Today’s training was strangely fun. Granted, most of my time was spent trying to get under Connor’s skin, but that objective helped me relax enough to actually enjoy fucking around with Renner as well…once we cleared the air about his shitty joke toward the queer community at least, which he apologized for once more before we left.
I’m meeting a few people from the team at Meltdown for a beer—which Renner will be paying for, fuck you very much—and my greedy eyes scan the crowd as I enter.
I’d thought it was my imagination, but Connor’s demeanor has definitely changed toward me since finding out I’m bisexual; the energy between us more charged than it was. I couldn’t tell whether it was from discomfort or something else entirely until I got the text.
As I slip onto a barstool, I pull my phone out to see a text message from Grey on the group chat I’d started between me, him, and Connor.
Grey
Glad to see you’re having a good time with it. Maybe just send me the ones with all your clothes on next time.
I readthe message about five times. Scrolling up, the last message had been from me asking about board bindings, and Grey’s message doesn’t make sense…until I ask for clarification.
Me
???
Grey
The simulator picture you sent.
And suddenly,it clicks.
Connor meant to send the pictures to himself, but got the wrong text stream. The sneaky bastard even went back in and deleted them from my phone. Something about that diabolical plot turns me right the fuck on, and I’m suddenly invested in a way I haven’t been before.
Me
Oh, right. I must’ve accidentally deleted it and forgot I sent it.
I’ll cover for Connor,but now he owes me, and I’ll make sure he pays up.
Sadly, Connor probably won’t even be here tonight, which sours my mood a little, and I briefly think about shooting him an invite until I realize how wildly obvious that would be.
Suddenly, hands clap my shoulders, bringing me back to the present.
“Thirty-four likes, pretty boy. That’s all that separated us. I’ll buy your damn beer, but just know…it wasthis close.” Renner holds his index finger and thumb less than a centimeter apart in front of my face. Admittedly, it was closer than I thought it’d be, considering I have way more followers than he does. “What are you drinking?”
“I’ll have the Moose Tail lager,” I reply.
“A lager? Do you plan on catching a buzz at all?” he asks with a laugh as he moves toward the bar.
An odd warmth spreads through my chest when he returns and places the beer in front of me, holding his up to clink his glass against mine. Friendship feels kind of good.
We’re joined a few minutes later by Angel, Tasha, Trent, and Gibson. Once everyone is seated, Renner wastes no time in singing my praises.
“Oh man, Voxy and I got to ride the simulator this afternoon. You should have seen him. He was picking his way down a run off the summit of Mount Everest. It was dope as hell.”
“Sounds cool, but I’d much rather spend my time on arealslope,” Gibson replies. Ever since our near collision on the mountain, we mostly steer clear of each other. He has the fire to win, but he doesn’t have the skill to back it up, and I know it pisses him off that he isn’t the best on this team.
I’m in too good a mood to let him get to me, though.
“No shit. We all would,” Renner says. “But when it’spelting ice bullets from the sky, and our coaches won’t let us ride, the sim’s a cool alternative.” Renner turns to fist-bump me. “It was a bad-ass ride, man.”
I can’t hide my smile as I knock my knuckles into his.
“Thanks, Ren. You know I’m still going to try to kick your ass in the time trials in a couple days, though, right?”
Renner laughs and takes a sip of his beer before answering. “No shit, dumbass. But it’s not like we both don’t already know you’re going to win.”
