“Yes, sir, your lordship. Guess you’ll have to buy a car next, huh?”
“I suppose so. Let’s go do that next.”
Starting the car, I pulled out of the driveway, hoping my two-decade-old car didn’t leak oil onto his new driveway. Next time, I’d park on the street, just to be safe.
As we left the property with the view of Manhattan, I couldn’t help but think that we were at the beginning of the end now that we’d ticked off this box. I glanced at him as he called this attorney about purchasing the house. Axel was happy and moving toward his new life. It was just a matter of time until he realized we weren’t meant to live in the same world.
Chapter 16
Axel
Decker had invited the team over for our first team party, and Luca was lingering out on the porch. “Are you sure you want me to go with you? Aren’t you afraid of what your friends will think?”
“Of course, I want you to go. Why wouldn’t I?”
Looking down at his jeans and T-shirt. “It’s not really my thing.”
Stepping closer, I ran my palms over his shoulders. “You already know some of them from the bar. They like you.”
“That’s different. I was the server, not the one sitting at the table rubbing shoulders with athletes who make a hundred million dollars. I have nothing in common with them.”
I leaned in. “You’re right,” I whispered. “I should have known better. You’re entirely too well-educated to go in there and hold conversations with a bunch of guys who probably never finished college.”
Luca bit his lip. “That’s not been a problem with you.”
“No, because I’m British.”
He laughed. “Pompous Brit.”
I watched as he rolled his shoulders and bounced on the balls of his feet. “You have nothing to worry about. No one is going toask you to play hockey. Promise.” I took his hand and opened the door, but he pulled me back.
“You’re not worried they might think you’re…and if I’m with you….well, you know,” he pointed back and forth between us, the vein in his neck pulsing away. “You know, that we’re…” he puffed out his cheeks and blew out a mint-scented breath. “Whatever we are.”
“What we are is late. And I don’t do late. You’re giving those bozo’s entirely too much credit.”
Luca took another deep breath and released it.
Leaning in, I grazed my cheek along his. “My sexuality is no secret to anyone, so who I’m fucking is of no consequence. And Luca, we’re not fucking. Yet. So relax.” I didn’t give him time to think as I walked us through the doorway. Following the noise, I headed to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator door, and pulled out two beers. Tucking them under my arm, I handed him one, then popped the cap off. “Here, drink this and relax.” Luca complied as I opened my bottle. “Better?”
He huffed out a breath. “It’s your funeral, Hughes. Lead the way.”
Leaning in, I popped a very noisy kiss on his cheek before heading out the back door to where the rest of my teammates had congregated.
Decker looked up from the smoking grill. “There he is. And with Luca.”
Lifting my bottle, I raised my middle finger at him. “Hello, assholes.”
Kozlov strolled up, carrying a bottle of vodka. “Who gave you that shit, Luca?”
“Um, Axel?” he laughed.
Kozlov snorted, took Luca’s beer, and handed it to me. “This is the good stuff,” he said, handing an empty shot glass to him. “Russian vodka is the best,” Kozlov said as he filled Luca’s. Lucaheld it, wide-eyed as Kozlov raised his glass. “To your health,” Koz said, taking the shot. “Especially if you are friends withthatguy.”
Luca’s face broke into a smile after he downed the vodka. Wrapping his arm over Luca’s shoulders, he tugged him away. “Come on, I want to introduce you to Mrs. Kozlov.”
Sipping my beer, I watched my teammate snatch up my boyfriend. “Well,” Decker said smugly as he flipped burgers. “Looks like that worked out well.”
Giving details about my life wasn’t something I’d done. I kept to myself, lived my life how the fuck I wanted, and answered to no one. But my new life here seemed to be taking a turn for the better. And Decker was my friend. “Yeah, we’re working on it.”
