“Yo, Lo.”
Blinking several times, I glance up and look at Link Jördik.
“I only talk for my health, it seems,” he deadpans, Austrian accent thick this morning.
I laugh. “Sorry, man. Just zoning out.”
“Mmm,” he says, giving me an assessing look. “You trade roommates, yeah? You bed with Drick.”
Glancing up, Caulder’s eyes are on me. His eyebrows are knit together as he stares. At the end of the table, Drick flips off Link.
“Nah, man. Sorry. Caulder is a very clean, quiet roommate. I think I’m good.” Looking beyond Caulder at Drick, I continue, “No offense, dude.”
Drick rolls his eyes, glaring at Link.
“There’s going to be an enemies-to-lovers serial now,” Lamar loudly mutters. “I’d love to see how this goes down.”
“No,” Link says. “Just incompatible behaviors. I speak to reception again, though useless.” Sighing, he gets to his feet and leaves the restaurant.
I look at Caulder again and he gives me a shy smile before turning toward Creed and taking up conversation again. I’m going to lick that smile off him. Yep, that’s what I’m going to do later.
More guys come and go over the next forty minutes or so before there’s an announcement that the bus is here. Like a herd of animals, we get to our feet and head for the door. There are several minutes of unorganized chaos as we sift through the bags for our own, which is kind of dumb since we’re going to be playing this game again once we get them from under the bus later. Right now is the time to just grab one and go; they’re all going to the same place.
Eventually, we’re loaded on. I’m not sitting with Caulder, which I’m internally a little bummed about. He’s within view, though and of course I can’t stop watching him. I still remember what he feels like against me. Wet in the shower and slick with sweat on the bed. His mouth against mine as I held him to the wall just inside the door.
We did strip the bed, didn’t we?
I swear, there’s still the phantom taste of his cum on my tongue. That man is going to haunt me all day. Right there within reach and yet, untouchable.
Wonder if I could convince him of a quick shower blowie in the middle of the day. Probably not. He’s far too careful about anyone seeing him in any other way than just a hockey player. He might as well be invisible.
Pity. He’s far too gorgeous to be invisible.
I’m still staring at the back of his head when we arrive at the arena and pile off the bus. This is where we end up waiting around for our individual bags to come out. I think mine is toward the back so I have some time.
Caulder steps next to me as I wait, a few feet away from everyone else since I know it’ll be a few minutes. “You keep staring at me,” he murmurs, hands in pockets as he squints up at the clear sky and bright Florida sun.
“I’m remembering?—”
“Don’t,” he cuts me off, laughing. “Jesus, Lo. Keep it to yourself!”
I know he’s not referring to what I was just going to teasingly say. But anything I say might inadvertently hint at the precious information he’s shared with me. Me and only me.
“Remembering that we didn’t strip the bed,” I finish, though yeah, that’s not at all what I was going to say.
“Ah,” Caulder says. “Might have to sleep on top of the blankets tonight.”
“Why?” Max asks as he hands Caulder his bag.
“Spilled soda last night,” Caulder answers, shrugging indifferently. I’m impressed with the conversational response without hesitation. Well practiced.
“If they can’t see that the sheets should be changed, I think you should call them up when we get back,” he says. “This hotel is already on everyone’s shit list.”
“The Great Bed Fuckery of 2022!” Lamar calls out as he heads for the door.
“Who’s he rooming with?” I ask, amused.
“I… dunno. Did he say?”
