The guys chuckled as they said their thanks and made their ways out of the gym.
Chase stuck his own hat on his head and shot a beaming smile at Tobias once they were alone.
“Thanks for the hat. It will definitely keep me warm for the rest of winter.”
Tobias smirked at the beanie, but then his gaze fell to Chase’s lips.
“I think I’d rather it be my job to keep you warm.”
Chase gaped at Tobias before pulling his jaw off the floor and clearing his throat.
“That could also be arranged. Could you provide references for the position?”
The smirk on Tobias’ face grew to a full smile, and Chase was stunned by the beauty of it.
“I don’t have any references,” Tobias teased. “But I’m happy to give you a demo.”
“I suppose that will do,” Chase said as seriously as possible, but he struggled against the smile wanting to break through.
“Good,” he said. “Um, for training today, do you want to come to my place? I think it would help if we trained on my synthetic ice.”
Chase blinked at him a couple times before deciding honesty was best.
“I can’t tell if we’re still talking about sex or not.”
Tobias burst out laughing, the sound hoarse from underuse, and it awakened the butterflies in Chase’s stomach.
“I was talking about actual training, but we can play the rest by ear.”
“Sounds good to me,” Chase answered, and the two of them made their way out of the gym.
Chase couldn’t believe Tobias invited him to his house. With how concerned he was about privacy, Chase considered it a declaration of Tobias’ trust in him, and hewouldn’t dare squander that gift.
————————
Tobias’ house had a surprisingly modest facade, despite its size and gated entrance, at least from the outside. Chase parked in the driveway and met Tobias on his porch.
“My mom is taking Madison to one of those salons for kids today, but they don’t leave for another few hours,” Tobias explained nervously. “Is that okay? Fuck, it’s too much. We can go back to the gym—”
“Tobias,” Chase said, cutting him off as he reached out for his hand and squeezed it in an attempt to calm him down. “I don’t mind at all. Madison is the coolest. If this is too much, I get it, but I came because I’m okay with it. If I can handle Christmas with them, I think I can handle seeing them now.”
“You don’t think it’s lame I live with my mom?” Tobias asked, scuffing his sneaker on the door mat.
“You’re worried I think it’s lame your mom moved in with you to help you take care of Madison while her mother trains for the Olympics?”
“I guess when you put it like that, it sounds dumb.”
Chase smiled as he reached to tip Tobias’ chin up so they were eye to eye. Despite their eight-inch difference, Tobias had still been staring at the ground between them.
“The absolute dumbest,” he confirmed, and Tobias huffed out a breath of laughter. “Nothing about this situation makes you any less incredible than I already thought you were. If anything, it makes you even sexier.”
Tobias smiled softly, his cheeks turning pink, and nodded as he led them in the house, laughter coming from somewhere inside.
Chase took in everything he could as they wandered through the house. The foyer opened to a large staircase, an upstairs hallway visible from the front door. There was a closet to the right, where Tobias stowed both of their coats, and an opening to the right leading to the rest of the house.
As they walked further inside, Madison’s voice became clearer. She was in the middle of explaining the merits of being a mermaid versus being a centaur. It was a good debate, and he wanted to participate with his own opinions, but as he and Tobias entered a bright kitchen, the conversation dropped. Instead, Madison squealed in delight at the sight of him in her house.
“Chase! Oby, you brought Chase home?” she shrieked and turned to a woman with graying hair and a soft smile. “This is the best day ever. Gigi, remember how I told you all about Chase? I can’t believe he’s here!”
