Axel is one of our teammates who is married, but has a quirk about talking about himself in the third person.
“Axel loves Bella. Axel loves hockey,” I mock, sounding like Axel.
We move into the living room and sit down on the couch. I’ve got another hockey game to play, and we'll start watching. I keep stealing glances at Nash. He looks so carefree right now, and I never want this moment to end. I like having him in my apartment. In my home.
It feels right.
Chapter 15
Nash
The game moves to halftime, and Leo offers me another drink.
He brings the drinks over, our fingers brushing slightly as I take my glass, the connection sparking a flicker of awareness that races through me.
“Let’s toast,” he suggests, holding his glass up high, his eyes glimmering with excitement. “To the game, to us, and to kicking ass this season!”
“To new beginnings,” I add, and we clink glasses before taking a swig, the liquid burning pleasantly as it goes down. The tension still hangs heavy, but the moment also fills me with warmth.
Our team group chat starts blowing up, and we both pull out our phones.
Marcus: Where is everyone tonight?
Sean: Looking for a party.
Jack: Leo, how about we all come over and play pool at your place? I feel like hanging out, but not in public.
Leo turns to look at me. This was supposed to be a quiet evening with just the two of us, but we can’t ignore the team.
“You ok with the guys coming over?” he asks.
“Sure,” I reply.
Leo tells the guys to come over. I’m a little let down, but I know this is for the best.
But as the drinks keep flowing and the chatter grows louder, I notice how the energy shifts with the arrival of teammates. They filter into the apartment, filling the space with raucous laughter and vibrant energy. Still, the subtle connection between Leo and me begins to fade back into the background, a well-kept secret lingering just out of sight.
It’s chaotic but fun—everyone plunging into playful jabs, recounting highlights from the game. I find myself getting caught up in the excitement, but through it all, I can’t shake thefeeling that something hangs in the balance between Leo and me.
“Nash! You’re not going to let Leo get the last shot in pool, are you?” one of my teammates yells, slapping my back as he heads to the table, a pool cue in hand. “Come on, let’s see what you’ve got!”
“I’ll show you,” I retort, glancing back at Leo, who’s already strutting toward the table with an air of confidence that makes me both thrill and cringe.
As we dive into the game of pool, the mood thickens with banter, and I can sense Leo’s gaze lingering on me—warm, heavy, imbued with something unspoken as he watches me concentrate.
But then, just as the weight of the night shifts again, I catch a glimpse of him texting on the couch, fingers flying across the screen, and something ignites again inside me—eager, daring, waiting to discover what this could mean.
Before I can shake off the tension in the air, he glances up, our eyes locking across the room, and he gives me a small, barely-there smile, the weight of everything hanging unspoken in the air between us. I can sense the call of something deeper, something waiting beneath the surface, just waiting for us to explore.
And as the party continues, the chaos swirling around me, I know one thing—this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Chapter 16
Leo
Sitting on the couch, I watch as the party unfolds around me. There’s an excitement buzzing in the air, and it’s hard to tell where exactly it’s coming from.
I’ve been a tornado of emotions the last couple of days. After Nash and I had sex in the hotel, I thought things would change. However, the next morning, Nash woke up almost frantic.
