“In your defense, you probably didn’t expect Hughes to have that much booze,” Eli said kindly.
“It wasn’t my first Hughes Thanksgiving. I knew exactly what to expect.”
He’d promised himself he wouldn’t overindulge—he hadn’t in years. But Bennett had been there, with his perfect hair and blue, blue eyes and teasing smile, and he’d needed a distraction from his feelings. Of course, the booze had only made him feel more, which should be fucking illegal, and he’d gone and thrown himself at the man.
Not that asking him to stay was throwing himself at him. Or was it?
Well, whatever it was, the deed was done. Sandro wasn’t embarrassed about it. He was annoyed that he’d asked in the first place and even more annoyed that Bennett had done the mature thing and left. And he was even more annoyed that he was annoyed that Bennett had done the mature thing.
He shouldn’t be annoyed. He should be grateful. Because repeating the past wasn’t on his to-do list.
Apparently, his hormones had thought otherwise because they’d wanted Bennett last night.
Still wanted Bennett this morning.
And yes, that was also annoying.
“Come on, let’s go,” Eli said.
“Why aren’t you throwing up on your bathroom floor? You were as drunk as I was.”
“Told you—iron stomach. Were you throwing up on your bathroom floor?”
“No, but it was a near thing.”
“Okay. So, let’s go.”
“I don’t want to.”
Eli looked him up and down. “Then why are you dressed in running clothes?”
“Because I said I’d go with you, so I’ll go even though I don’t want to. Let me make a fuss about it, will you?”
Eli’s laughter was as bright as the morning sunshine.
Sandro let him set the pace and the direction. His head didn’t hurt, but his stomach was queasy, a fact that wasn’t helped by the jogging. Thank god they didn’t have a game tonight. Practice later, though, but hopefully the queasiness would pass by then.
“So,” Eli said, dragging the word out as their footsteps pounded the sidewalk. “Um, I think I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“That day we ran into Bennett at the coffee shop, when I asked about your overlap at the University of Michigan,” Eli said. “It didn’t occur to me until later that maybe the reason you didn’t answer my question was because the two of you didn’t get along. Or maybe it had been so long since you’d seen each other, and being thrown together for the series was making you feel awkward. I’m sorry I had to rush off and left you to deal with what could’ve been a tricky situation.”
“Oh, that’s . . .” Sandro recalled thinking that Eli was oblivious, but he obviously saw more than he let on.
“Except now I’m thinking that the reason you didn’t answer my question was because the two of you were, uh . . . lovers? Partners? And you clearly aren’t anymore, so . . .”
Sandro’s already queasy stomach rolled. Definitely not oblivious. “That’s . . . It’s not . . . We’re not . . .”
“Deny it all you want, but I saw the look on your face yesterday when Bennett said he’d almost gotten married in Vegas.”
Had it been a look of pure murder? A model. Pfft.
“Did anyone else notice?” he found himself asking.
“Please. They’re idiots.”
Surprised into laughter, Sandro paused at a stop sign just to give his stomach a chance to rest.
