9
The cabin was nestled in the woods, a sprawling log structure with floor to ceiling windows and a massive stone fireplace.
The team had rented it for the annual bonding weekend, a tradition that was supposed to build camaraderie and trust. Spencer stood at the window and watched the snow fall outside.
The flakes were thick and heavy, blanketing the trees in white.
Layton came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. "You okay?"
Spencer leaned back into him. "I'm fine. Just thinking."
"About what?"
Spencer shrugged. "About how different everything is now. A few months ago, I was alone. I didn't have anyone. Now I have you. I have Zavier. I have a team that actually cares about me."
Layton pressed a kiss to his neck. "You deserve it. You deserve all of it."
Zavier walked over and joined them. He stood on Spencer's other side and looked out at the snow. "This place is beautiful. I can see why the team comes here every year."
Spencer said, "It's peaceful. I like it."
The rest of the team was scattered around the cabin.
Drew Matthews was trying to start a fire in the fireplace.
Terry King was in the kitchen, cooking something that smelled amazing.
Reggie Tanner was setting up a board game in the corner.
Sophie Gibson was on her phone, probably texting her boyfriend.
Skyler Bradley was organizing the equipment for tomorrow's practice.
It was chaotic and loud and wonderful. Spencer had never felt so at home.
Drew finally got the fire going. "Yes! I am a master of the elements."
Terry called from the kitchen. "You just used a whole bottle of lighter fluid. That's not mastery. That's cheating."
"Cheating is just another word for winning."
Spencer laughed. He couldn't help it. Drew was ridiculous and loud and exactly what the team needed.
Layton squeezed his waist. "I love it when you laugh. You should do it more often."
Spencer turned to look at him. Layton's eyes were soft and warm. There was no arrogance there. No competition. Just love.
Zavier said, "He's right. You should laugh more. It suits you."
Spencer felt his cheeks flush. He had never been good at accepting compliments. But from them, it felt different. It felt like they really meant it.
Dinner was a loud affair. Everyone was talking at once, passing food around the table, laughing at Drew's terrible jokes. Spencer sat between Layton and Zavier, their legs pressed against his under the table.
Coach Miller had stayed behind at campus. This was supposed to be a team bonding weekend, and he trusted them to handle it themselves. Spencer was grateful. He didn't think he could handle Coach's knowing looks right now.
After dinner, everyone settled into the living room. Someone put on a movie. Someone else started a drinking game. Spencer stayed on the couch with Layton and Zavier, their bodies pressed together.
Layton's hand found his knee. Zavier's arm was draped across the back of the couch, his fingers brushing Spencer's shoulder.
Spencer felt like he was floating. He had never been this happy. He had never felt this wanted.
The movie ended. People started drifting off to bed. Drew was the last one awake, stumbling toward his room with a bottle of beer in his hand.
"Night, everyone," he called. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Layton said, "That doesn't narrow it down."
Drew laughed and disappeared into his room.
The cabin fell silent. The fire crackled in the fireplace. The snow continued to fall outside.
Spencer said, "I don't want to go to bed yet. I want to stay here. With you."
Layton nodded. "Me too."
Zavier said, "The hot tub is still warm. We could go out there."
Spencer looked at him. "The hot tub?"
Zavier shrugged. "Why not? It's freezing outside. It'll be nice."
Layton grinned. "I like the way you think, McCormick."
They changed into swim trunks and wrapped themselves in towels. The hot tub was on the back deck, steam rising into the cold night air. The snow was still falling, soft and silent.
Spencer stepped into the hot water and gasped. It was perfect. The heat seeped into his bones, melting away all the tension.
Layton and Zavier joined him. They sat on either side of him, their bodies close in the water.
The steam was thick. The air was charged. Spencer could feel the tension building between them.
Layton's hand found his knee under the water. "I've been wanting to do this all weekend."
Spencer's voice was breathless. "Do what?"
Layton leaned in and kissed him. It was soft at first. Then desperate. All the hatred, all the longing, all the confusion. It was all in that kiss.
Spencer melted into it. He had been waiting for this for so long. He had been dreaming about it.
