We kissed as if we were memorizing each other. I’d waited too long for this, and I had to enjoy it. If we never kissed again, I wanted to remember exactly how it felt.
When we finally pulled apart, I checked my phone. “Sorry, but I have to go. I’ll be thinking about you all week.”
“Me too.”
I smiled. “Take care of yourself after I’m gone?”
He nodded. “You too.”
“Well…” I winked. “Guess I could do it in the airplane bathroom.”
At the door, we kissed again. It was quick and soft, not nearly enough. But it had get me through the week.
15/
packy
After the flightattendant took my empty glass, I pulled my hat lower and tried to sleep. It didn’t work. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Nico. I’d never forget how he looked this morning—crazy hair, a crease on his cheek, and those gorgeous, irresistible lips. I’d never had kisses like the ones we’d shared, and thinking about them made my toes curl.
The cabin was freezing, so I pulled the flimsy airline blanket up to my chin, hoping it would make a difference.
Nico.Holy fuck.
We’d been physical with each other in college, but never sexual. There were always arm punches and friendly shoves. We spent a lot of time correcting each other’s form in the weight room, and drunken arms over shoulders were weekend regulars. But this morning was different. Nothing about what happened was friendly or casual. It was desperate.
Why the hell did I want him like that? The word bi had been bouncing around in my head for a while. I thought about Holky and Dog, and Riley and Logan. Half the Warriors had “accidentally” discovered things about themselves over the last few years.
There was nothing wrong with it. My closest friends were gay or bi, but I wasn’t.
Except… what about Nico? Does wanting one man change everything?
I pressed my forehead against the cold window. Outside, the clouds looked like a flat, icy tundra, and I imagined skating across them.
I’d never forget one night in our first year of college when Nico and I took one of our two-in-the-morning walks across campus.
“It’s chilly,” he says. “There’ll be snow on the ground in another week or two.”
I nod like a little kid. “Do you like building snowmen?”
“Oh yeah.” He bumps his shoulder against mine. “I’m the master.”
“The hell you are. Mine will put yours to shame.”
“Fuck off. That’s big talk from someone who’s never seen mine.”
“Bullshit. Between our room and the showers at the rink, I see yours plenty.”
He freezes for a second, then says, “I see yours too. You’re a healthy runner-up.”
“Runner-up?” I scoff. “You should be lucky enough to have one as big as mine.”
He glances down. It’s quick, and he’s grinning when he meets my eyes again. “You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, for sure.”
So, of course I check him out. “You don’t either.” I hesitate, unsure of how to say it. “Nix?”
“What?”
“I’m straight. You know that, right?”
