Page 51 of Just a Footnote

This whole situation reminds Aiden that he’s let this go too far. Let Liam get too close. Graduation should’ve been the end of it. But now, he knows tomorrow night has to be the end. He doesn’t need a protector or someone that cares about him like this, enough to risk guaranteed stardom.

Liam steps closer, backing Aiden up, until he’s half hidden by shadow with his back pressed against the wall of the building. He breathes in, smelling stupid oranges and sweat and a hint of beer. Using his fist, Liam pushes Aiden’s chin up so that their gazes meet.

“Aiden.”

His name. Two syllables that somehow hold the same weight of a nuclear bomb. Aiden wraps his arms around Liam’s neck and tugs him down to kiss him. Nothing about the kiss is gentle. Their tongues tangle together as they both fight to dominate, to own, to say something that Aiden doesn’t want either of them to ever fucking say.

Liam’s hands sneak under his shirt, to tug him closer. His skin threatens to catch fire at the touch. The kiss slows until they’re just gliding their lips together. Gentle and sweet, like everything Liam Walsh usually is. Then the kiss stops, but neither of them pull away. Instead they just breathe each otherin, eyes locked, and Aiden feels again like he’s untethered from the earth. Floating up, up, andaway.

Liam nuzzles his nose against Aiden’s. He chokes on air when Liam’s fingers dance up his spine under his shirt. Being held by Liam is more glorious than Aiden ever thought it could be. He lets himself revel in it for one glorious moment before gently shoving Liam back. Liam looks wrecked, hair a mess, lips puffy, eyes darkened with obvious desire. He has to look away, so he does, and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

The door to the bar swings open, breaking the moment. Archer and Miles stumble through the door, red-faced, and giggling like giddy children. It takes them a few moments to spot Liam and Aiden. Archer’s eyes narrow in confusion, but Miles, he just looks resigned, and Aiden has to look away. He doesn’t want them to know, to see him like this, see him so weak.

After ordering a rideshare back to the hotel, they stand in stilted silence. The ride back to the hotel is silent too. Everything is fucking silent. Too silent. Aiden can hear the pounding of his heart in his ears and he wonders if everyone in the car can hear it too. Can everyone hear it? Maybe that’s the sound of his heart actually breaking because now he knows with one hundred percent certainty that tomorrow night is it.

The last time he’ll ever let Liam have him. Touch him. Take him. Because the way Liam looked tonight, Aiden can’t have that. Liam doesn’t love him,Aiden won’t allow it. He will convince himself this has meant nothing, he means nothing, because that’s safer than any alternative.

A house with a white picket fence, a wife, and two and half kids. He repeats that mantra in his head, the entire drive to the hotel. He’ll repeat it to himself tomorrow too. He’ll repeat it to himself for the rest of his fucking miserable life.

They climb out of the car when it comes to a stop in front of the hotel. Archer and Miles stumble in, arms wrapped aroundeach other, ignorant of the bomb that’s going off inside Aiden's head and heart.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. At the draft,” Aiden says, voice tight but firm.

“Tomorrow.” Liam crosses the space between them, cups Aiden’s cheeks in his large palms, and kisses him hard enough to steal Aiden’s breath. The kiss is as devastating as it is sweet.

He leaves Liam standing there outside the hotel. When he glances back he sees Liam frozen, hands in his jean pockets, jaw clenched tight enough to crack bone. But Aiden can’t stop moving, not until he’s in his hotel room, safely tucked under the blankets, willing him to have never started any of this at all.

The dayof the draft is hectic. Miles and Archer dress in their nicest suits, looking like they’re about to walk a red carpet. Aiden wears a suit too but only because Archer made him. He wonders if he’ll end up on any of the sports sites along with Archer or Miles.

The draft takes place in a large hotel ballroom. Tables of families are scattered around the ballroom along with the select few people that were lucky enough to buy tickets to the event. Aiden never realized that meant his name was now, Aiden Clark - Brother of Celebrity Athlete Archer Clark. Will their lives change that much? Archer is still just Archer to him. Miles is still just Miles too.

They sit at a table directly beside Liam’s, with his father, and Matty.

He pulls at the collar of his shirt, feeling stifled, hot under the lights. Cameras pan around them even though the draft won’t officially start for thirty more minutes. Archer and Mileswander back to the table after saying their hellos to people that Aiden doesn’t care to meet.

Aiden watches them all laugh and talk in a detached sort of way. The jealousy that stirs inside him when Liam laughs at something Matty says is stupid. It’s unwarranted too. He has no right to be jealous of Liam’s time or who he spends it with. He also knows that rationally there’s nothing to be worried about with Matty. Aiden’s gaydar might’ve been off with Liam, but he’s never been off with anyone else. Matty Sinclair is one hundred percent straight. Which is a little sad because Matty is handsome, all tanned skin, caramel eyes, and broad shoulders.

Liam’s gaze slides to his because they can’t be in the same room without finding one another. Like magnets. Aiden smiles at him despite every alarm bell in his body going off. It’s worth it when Liam smiles back before returning to his conversation with Matty.

“Are you excited about medical school?” Miles asks from beside him.

“Ecstatic over the idea of four more years of school and three to seven years of residency after that.”

“You say it sarcastically, but I know you’re being honest,” Miles deftly points out, like he somehow has Aiden’s number. “You’ll be saving kids' lives, Aiden.”

Aiden bites the inside of his cheek, hard. “It’s still a long way away.”

“It’ll go by fast.”

Their conversation ends as the lights in the ballroom lower just enough to signal the start of the draft. Aiden ignores the heat of Liam’s gaze on him because this is Liam’s moment and he doesn’t want to be a part of it. The commissioner comes onto the stage to give his speech before the draft starts.

They sit at the table while the horse and pony show starts. He finds he’s more nervous for Liam than he imagined he wouldbe. He tries so hard to stay detached and uncaring, but he can’t. He wants Liam to end up somewhere that makes him happy, wants Liam to just be happy. The first pick goes to a top player everyone expected, to some league in the south with deep pockets. The guy is attractive for a hockey player. Curly dark hair, a gap toothed grin, and Aiden knows he’ll do well in the southern market.

The clock ticks on and Aiden leans forward on his elbows, wondering who will go to Seattle. In a cruel twist of fate it would be hilarious if Liam goes to Seattle and since he’ll be in New York. They’d be as far away as they could be from one another. An entire country apart.

The commissioner steps to the podium with a wide grin. “Seattle picks Liam Walsh as the number two pick in the 2025 draft.”

Liam excitedly climbs onto the stage to accept his jersey. The grin on his face is blinding, enough to light up the entire room. Claps and whistles rent the air of the ballroom. But Aiden feels like all the air left his lungs the moment Liam’s name was announced. He sits beside Archer and Miles like a stone, long after Liam has returned to the table with his family. If he tries to catch Aiden’s eye, Aiden doesn’t know it. He keeps his gaze firmly on the screen behind the podium.

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