“You’re right. I don’t believe it.” Everyone laughs but me. Amongst the many memories to torture me through each night, the little chat Faith had with Cory, then recounted to me, has been one of the most haunting memories of our time together. Time and time again, those, if you love him let him go, barbs were the things that kept me awake. I can’t imagine how painful it must have felt to have my sister toss them at his feet, only for me to do it too.
“She’s my fiercest critic, ardent defender and teller of truths. The day I graduated, she hugged me, gave me a kiss on the cheek then passed me a Canadian work visa application.”
“She did not.”
“She did. I think she’d reached her ’sobbing gay brother listening to droopy ballads’ limit.” Cory holds me a little tighter.
“You were sobbing?”
“I was. Losing a lot of hair, too.” Proudly I stroke my beard. “That might have had more to do with it than the tears, actually.”
Suddenly, Cory jumps then fists my shirt. “Dylan! What about Dylan?” There’s genuine distress in his voice which makes me love him even more.
“Dylan’s doing great. The advocacy group finally helped us get the insurance sorted and my dad’s doctor helped him get a placement in this amazing community house. Dad’s goal was always to have Dylan live with some kind of independence, and now he can. He has his own little apartment with a kitchen, so he’s supported to cook his own meals. There’s a staff room attached for sleepovers, and a shared garden with these net swings he’s mad for. When he moved in we took him shopping and he picked out his furniture, and the best part is, Maria moved in, too. They’re neighbors. He’s so happy, Cub. It’s Dad’s dream come true.”
“Dylan’s too, I think.”
“I hope so. At first I felt guilty, and was worried that people would think we were locking him away in some … institution. And he can’t express how he’s feeling, you know. What if he hated it and just wanted to come home, but couldn’t tell us. Anyway, we did two months of weekend trials, and by the last one, he didn’t want to leave. He really does seem happy.”
“And he still comes to Green Line. Best skater on the ice,” Brady adds, before turning and tapping on the tinted glass dividing us from our driver. “Hey, mate,” he attempts to whisper. “Can you do us a favor and take us to Hyatt Place?” The driver nods his affirmation and slides the glass back up.
“Whyare we going there?” Cory asks.
“It’s where me, Lucas and Sam are staying.”
“You’re what? I thought?—”
Blushing, he points between James and I. “You thought we were going to sleep in the same apartment as you two?”
“Yeah. No thanks.” Sam nods to Lucas for backup.
“We wanted to stay with you, Cubby. But when James relented and came along we booked a room each. Brady can send his filthy messages to Troye and Quinn, Sam can send his to–Oww. Absolutely no one,” he adds after Sam kicks his thigh. “And yeah. I too will message no one ‘cause why would anyone want me?”
Sam’s sheepish grin doesn’t go unnoticed by anyone. Among a litany of worries over my unsolicited migration, will Cory be single? Still interested? Hate the beard? This secret between Sam and me has created the most fear.
I want Cory and I to have a fresh start. One that’s open and honest. All pucks on the ice, if you will. But Sam’s sworn me to secrecy. Bailed me out. I can’t break his confidence. Thankfully, even though he’s clearly covering something up, Cub’s too excited over the prospect of alone time with me to bother digging.
“We’ve gotan hour before dinner. Tour later. Fuck me now,” is my reply to the offer of Cubby showing me around his apartment.
“Deal.”
With little regard for his need for oxygen, or the cost of that sexy suit, I fist the tie hanging loosely around his neck, and drag him inside, throwing that lithe, but muscular body up against the wall and tearing open his shirt.
“Those fucking nipples,” I groan, taking them into my mouth one after the other, licking, biting ‘til he’s writhing. “So fucking sweet.” He’s collected enough to use the time wisely, though, blindly popping the button of my jeans, and tugging them down.
“As much as I want you to take your time and taste every inch of me, I also need to be inside you yesterday.”
“I vote for that, too and came prepared.”
There’s a full length mirror on the wall opposite me, a final chance to check yourself before you wreck yourself with bad fashion. Also to show what your man has shoved inside his ass.
Busy hands still. “You wore a plug on a plane?”
“Sounds like the porn version of a movie I’ve seen.”
“Jamie!”
“I did.” I laugh. “Not the whole flight, that would be weird. I popped it in when I went to the bathroom. Not an easy feat when you’re my size.”
