Page 101 of Just a Footnote

A few moments later, they stand outside a locker room as Miles texts someone on his phone. He expects Archer to step through the locker room doors, instead Liam comes walking out, half dressed, a grin on his lips, as he stops right in front of Aiden. His eyes skim over Aiden’s body, landing on the number fifteen on his chest.

Liam’s hands come up to his shoulders to gently spin him around. He lets out a soft whistle. “I love seeing the name Walsh across your back.”

Aiden can feel his face flush a vivid red. He glances at Miles, who is thankfully doing his best to look away from them. “Liam,” Aiden warns.

A delighted smirk lights up Liam’s entire face. “Did you come see me first?”

“Yes.” And he’s thankful it’s actually the truth.

“Walsh!” Someone shouts from the locker room behind them.

Liam looks both ways before stealing a quick kiss. “I’ll see you after the game. Keep the jersey on. I’m gonna fuck you in it tonight.”

“Ugh.” And then he’s gone, back into the locker room.

Aiden turns to find Miles staring straight at him, laughter carefully contained behind his hips. “I simply had no idea.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“The jersey stays on during sex, yeah?” Miles asks around a delighted snicker.

Aiden huffs in annoyance, his cheeks suddenly hot. He takes off walking in what he hopes is the right direction. A laughing Miles catches up to him a few seconds later. The walk to the other locker room is a blessedly silent ten or so minutes. A guard outside the door up-nods Miles. Miles flashes him a brief pearly white smile before Archer comes out.

Archer narrows his eyes. “You saw Liam first didn’t you?”

“This will get old very fast, I’m just going to tell you that.” Aiden aims a steely look toward Archer. “I wish you luck on your game today. I am actually rooting for you to win. Just FYI.”

Archer stares at him, mouth slightly agape. “I think you’re serious.”

“I’m very serious.”

“Okay…” Archer trails off. He glances between Miles and Aiden, before letting his gaze settle right back on Aiden. “I’ll take the bite. Why do you want me to win?”

“I have my reasons. Make it a total shut out, yeah?”

Archer hums in suspicion. Aiden turns his gaze so that Archer and Miles can have a moment, before turning back to give his brother one last hopeful smile. They make their way back up in the arena, to head towards the family box where a few of their friends await them. It’s not the first time he’s been in a box for Archer, but it’s the first time he’s been at a game to support Liam in his official boyfriend capacity. He’s somehowavoided attending any of Liam’s games since their week together in Seattle.

Just before they enter the box, Miles stops him with a hand on his forearm. “Why do you want Archer to win?”

Aiden scrunches up his nose. “Why are you so nosy?”

Miles just stands there, one hand on Aiden, the other on his hip. One eyebrow is cocked as if to sayjust tell me already, loser. Aiden hates it so much.

“Fine. Liam and I have a bet.”

“Okay…” Miles rolls his hand in a way to signal for Aiden to go on.

Aiden swallows loudly. “If Liam wins then he gets to kiss me. On the ice. During the celebration.”

Miles' mouth opens and he lets out a little, “Oh.”

“Exactly.”

“And you don’t want him to win because you don’t want him to come out? Or you don’t want him to come out withyou?”

“Fuck you.”

Miles rolls his eyes. “You’re so predictable after all these years. If that man wins and wants to kiss you on the ice, in a grand romantic gesture, are you going to let him?”

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