Page 6 of Just a Footnote

Aiden shrugs effortlessly. “Tired of studying.”

“I hear that.”

Aiden shoots a look at her. Skye looks tired, blonde hair twisted into a messy bun atop her head, dark bruises under her eyes. “You alright?”

“Oh, yeah. I hate hockey season. It stresses me out.”

Aiden hums in agreement and looks back out onto the ice. He doesn’t follow much of what is happening besides Archer stopping most of the shots sent his way. The arena smells like ice, sweat, and popcorn. It’s a familiar smell, almost comforting.

He likes sitting with Skye during games. Skye is quiet, unassuming, and never presses Aiden for conversation as if knowing that he prefers a stilted silence to forced small talk. Skye’s parents are hippies, still happily married, and they raised a happy child in a happy home. He doesn’t begrudge Skye for that. He just wonders sometimes how he would’ve turned out if he had that exact same thing.

“Ollie’s agent is here to see him.” Skye nods over towards the edge of the ice. A man in a suit stands at the edge of the rink, hair slicked back.

“Are you following Ollie to California?”

Skye smiles, it warms her entire face, making her look suddenly less tired. “Yeah, I’ll get a job close to him, it’s easier for me.”

“A hippie like you will fit right in on the west coast.”

Skye shoves her shoulder into Aiden’s. “Asshole.”

“Hey,” Aiden puts on his most charming smile. “I’m being genuine! Imagine if you and Ollie actually procreate. You’ll have the cutest little blond viking gods as children. But they’d be nice. Not little assholes.”

“You really have a way with words.” Skye shakes her head, putting her chin in her hand to watch out over the ice. “It’s going to be so weird being apart. Four years of this team and becoming a family. I guess we’ll all have to find that with the professional teams they go to.”

Aiden swallows at the word family. Skye says that kind of shit all the time. That word makes Aiden uncomfortable. Yeah, he’ll call some of them friends, but they’re not his family. Archeris his family. He checks out of the conversation and Skye doesn’t push for them to keep talking. The game ends, their team winning, and Aiden follows Skye down the tunnel towards the locker room.

It’s early November now. Hockey season is in full swing, which means Aiden rarely sees Archer unless he puts in a concerted effort. The team slowly files out of the locker room until just a handful are left inside. Skye heads in to check on Ollie but Aiden stays outside. Locker rooms full of straight guys make him uncomfortable. Even though the team has numerous LGBTQIA+ members, it’s not a place Aiden has ever felt comfortable. Not that anyone on the team is an asshole, not outwardly at least, it’s just a boundary that Aiden doesn’t feel the need to cross.

Archer and Miles file out of the locker room, arms slung around each other, and Miles shoots him a soft smile. Aiden woefully attempts to return it. Just as they’re about to head off, Liam barges out of the locker room with a wide grin splitting his face.

“Wait for me!”

Aiden sends Archer a confused look.

“He’s joining us for ice cream, relax,” Archer says, mouth pulled up in the corners to form his trademark smirk.

Archer’s post-win ritual is ice cream and Miles. Aiden rarely partakes because sometimes the lines blur, which he really doesn’t want to witness. Again. Once was enough. But if Liam is going then maybe Archer and Miles will be on their best behavior.

“I’ll drive us,” Liam announces, sliding a sheepish look Aiden’s way.

The drive from the arena is blessedly short, not giving Miles and Archer enough time to devolve to public display of horniness. The ice cream place isn’t busy mostly becausepeople don’t want to get ice cream when it’s fifty degrees outside.

Aiden shoves his hands in the pockets of his hoodie as they walk up to the ice cream shop. It’s a sweet place, kind of old school, and Aiden likes it because he knows Archer loves it. Less for the charm and more for the superb ice cream.

Archer and Miles pull ahead to place their orders but Aiden hangs back to look up at the menu. He’s not sure why he even looks at the menu though because he’s going to order the same thing as always. Liam stands beside him, shifting restlessly from foot to foot.

“What?” Aiden asks, annoyed.

Liam grimaces slightly, rocking on his heels. “It’s too cold out for ice cream.”

Aiden points at the menu. “They have coffee.”

“Still too hot from the game for coffee,” Liam all but whines.

Aiden stares at him blankly. “Then get ice cream…”

Liam purses his lips, then blows a raspberry. “Okay.”

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