Zavier watched them. His jaw was tight. He wanted to be part of it. Spencer could see it in his eyes.
Spencer pulled back and looked at him. "Come here."
Zavier leaned in and kissed him. It was different from Layton's kiss. Deeper. More urgent. Zavier kissed like he had been holding back for years.
Layton watched them. His hand was still on Spencer's knee.
Zavier pulled back and looked at Layton. Layton leaned in and kissed him.
Spencer watched them kiss. It was beautiful. It was perfect. He felt like he was watching something sacred.
Layton pulled back and looked at Spencer. "I love you. Both of you. I never thought I would feel this way. But I do."
Zavier said, "I love you too. I've loved you for a long time. I was just too scared to admit it."
Spencer's eyes were burning. "I love you too. Both of you. I've never felt this way before. I've never had this before."
They kissed again. All three of them. Messy and desperate and perfect.
Layton's hand moved higher on Spencer's thigh. Zavier's hand found his waist. Spencer was surrounded by them. He was wanted. He was loved.
Layton said, "I want to touch you. I want to touch both of you."
Zavier said, "I want that too."
Spencer's heart was pounding. "We're in the hot tub. Anyone could come out here."
"Everyone's asleep." Layton's voice was low and rough. "No one's coming out here."
Spencer looked at them both. His body was on fire. He wanted this. He wanted them.
"Okay," he said. "Okay."
Layton kissed him again. His hand moved higher. Spencer gasped.
Then the back door opened.
Drew Matthews stumbled out onto the deck. "What's going on in here?!" He was still holding his beer. He was clearly drunk. "Why are you all in the hot tub without me?"
They separated. Fast. The moment was broken.
Spencer's face was flushed. Layton looked murderous. Zavier was shaking.
Drew didn't notice anything. He was too drunk. "This is so unfair. I wanted to be in the hot tub. I love the hot tub."
Layton's voice was strained. "You can join us, Drew. We're done."
"Done? You just got in." Drew stumbled toward the hot tub. "I'm coming in. Move over."
They moved over. Drew climbed in and immediately launched into a story about his high school girlfriend. Spencer sat in the corner, his heart pounding. Layton sat on the other side of Drew. Zavier sat next to Spencer.
The tension was unbearable.
Finally, Drew got tired and went back inside. The three of them sat in the hot tub, silent and frustrated.
Spencer said, "I can't do this if we're going to hide. I can't keep pretending."
Zavier said, "We won't hide. Not forever. Just until we're ready."
Layton nodded. "We need to figure out what we are first. We need to figure out how to do this."
Spencer looked at them both. "You have one month. Figure it out. Then we either do this for real, or we don't do it at all."
It was an ultimatum. But it was also a promise.
Layton said, "One month. We'll figure it out."
Zavier said, "We'll figure it out together."
They stayed in the hot tub for a long time. The snow continued to fall. The steam continued to rise. None of them wanted to go inside.
Finally, they got out and went to their rooms. Spencer was alone in his room, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling.
His body was still buzzing. His lips were still tingling. He could still feel Layton's hands on his skin. He could still taste Zavier's kiss.
He had never felt like this before. He had never wanted anyone this badly. He had never been so scared and so hopeful at the same time.
He closed his eyes and thought about Layton and Zavier. He thought about their hands on his body. He thought about their lips on his skin.
He fell asleep with their faces in his mind.
The next morning, everything was different. The tension was still there, but it had shifted. Spencer could feel it in the way Layton looked at him. He could feel it in the way Zavier touched him.
They were still hiding. They were still pretending. But something had changed.
Spencer sat at the breakfast table and watched them across the room. Layton was laughing at something Drew had said. Zavier was eating his eggs with his usual intensity.
They both looked at him at the same time. Their eyes met. Spencer felt his heart skip.
He had given them a month. A month to figure out what they wanted. A month to figure out how to be together.
He hoped it was enough. He hoped they could figure it out.
Because he didn't think he could go back to the way things were before. He didn't think he could pretend he didn't love them.
He loved them. He loved them both. And he was going to fight for them.
No matter what it took.