The hand runs through his hair as he nods, his smile more of a grimace.
I see myself out, waving at Alexei on my way toward the door. His eyes follow me closely, but not as closely as Ethan. He's there right behind me, opening the door before I get a chance to.
“I'll see you tonight?” he asks, trying to catch my eye.
“Um, like I said, I've got laundry to catch up on.” I know he's trying to be a good guy, but I need to give him this out.
“Cool, I'll swing by your place, okay?” With that, his hand lifts to my cheek, bringing me in for a kiss. It is soft and swift and more than I ever thought he'd do in front of another person. I try to smile, but the move threatens to spill the tears from my eyes.
“I'll see you then.”
TREMBLAY: MORE THAN A MENTOR?
REUBEN SANTOS FORTHE NEUTRAL ZONE
[Image 1 Description: A blurry photo of two men sitting on a bench. The older of the two, a thirty-something with dark hair and a five o'clock shadow, is smiling at his companion. The younger, a blond man in his mid-twenties, is laughing while holding a coffee cup.]
[Image 2 Description: The same two men are walking closely in a park, with a playground in the background.]
[Image 3 Description: The two men are getting into a Range Rover with the skyline of Downtown Minneapolis behind them.]
We here atThe Neutral Zonehave been quite impressed by the Minnesota Huskies' run this season. Three seasons without a win in the playoffs had left many convinced it was time to begin a rebuild in earnest. Now, they're not only looking at a playoff run – many believe they will be first in their division come April.
When asked about what has led to their breakout season, nearlyall the players we spoke to mention rookie phenom Jamie Carter. While he entered the draft this year with significant baggage, it seems the boys in the Minneapolis locker room have been willing to look past that in exchange for his offensive production.
Yet, several members of the organization pointed in particular to captain Ethan Tremblay's ongoing closeness with the rookie as an important part of Carter's acceptance with the team.
Evan Matthews shares that the two are exceptionally close:
“They watch video together all the time. Hell, they even shared a room in Calgary when the hotel messed up!”
However, it doesn't seem that the pair were watching video this week. Instead, they took advantage of the sunshine and mild temperatures to walk around Loring Park. While Carter is known to live in the neighborhood, a known gay enclave, it is still unclear what Tremblay was doing in the area. Is it possible the two are...friends?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ETHAN
One Saturday in late January,we’re lucky enough to get a true day off. Although we usually get at least one a week, it’s hardly ever on a weekend, when games and travel tend to dominate. We leave early on Sunday for a Florida roadie, so Coach was kind enough to give us the day.
Jamie came home with me last night after the game, a close loss to Las Vegas. Even though we were too beat to do anything but shower and cuddle up in bed, it was nicer than doing it alone. Especially when, this morning, I woke up to the feeling of kissing traveling down along my abdomen, then the feeling of wet warmth engulfing my dick.
The morning was spent almost entirely in bed, working my body and Jamie's almost as hard as we did at the game. The afternoon has been spent resting, laying on my couch with Jamie’s head in my lap, my fingers running through his curls. On the TV, the Toronto/Vancouver game is on, though the volume is low. To be honest, I'd be hard pressed to tell you who's winning.
As my mind wanders, I realize I have no idea where my phone has gotten to. Honestly, that's fine by me. I'll need to find it sooner or later – I promised Alexei we'd have him over for dinner – but for now, I can just rest here in a cocoon of sweats and Jamie.
Alexei took walking in on us better than I could ever have hoped for. It's one thing tothinkyour best friend is gay, another thing toknowit, and yet a third to be confronted with the evidence firsthand, shirtless and standing in my kitchen.
If anything, I think he was most upset about ruining the mood. He had been so encouraging when I told him at the steakhouse that I'd been seeing someone; I doubt he'd have interrupted if he'd known. But I'd be lying if I said the fact that it's Jamie doesn't...complicate things. Alexei knows that as well as I do. If things go bad, they'll go really bad. I know that. And I know it should be enough for me to step away.
But I look down at his curls wrapped around my fingers and I just...can't. As if he senses my eyes on him, Jamie stretches his arms above his head, extending his body like a cat in a sunbeam.
“I should hit the bathroom.”
We've been here for hours at this point. The thought is totally reasonable.
“But then I'll be cold.” The fact that it's reasonable doesn't stop me from giving him shit.
“Thank God Alexei will be here soon. I'm getting hungry.”
