Chapter 9
THEO
Theo couldn’t remember the last time he drank enough after a game to wake up hungover.
He was responsible about drinking during the season, but the night before, he kept delaying his return home, thinking about how Rowan had his little boyfriend or whatever over.
He didn’t know what was going on between Rowan and Felix Becker, but just like everyone else who had eyes, he knew they had something weird.
Making the coffee machine start was so much more difficult with a pounding head, but he hit the right button and it sounded like something was about to happen. He mixed up a green shake and sipped it while considering what else to eat for breakfast.
Rowan’s bedroom door creaked open, and Becker popped his head out, closing the door behind him so quietly the gesture felt performative.
He was in his boxers, hair sleep-messy. He was, to Theo’s deep chagrin, very sexy.
Filled out in the chest and shoulders, a soft dusting of hair over his pecs and stomach.
Auburn hair a shade darker than Theo’s. Nice big ass like any halfway decent hockey player.
Theo hated himself for noticing.
“Can I steal some coffee?” he asked, perfectly politely.
Round, Canadian vowels masked any German accent he had—a product of moving to Ontario for hockey when he was sixteen.
He had strangely nice teeth for a hockey player.
Theo rarely felt self-conscious about his missing tooth, especially during the season when he was around so many other guys in the same position, but now, his tongue darted to the gap in his smile.
Rowan’s teeth were also still flawless.
Theo grabbed a cup from the cupboard and handed it over, then motioned to the pot for Felix to pour his own.
“You have any milk?”
“Vic has something in the fridge. You can dig around.”
Felix fixed his coffee and leaned against the kitchen counter, giving Theo a thoughtful look.
“I know this doesn’t mean anything coming from me, but I gotta ask you to cut Ro some slack.”
“I am,” Theo said.
“He’s...you know Rowan. He has a hard time connecting with people. He can be a little dense. Give him a chance. I know everyone thinks he’s the golden boy who gets whatever he wants, but I promise you that’s only how things look, alright?”
“I respect you had to say that.”
“It kills me how unhappy he is out here.”
“We’re winning.”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
Felix drained his coffee cup and poured a second, taking the black coffee back to Rowan’s room. Sharing a fucking coffee mug bothered Theo more than them sharing a bed, but he couldn’t put his finger on why.
Theo tossed his smoothie cup in the sink and grabbed a pan for eggs.
He was eating at the breakfast bar and scrolling on his phone when Rowan and Felix emerged from Rowan’s room.
Felix was fully clothed, duffel over his shoulder.
Rowan walked him to the front door, and Felix hugged him like he would never see him again.
Okay.
Theo dropped his gaze when Rowan headed into the kitchen. He was going to leave it alone. He really was. He wanted to. Unfortunately, Theo was not the kind of person who could leave anything alone. Rowan pulled some bread out of the pantry with a little smile on his face, and Theo snapped.
“You shouldn’t bring guys from other teams here.”
Rowan looked confused. “This isn’t international politics. Felix is my friend.”
“Sure.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what you think it means. It means maybe don’t fuck guys on different teams is what it means.”
“Felix and I don’t fuck,” Rowan said. He said it with such absolute certainty that it threw Theo.
“Clearly you do.”
“You only think we do because the only time you pay attention to me is to collect a million little reasons it still makes sense to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You look like you’re ready to push me off a cliff at any moment.”
“Well, when you put it that way,” Theo grumbled.
“Is this because you’re jealous of Felix?” Rowan asked.
“It’s about how I’m fucking sick of the entire world being the Rowan Foley Show,” Theo hissed.
The attention Rowan always got wherever he went was the least of Theo’s annoyances, but the real reason he was upset was harder to articulate.
The buzz of anger once again was easier to carry with him than the weight of hurt, embarrassment, rejection.
“Whoa, whoa, boys, what is going on here?” Vic asked, walking into the kitchen from the garage. Theo had forgotten he was even gone.
“The stick up Theo’s ass is acting up,” Rowan said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, holding himself tightly.
“What’s your problem, dude?” Vic said, exasperated. Theo felt like he was in the principal’s office. He probably shouldn’t do this in front of his captain.
“I’m sorry,” Theo grumbled, more for Vic than for Rowan.
“Neat,” Rowan said as he left the kitchen to go back to his room.
“You need to figure your shit out,” Vic said. “Do I need to put you two in the Get Along shirt?”
Theo imagined being crammed into one t-shirt with Rowan. Hell. “No.”
“Alright. Get your stuff ready. We have to head to the airport soon. And you’re driving yourself.”