Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Axel studying us. Questions were forming behind those eyes, and it was easy to read him, just like Mason. Thankfully, he didn’t comment and saved it for later.
Slipping into our jackets, I grabbed two travel umbrellas as we headed out the door for the short walk down the street. I loved the proximity of everything close by in this area of London. It gave family vibes, exactly what these two needed.
Following behind, I observed their mannerisms and the subtle differences between them. Axel took his role as older brother seriously, which made me happy for Mason. In the short time they had been together, they fell into an ease with one another that made me happy. He’d found the family he was looking for.
Entering the pub, the dark paneled room and low lighting proved to be the perfect spot to grab a late lunch. We ordered our food along with a club soda for me and two whiskeys for the twins. It was fascinating to watch people watch them. Unknowingly to them, they were alike in little ways, from the way they held their glasses to how they bounced their knees when nervous. Their appearances were identical, down to the way they wore their hair swept to the right. If they had attended school together, they could have easily switched identities. The only major difference came in their personalities, Mason’s beard, and Axel’s tattoos. Axel was definitely edgier in a take-no-shit kind of way, where Mason was more laid back.
“Why hockey instead of rugby or soccer?” Mason asked him.
Axel spun the glass in circles as he answered. “It gave me a place to vent my anger. I could slam a bloke against the boards, and it wouldn’t get me fined or arrested. Only a couple of minutes in the sin bin.”
“Was it your dream as a kid? Football was for me.”
Axel furrowed his brow as he thought about his response. “I needed something physical. Being inside all day seemed like a nightmare. And with my size, it made it easier.” He stopped and looked at his glass. “I had a lot of pent-up aggression when I was a teen, and I was afraid I’d hurt someone if I didn’t channel it.But now, I’m not sure where it came from. Maybe I always knew something was missing.” He took a sip of his whiskey, then lifted his glass toward Mason. “Why was football your thing?”
“Corporate life wasn’t for me. Dad always wanted me to work with him, but I wanted my own life.” Mason suddenly looked up apologetically at Axel. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me. You should have had that opportunity and choice, too.”
Axel spun his glass. “It’s not your fault, Mason. It’s his. He’s the one who had two families at one time.”
I watched as Mason’s eyes widened. “Were they still together?”
He shrugged. “Does sleeping in the same bed mean they were together?”
“I’d say so,” Mason replied. “But I’m no expert on relationships.”
Axel looked at me, then at Mason. “Looks to me like you’re doing a pretty good job of it. How long have you two been together?”
Mason shook his head as he swirled the brown liquid in his glass. “It’s not like that. Thomas and I aren’t together. We told you. He’s my best friend.”
His eyes met mine, evoking a possessive warmth that filled me as I watched him. His attempt to hide his disappointment verified I’d made a mistake by not telling him how I felt. I was attracted to him, more than he knew.
When he broke our stare, he turned to Axel. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Axel shook his head. “Not involved with anyone at the moment. But I’m just like you.”
Mason smiled. “Really?”
Axel chuckled. “Yeah. I know a good person when I see one.”
Axel’s eyes darted from me to Mason. I was an expert at hiding my feelings behind a mask. But he, just like his brother, had a way of seeing past it.
“Have you ever had a boyfriend?” Mason asked.
Axel took a sip of his whiskey before answering. “Yeah. A couple.”
“Do your teammates know?” Mason asked.
He shrugged. “They don’t care. All they care about is that I take care of business on the ice. Who’s in my bed is of no consequence to them. Do yours know?”
I watched Mason take a deep breath before he replied. “No. I’ve never had a reason to tell them anything. Some of them are in same sex relationships, and our team handles that just fine.”
Axel smiled. “Yeah, I read about that. Good for them.”
Mason looked around the pub. “Where’s the bathroom? I want to wash my hands.”
Axel pointed over his shoulder. “Back corner.”
He stood. “I’ll be right back.”
