“Yeah, Hana invited me to watch it at Bradley and Kenzo’s place. They live in a mansion in the sky.”
“Yeah, it’s nice. I could never live that high up with Aspen though. I miss having a yard.”
“Oh, you didn’t always live here?”
“Uhm, no.” I hadn’t meant to go there but the painkiller was making my mind wander. “I had a house in Pilsen where I lived with Mackenzie. That’s where I caught her with Cooper. She moved out while I was in the hospital recovering from my concussion and ACL surgery. My mom stayed with me during part of my rehab and then I sold the house as soon as I felt stable enough. Maybe it was a rash decision but it was hard not to look around every corner and wonder if they had... you know.”
Théo’s expression darkened. “Aspen doesn’t mind not having a yard,” he said after a moment, his voice carefully neutral. “He likes walking and exploring more than sniffing the same bushes every day.”
“You speak dog?”
“I’m a man of many talents.”
“Can’t argue with that.” I yawned and the motion pulled at my split lip and bruised jaw. I winced.
“Shit, are you okay?” Théo fluttered helplessly from hundreds of miles away, his hands moving like he wanted to reach through the screen. “Did they give you something for the pain?”
“Yeah but it still hurts. I texted Kenzo’s oral surgeon and I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon when we get back.”
“I can stay with Aspen a little longer.” He paused, something vulnerable flickering across his face. “I want to see you. Make sure you’re okay.”
“Aww, you worried about me, baby?” I was trying to lighten the tense expression from his face but he just blinked rapidly like he was holding back tears.
“You scared the shit out of me.” His voice cracked slightly. “The way your head snapped back and then all the blood onthe ice. I thought—” He stopped, swallowed hard. “I don’t know what I thought. It was scary.”
The rawness in his voice made my chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with my injuries.
“Hey,” I said softly. “I’m okay. I promise. It looks worse than it is.”
“You’re missing a tooth, Derek.”
“I’ve been missing teeth before. They grow back.”
“That’s not how teeth work.”
“Are you sure? I feel like I read that somewhere.”
He laughed despite himself, a wet, shaky sound. “You’re an idiot.”
“But I’m your idiot.”
The words hung in the air between us. I hadn’t meant to say them—or maybe I had. The painkiller was making me brave. Or stupid. Probably both.
Théo was quiet for a moment. Then, softly, “Yeah. I guess you are.”
Something warm unfurled in my chest. I wished I was there with him, wished I could pull him close and feel his heartbeat against mine. Instead, I settled for watching him through the screen, memorizing the way the low light caught in his dark hair, the way he was clutching the sleeve of my hoodie like a lifeline.
Then his expression shifted. The vulnerability retreated behind something sharper. More familiar.
“I have to say though,” he said, his voice dropping lower, “watching you fight was... unexpected.”
“Unexpected how?”
“Unexpected in a‘I didn’t realize Saint Sully throwing punches would be so hot’kind of way.” He bit his lip and there was nothing innocent about it. “The way you went after him. Cold. Deliberate. Like you were making a point with your fists.”
My mouth went dry at the way he was looking at me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” His eyes were dark, intent. “I kept replaying it on the train home. All that patience you have, all that control—and then you just decided he was going to pay for what he did. No hesitation.” He shrugged, unapologetic. “It was really fucking hot.”
