
So, if you ever want to hook up or go on dates, we’re open to that.
If you want to stay separate couples who hang out, that’s okay, too.
We just wanted to let you know our boundaries since Allen mentioned a next time, and—”
“Dude, breathe,” Allen said, raising his hands to motion for Riley to stop. “The invite was sincere, so stop rambling like you’re scared you’re going to piss us off.”
Jake had gotten stuck on the comments about Riley having feelings for him, and had been circling it endlessly ever since. He’d always had a sense that Riley felt that way, but it was strange having it confirmed.
“You guys want to like…switch partners and stuff?” Allen continued, placing a hand on Jake’s lap to help anchor him. “We’ll have to go over boundaries later, but I think sharing could be fun. Jake already convinced me it was a good idea before you deflowered Kingston in our bed.”
“Deflowered?!”
The table rattled again.
Riley looked from Jake to Allen with his eyebrows raised so high they looked liable to pop off his face. “Is that why you were so okay with the suggestion?”
Allen leaned back in his seat and folded his arms, lifting his chin like he was daring Riley to argue with him.
“We all find each other attractive. You want to kiss Jake. I want to kiss Jake. I want to watch Kingston get fucked by everyone. I want to get fucked by Kingston. And I don’t think anyone here would say they don’t want to watch Jake fuck Riley. ”
Kingston held out his fist, and Allen grinned, reaching across the table to bump it.
Riley had been stunned into a stuttering silence, so Allen continued without the confirmation. “On top of that, we enjoy each other’s company. Obviously, we all need time apart to grow into our relationships, so we shouldn’t jump into moving in together—”
“Wait!” Riley threw his hands in the air. “Ally, wait a second. You’ve thought about living together?”
Allen blew him a kiss like the cheeky brat he was. “Have you seen the size of our bed? There’s plenty of room for you boys, and meals and sex would be included in the bundle.”
Kingston seemed content with the direction the conversation was going because he began to eat his steak and ignore them. Jake followed his example because he needed to do something with his hands, and he had faith that Allen had everything handled.
“And Jake is…really okay with all of it?” Riley asked, refusing to meet Jake’s eyes like he was worried it might send him into a jealous rage.
If it were anyone else, Jake would have been disgusted by the thought of someone touching Allen. But this wasn’t anyone else; this was Riley. Jake trusted Riley with his life, and he trusted him to respect and care for Allen in the same way he did.
Thinking of Kingston and Allen also didn’t trigger any jealousy or stranger danger.
Sometimes Jake had a sense for people he knew he could trust in a compatible way that wouldn’t cause him anxiety, and Kingston was one of them.
He enjoyed caring for Kingston in the same way he enjoyed caring for Allen, so having two people in his life to dote on was a plus.
Jake did agree that they shouldn’t move in together until the four of them had time to settle into their relationships, but he would give them a year and then move their stuff into his penthouse if he had to.
“Don’t make that face,” Riley said, pointing his fork at Jake’s nose. “I know that goddamn look in your eyes. I saw it when you were stalking Allen.”
Allen chuckled around his mouthful of pasta. “You mean the serial killer look that says you’ll be kidnapped and chained to the bed and never allowed to leave the penthouse? Good luck, Riles.”
It was true that Riley had never suffered the full force of Jake’s determination once he had a goal in mind, but he and Kingston would learn that it was easier to give in soon enough.
Because, as crazy as it sounded, the thought of having a relationship with Riley, Kingston and Allen felt right in a way that left Jake buzzing with happiness. He didn’t care how different it was, as long as it worked for them. Who gave a fuck about what others thought?
Jake had been called different and strange all of his life, so he saw no need to force himself into social norms that would never fit him. He hadn’t done so before, and he had no intention of starting now.
“Everyone eat, and we’ll talk more later,” Allen ordered, looking pointedly at Riley, who was playing with his salad. “The faster we finish, the faster we can go to the rink.”
All attention snapped toward Allen, and Jake was so surprised that he nearly dropped his fork.
“You mean—” Jake swallowed to wet his suddenly dry mouth, “You’re going to skate with us?”
“That depends on Riley and his impending mental breakdown,” said Allen.
Kingston took possession of Riley’s wrist and lifted the forkful of food he had been holding to his mouth, unceremoniously shoving it inside. “Eat, jackass. I need to see Allen skate like I need fucking oxygen to breathe.”
Riley’s reply was muffled through his chewing, but Jake could see the spark returning to his blue-green eyes. If there was one thing they could all agree on, it was the primal need to see Allen gear up and shoot pucks.
“See, told you the dinner request was suspicious,” Allen said, bumping shoulders with Jake. “My intuition never fails me.”
Jake shrugged. “You probably thought they were going to say something about being boyfriends. I saw how wide your eyes were when Riley was propositioning us.”
Allen gave an indignant grunt and stole a piece of Jake’s broccoli. “Whatever. You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Cute was the word Jake typically used to describe Allen, but he learned very quickly that his pretty boyfriend was anything but cute when you put a stick in his hands and sent him on the ice.
Allen was thirty years old and hadn’t played hockey since he was a kid, but the man was a fucking menace once they were geared up and fair game for bruising hits.
“Valero! Control your fucking hamster before I—”
A loud crash rang through the boards, followed by Kingston’s cursing and Allen’s cackling laughter. Jake swerved and saw the aftermath of Allen checking Kingston into the boards, and the scattered remains of the younger man’s ego on the ice around him.
Jake had been half-heartedly fighting Riley for the puck in the other corner, but now they were both still as Allen skated over to them, panting through his chuckles.
“Ouch, fuck. I’m way too old and out of shape for this,” Allen said, grimacing. “And these panties are so far up my fucking ass that I feel like I’m choking on them.”
Riley made a strangled sound beside him, and Jake agreed.
“Little fucker!” Kingston snarled, shoving himself back onto his skates and racing over. “I didn’t have the damn puck! Why did you hit me?”
Allen grinned and held his stick out, pushing it against Kingston’s chest, forcing him to keep his distance. “Sorry, I forgot the rules. Must have slipped my mind.”
“Why, because you’re senile?” Kingston rolled his arm to check his shoulder, glaring viciously at Allen’s smiling face. “I thought you were going to skate as pretty as you look, but you’re the biggest four-foot-tall goon I’ve ever seen.”