Page 46 of Just a Footnote

And that’s the worst part, Aiden knew he would understand. Aiden kisses him once more, just because he can, then hurriedly tugs on his clothes that ended up scattered around the room. Aiden stands at the edge of the bed once he’s fully dressed. Liam lifts up onto his knees so he’s level with Aiden. He looks so beautiful in the dark light, like some type of gift from the gods.

Aiden cups his cheeks, his touch more tender than he’s ever touched someone before, and kisses him just because he can. A small pleased sound escapes Liam. Tenderness swells up in Aiden, along with some strange feeling he’s never felt before.The urge to stay. The urge to hold Liam all night. The most dangerous urge he’s ever felt.

He grabs his bag, which he didn’t end up needing, and flees the house. It takes fifteen minutes for the ride he ordered to show up. He spends the ride back to campus feeling oddly settled. The itch under his skin is gone but that panic is still there. Maybe even more present than before.

Somehow his finalsemester comes to a close. The hookups don’t stop, despite how often Aiden tells himself he needs to put an end to them. Sometimes Liam sneaks into his dorm room after Archer has fallen asleep, or when Archer stays the night at Miles’ dorm. Not every time is rough like the first, but every time Aiden feels owned. Like with each fuck, he belongs to Liam a little more.

Some nights he’s so tired that he lets himself rest beside Liam. Those are the dangerous nights. The nights he closes his eyes and listens to the beat of Liam’s still racing heart under his ear. Sometimes he’ll even let Liam be gentle with him. He’ll let Liam comb his fingers through his still sweaty curls, imagining things he shouldn’t imagine.

He learns more about Liam during this time as well. Liam’s mom died from breast cancer when he was eight years old. It takes everything in Aiden to not respond that he wishes he could trade with him, Aiden’s mom for Liam’s mom. If he could make that trade he would because Liam is so soft, so sweet, that he deserves to have his mom. Liam knew how to ice skate five seconds after he learned to walk.

He also learned that the reason Liam is twenty is because he skipped the second grade. Sounds about right. Smart little Liam Walsh skips a grade and becomes a hockey prodigy like hisfather. Liam’s favorite Jolly Rancher flavor is cherry. This fact gets them arguing for over an hour because Aiden thinks cherry Jolly Ranchers taste like cough syrup. When Aiden admits to blue raspberry being his favorite, Liam just laughs. He fuckinglaughswhich pisses Aiden off because he likes the sound so much.

Liam is one of the only people on earth that is allowed to freely give him shit.

And he likes it.

Scratch that, he loves it.

Their school is so large that they don’t get to graduate together. Aiden is graduating on a Friday afternoon while the majority of the hockey team graduates on Saturday morning.

People talk about their families coming to watch them graduate. Aiden’s family is already here, with him, and it’s Archer and Miles. Although he’ll never tell Miles that.

Miles seems withdrawn when they go out to brunch on Thursday.

Aiden stares at Archer, hoping for an answer, but Archer just gently shakes his head.

“So, what’s the plan after Saturday?” Aiden asks. Definitely the wrong question to ask because Archer’s eyes go wide while Miles looks slightly sick. “Are we not talking about that? My bad.”

Miles abruptly stands from the table, disappearing to the back of the restaurant, where Aiden assumes the bathrooms are.

“What’s up?” Aiden asks Archer through a mouthful of pancake.

“We haven’t been separated since we met,” Archer says pointedly, looking miserable beyond words. “How do you think Miles is doing?”

“You guys should’ve said you’d go to the same team or you wouldn’t play.”

Archer lets out a mocking laugh. “Yes, all the NHL teams would be snapping us up.”

Aiden stares towards the back of the restaurant. He takes a fortifying gulp of his coffee before standing. Archer eyes him warily, unsure of what Aiden’s about to do, and then Aiden disappears towards the back of the restaurant. He finds Miles leaning against the wall by the bathroom, head hanging low, tears welling in his eyes.

“Miles,” Aiden says gently as he approaches. “Dude.”

Miles stares at him for a moment, apprehension warring in his gaze. “I’m scared to leave him,” Miles admits quietly.

Aiden swallows. He doesn’t…do this sort of thing. Heart to hearts or whatever. But although Miles will always be a thorn in his side, he doesn’t want to see him crying by the bathroom of their favorite brunch place.

“You know I’ll take care of him.”

Miles sniffles. “I know. I’m just going to miss him. He’s all I have.”

“Hey. You have me too.”

“You will be with Archer. Boston is a few hours away.”

Aiden leans against the wall beside Miles. He knocks their shoulders together. “It’ll go by so fast. You’ll be distracted with hockey. You won’t even realize it. Then a few years from now when your contracts are up you can figure it out. And you can spend the entire offseason together, even training if you can work it out. You’ll even play against each other and see each other when you do. It feels hard now but it won’t be once you’re doing it. I promise.”

“God, I must be in a shitty place to be getting a pep talk from Aiden Clark.”

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