Page 49 of Just a Footnote

“Then go.”

“We want you to come with us,” Miles clarifies.

“Okay…”

Archer and Miles look at each other then back at Aiden.

“It’s a line dancing gay bar. Cowboys!” Miles does jazz hands after saying cowboys as if that is the selling feature for Aiden. All he can do is snort and shake his head. A gay bar sounds like his worst nightmare right now. Someone else's hands on him after getting spoiled by Liam’s? Fat chance.

“Fuck you both. Absolutely no way. Noway.”

“Okay but hear us out…” Miles trails off, biting his lip. “What if Liam comes too?”

Shit.

Aiden rubs at his neck. “Aren’t you supposed to wear cowboy boots to that shit? Also none of us have ever done that before? And you want to be papped at a gay bar the night before the draft? I vote no since I’m the most intelligent person in this room.”

“Did we put this up to a vote?” Archer asks, eyes rolling back into his head. He flops onto the bed and turns his head to Aiden. “This is the final party before the adulting begins. Tomorrow will be batshit. I want to let loose.”

“We can’t go to a regular bar for that?” Aiden asks even though he already knows he’s going to end up giving in.

“C’mon…” Miles goads him.

“Fine.” Aiden gives in too easily. “I’m not wearing cowboy boots though.”

A few hours later he finds himself inside a Texan gay bar full of gay cowboys. A year ago he would’ve left the bar with a hookup. Now that’s not even on his horizon. All Aiden can think about is seeing Liam. He follows Miles and Archer through the bar to a table in the back. Distracted, he doesn’t even notice any of the bodies on the dance floor. The music is kind of nice though, even if it’s country. Country might not be his favorite type of music but he can appreciate a man crooning about lost love just like the next dude.

His feet stutter underneath him when he catches sight of Liam. Only two months have passed since graduation, since he’s touched Liam, shared space with him. They’ve talked over text a lot, teasing barbs, stupid memes traded back and forth on Instagram. Aiden has carefully stalked Liam’s social media, but it’s not the same as being in the same room as him. The man looks sickeningly good. He’s already put on some of that infamous summer hockey muscle before the season treads him down. He’s all broad shoulders, tanned skin, and he’s wearing these tight jeans with a tight dark purple v-neck. Aiden wants himsobadly he aches with it.

“Who picked this place?” Liam asks, humor coloring his voice, as they all hug. Aiden holds onto him a beat too long to take in the familiar smell of him, the sound of his breathing.

“Miles. He thought it sounded fun.”

Miles glares at Archer. “You agreed.”

“You promised me…” Archer trails off, sneaking a look at Aiden before returning his gaze to Miles. “Anyway. Yes, I did agree.”

Miles smiles like he’s gotten his way before placing a loud kiss to Archer's cheek.

“You want a Jack and Coke?” Archer asks as he turns to head towards the bar.

“Yeah!” Aiden shouts over the music.

Miles stares out at the dance floor, hypnotized by the bodies moving in sync. Aiden takes that as his moment to sneak a hand behind Liam. Aiden rubs his hand up and down Liam’s back a few times, happy to feel Liam’s muscled back under his hand. That small bashful smile that Aiden loves so much works its way across Liam’s face.

Liam leans in close so that their sides touch, leans into Aiden’s space, and says, “I got a penthouse suite at the same hotel as you. Dad’s staying somewhere else in case I want to have a party. But I think the only party I want tomorrow night is you in my bed, naked, begging for it.”

Aiden almost swallows his tongue. “Only if you go in the top three of the draft.”

“You’re putting stipulations on me fucking you now?”

“It’s like a reward.” Aiden slides his gaze back over to Liam. They're so close that Aiden could kiss him if he wanted, but he doesn’t dare, not where Miles or Archer could see. He likes when Liam is like this because it’s so rare. When Liam says what he wants, a tendril of lust crawls right down Aiden’s spine. Waiting until tomorrow night is going to be torture.

Archer returns with their drinks, happy as can be. Aiden takes a large swallow of his the moment it’s in his hand. A chuckle escapes from Liam as he raises his own beer to his lips. Aiden watches gleefully as Miles drags Archer out to the dance floor to attempt line dancing. Liam and Aiden stay behind, some wordless agreement to take this brief moment to themselves. They lean close to one another, sharing breath, and Aiden feels a little dizzy with it.

“I missed you,” Liam admits, lips brushing Aiden’s jaw.

“You missed my body.”

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