“I’ll wait and see what happens, but I won’t make it easy for him, either,” said Quinn. “I’m not desperate for love anymore, so this time I’ll have the patience to let this thing between us build naturally. That way, if we’re happier being friends, there will be no heartbreak or hard feelings.”
Esme didn’t answer, but that was okay because Quinn had already made up his mind.
“What I’m saying is—”
Quinn tugged on the petal until the breaking snap echoed over the wind.
“I’ll give him a chance.”
Chapter 24
August
Less than twenty-four hours later, loud knocking on his front door had Niko groaning and dropping his game controller, retreating to his bedroom and leaving August alone on the couch.
It had to be Quinn, but the knocking made no sense because August knew he had a key. He didn’t think too much of it since there were a ton of reasons why Quinn wasn’t using it, so he stood and went to the door, blood already heating in his veins.
August had a game that night before he left Vancouver to finish out the week with two away games, but he didn’t have to be at the rink for a few hours yet.
He could do a lot in a few hours. They could go more than one round, and August could finally try the thing he had been reading about—as long as Quinn was okay with it.
August swung the door open, smirking at Quinn.
Only…it wasn’t Quinn.
“Jinggeureowo,”said Su-jin Park, crinkling his nose like he had spotted something disgusting. “Why are you giving me sex eyes, Snow?”
Reeling from disappointment and Jin’s sudden appearance, August folded his arms over his chest and lifted his chin. “Why are you standing outside my door, Park?”
Jin took his phone out and held up a text message from Jett that showed August’s address and a thumbs-up emoji. “I’m making a pitstop before our game tonight. Now that we’re friends and not bitter rivals—”
“Rivals—”
“—I don’t see why we can’t visit each other when we’re in the same city.”
The mood was ruined, so there was no point denying Jin entry to his home. Sighing, August stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. “We’re playing the newest game in the NHL series if you’re interested.”
Jin blinked his pretty, dark eyes, and August studied the shorter man’s stunning beauty, giving himself permission to acknowledge thatyes, he did find other men attractive.
Right until the momentJin scowled, and all his prettiness went straight out the window.
“You’re a hockey player who plays hockey video games. Lame.” Jin pushed past him, politely removing his shoes and setting them neatly out of the way before stepping further down the hall.
August closed the door and watched as Jin shuffled around, his gaze snapping in every direction to look at the décor, and then he turned with wide eyes.
“Did your grandmother die, and you inherited her house? I know you’re from Vancouver, but damn, this is creepy as fuck. Why haven’t you moved your shit in yet?”
August raked his fingers through his hair, already regretting his choice to let Jin into his home.
“Where does Niko sleep? In the attic with the ghosts, or in your bed like the snuggly kitten he is?”
Niko—a snuggly kitten? The disbelief must have shown on his face because Jin chuckled when he looked at him.
“You’ve obviously never seen him pass out in a patch of sun,” said Jin. “It was weirdly cute, but he looks a lot nicer when he’s not all storm clouds and grumpy expressions.”
Niko did have a temper, and he was a quiet and grumpy personality type, but August had seen him in the softer moments, too. The reason why Jin was so unfamiliar with it was because he annoyed the shit out of Niko.
“Oh, fuck’s sake. Is that Park?” Niko’s head popped around the corner from where his bedroom was hidden. “I would rather have Quinn over and spend the next hours blocking out your sex noises than dealing with him.”
