Page 29 of Just a Footnote

Liam laughs, loudly, enough to make him cover his mouth in embarrassment since they’re in the library. He kind of likes that. Making Liam laugh.

“Why’d you and your girlfriend break up?” Aiden asks, because he can, and because he’s starting to be a little nosy about Liam.

Liam jolts a little at the unexpected change in topic. “Our relationship just didn’t work for either of us anymore.”

“Weren’t you high school sweethearts?”

Liam nods before closing his own laptop. He spins in his chair, tossing an arm over the table, using the other arm to prop up his chin as he stares Aiden down. “Why are you so curious about me and Claire?”

Aiden shrugs. Cool. Effortless. “I’m just nosy. You know somuch about me, it’s not fair really.”

“I actually don’t,” Liam admits. “Archer talks about you like you’re some mythical creature.”

Aiden winks lewdly. “Because I am.”

Liam rolls his eyes before smiling. “Claire was a good friend. We had fun together, but it never felt… I don’t know.” Liam shrugs, making his fist push his jaw up a little, which does odd things to Aiden’s belly for some reason. “It just felt too easy. No spark. We parted pretty amicably. I don’t think she really wanted to deal with the NHL either.”

“Oh well. Good riddance.”

“I guess,” Liam says quietly.

Silence settles over them. Aiden doesn’t know what else to say. Late afternoon sun streams in through the windows now. His stomach growls, he’s kind of hungry. He’s not sure he ate lunch now that he thinks about it.

“Wanna grab something to eat in the cafeteria?” Liam asks as he stands from his seat.

Aiden looks at the long line of him, his strong thighs, the dip of his back under his v-neck shirt, then trails his eyes back up to the jawline that’s becoming quite fond of these days. What’s the harm?

“Sure.”

So they share a meal together in the cafeteria. They don’t talk about anything serious. Just their classes, upcoming games, but Aiden likes it. Spending time with Liam is easy, comfortable, he gets why he’s Archer’s best friend now the more time they spend together.

A few days later,Aiden is working on homework when his phone flashes with an alert. The time on his phone shows thatit’s almost midnight. He hadn’t realized how long he’d been working, how late it had gotten. Grabbing his phone, he swipes into the text message.

is Archer there?

He frowns down at his phone. Archer is probably sound asleep in his room because they have practice at six in the morning. He listens for movement in Archer’s room next door, but hears nothing.

…yes? shouldn’t you also be asleep? You have practice in the morning.

aw you care about me?

Aiden snorts. Loudly.

i did not say that

can I sneak into your room?

why?

come downstairs

“What the fuck,” Aiden whispers into the emptiness of his room. A peek into Archer’s room confirms he’s fast asleep, arm slung over his face, drool dripping down his chin. Typical. Grabbing the hoodie hanging by the front door, he drags it over his head before slowly making his way outside.

Cold air blows against his cheeks. The parking lot is full, but Aiden’s eyes seek out Liam under the light of a streetlamp. The sight of Liam Walsh leaning against his car, hair disheveled, hands in his pockets, is enough to make weaker men than Aidenfall. A few beats go by as they just stare at one another under the dark night sky, then Aiden turns around without a word, knowing Liam will follow. Moments later, he trudges up the stairs with Liam behind him. The hush of quiet surrounds them when they walk into the dark dorm room, and they’re even quieter as they tiptoe by Archer’s room.

Silence falls over them once they’re in the safety of Aiden’s room. Aiden slowly turns around to stare at Liam, only to find Liam already staring at him. Heat radiates from Liam, in his body and in his eyes. No one has ever looked at Aiden like that before. Like the universe starts and stops with him. All the breath leaves Aiden in a rush just as Liam crosses the few steps between them to take Aiden’s mouth in a biting kiss.

This isn’t the way hookups go for Aiden. He’s always in charge, the one doing the kissing, but as he stands in the middle of the room, he lets Liam kiss him. Suddenly, control isn’t something he’s worried about. Liam cups the back of his head as he angles to deepen their kiss. Every muscle in Aiden’s body goes boneless, making him melt against Liam’s body. He can taste the smile on Liam’s lips as he relaxes into his arms.

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