Page 62 of Tough Guy and the Show Off

My stomach twists with unexpected jealousy. “Okay.”

“Not that long ago, I wouldn’t have hesitated to take her home.”

“Yeah.”

“But I had zero interest. None.”

My chest tightens. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“No.”

His cheeks pink slightly. “Because of you. I don’t know what this is and we didn’t have time to figure it out or talk about it, but…” He shrugs.

“But what, Trav?”

“I was thinking about you. Just you. I don’t know if it’s wrong or fucked up, but I don’t want to hook up with anyone else and I really don’t want you to either.”

Everything relaxes in me all at once, my muscles loosening as relief floods my system. “If it is wrong or fucked up, then that’s okay, because I want the same thing.”

“Really? You want to be exclusive, I guess, until we, I don’t know… figure shit out?”

There’s a million obstacles between us, from distance to even understanding what we are to each other, but somehow I know Travis and I can make it make sense.

“Yeah, Trav, I want to be exclusive.”

“Are we, um, fuck…” He laughs. “Dating? In a relationship? The fuck.”

I laugh too. “Never saw this coming.”

“No.” His smile turns serious. “But I’m not mad about it.”

“Me neither.”

“You’re my person, Beau. Whatever that looks like, I’m in.”

Nodding, I study his face. “So we’re… together.”

“Together. Which just got a lot more complicated. Now we’re rivals who live in different cities.”

“You’re not my rival, Trav.”

“I am on the ice, and you better play like it. Don’t let them say you took it easy on me. Play your ass off when I’m there in a month.”

A month.

Thirty days and I’ll get to see him again.

Hold him.

Kiss him.

“Thanks for calling tonight,” Trav says. “I wanted to talk to you but I didn’t want to get in the way of you bonding with your team. Why aren’t you out with them, anyway?”

“It’s been a long-ass day. They cut me some slack.”

“Are they cool?”