Page 62 of Just a Footnote

“Even if he is, it’s fucking impossible. He’s hockey star Liam Walsh and I’m just Aiden. There’s no world for us anywhere and I can’t live off crumbs.” Aiden bites his lip to stop from crying. He rubs at his face with his hands just totally exhausted by it all. “I can’t go to the store and see him on the cover of a magazine with some hot chick only to fuck his brains out the next time we’re in the same state. I’m not built like that.”

Miles’ eyebrows furrow in confusion. “Neither is Liam.”

Aiden snorts and looks away.

“I don’t think you really know him,” Aiden says tiredly.

“And you do?”

“I did once.”

They don’t talk any more. A stilted awful silence hangs over them until Miles reluctantly gets up to go settle in his own room in the suite. Aiden tosses himself back on the bed to ruminate inhis own self-wrought destruction. He doesn’t know how he’s going to sit in the same room with Liam tonight, let alone the entire time he’s here.

Belatedly, he wishes he wouldn’t have sweet talked his professors into letting him miss class for the two weeks of the Olympics. All of them had beensoimpressed that Archer was an Olympic athlete that they’d gladly given him his requested time off. The work still had to be done, but he had more time to do it now.

Maybe if things go to total shit he’ll just switch his ticket home to an earlier flight.

Later that night they meet up with all of their friends that are in town for the Games just to see Liam and Archer on the ice. It’s a solid display of people that have come to support them. Even the largest table in the back barely contains them all. Matty bounds up to greet Miles in his normal enthusiastic way before firmly shaking Aiden’s hand and nodding in the tables direction.

Aiden scans the table but doesn’t see Liam.

Maybe, for the first time in Aiden’s life, he gets lucky.

“Doctor Clark!” Ollie yells out, tone teasing and light. Aiden flicks him off before settling into the seat between Miles and Skye. The sound of everyone playing catch up fills his ears in a comfortably familiar sort of way. He’ll never say it out loud but he kind of always misses them.

“How’s school?” Skye asks quietly, sipping at her bottle of Corona.

“Intense.” Aiden spins his own bottle of beer around. He picks at the napkin underneath it, already damp with condensation. “How’s the non-profit sector?”

“Stressful, but rewarding,” Skye answers matter-of-factly. “I like making a difference. You seem better since the last time we spoke.”

“Yeah. You’d be proud of me. I made a friend, her name’s Anna. She gives me shit just like you do…” Aiden trails off and looks up to find Liam walking towards the table. It’s as if he’s been summoned by Aiden’s own thoughts. Liam looks sinfully good, a little broader than the last time Aiden saw him, as if he’s spending extra time in the gym. A tight v-neck shirt spreads over his broad shoulders. He’s wearing jeans that are artfully tight all the way down, along with a dark brown leather jacket. Aiden’s mouth waters just at the sight of him.

“I knew it,” Skye says quietly.

“Yeah,” Aiden whispers. He can’t lie anymore. Not when his heart feels like it’s going to explode out of his chest.

Skye laughs softly. “You’re screwed.”

Aiden shoots her a look but Skye isn’t looking at him. Skye’s smiling serenely across the table. Liam pulls out the chair directly across from Aiden and sits down, face tight, jaw clenched. Their legs brush together under the table and Aiden knows exactly how tonight is going to end. The night is going to end with Liam’s dick down his throat. He hates himself for it. He hates everything about it. Violent anger rears up inside him because of how weak he is for Liam.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence, oh great sports star, Liam Walsh,” Matty drawls from the other end of the table.

Liam smirks, eyes glowing with mirth. “You’re welcome.”

Aiden pushes back from the table. The chair scrapes across the floor, bringing everyone's attention to him. He feels the heat of a flush rise to his cheeks, but he ignores it along with everyone’s stare. Turning abruptly, he races towards the bathroom. His breaths come quick as he leans over the sink. Heartbeat pounding in his ears, he splashes cold water on his face hoping to stave off the impending anxiety attack. Seeing Liam again is like a lightning strike to his system. All those old emotionscoming right back to the surface that he’s spent so many months trying to bury down deep.

He curls his hands against the counter until his palms hurt. He lifts his gaze to the mirror to stare at himself, at his stupidity. A sob rips out of him before he can get the better of himself.

The door creaks open and all the air leaves Aiden in one giant woosh when he looks in the mirror to see Liam standing right behind him. A moment goes by before Liam turns to move the trash can against the bathroom door. Aiden groans inwardly because he knows what’s going to happen next. He knows it in the morrow of his bones. The chance of having Liam if only for a moment is more than worth the risk of splintering his heart wide open.

“Do you still not want me?” Liam asks quietly. His voice echoes around the bathroom. The words are a knife to Aiden’s chest and he’s bleeding out. He meets Liam’s hard gaze in the mirror, noting the sadness in those green eyes that he dreams about so often.

“I always want you,” Aiden whispers brokenly.

Liam groans loudly before circling his arms around Aiden to pull him against his chest. Everything melts away when he’s in the circle of Liam’s arms. He allows himself a moment to accept the embrace, feel the strength of Liam against his back. Liam buries his face in Aiden’s neck, inhaling, then presses an open mouth kissed to Aiden’s pulse point.

He turns his head to stop Liam from kissing there again, only for their lips to meet. The kiss is soft, softer than any kiss they’ve ever shared. Aiden can’t accept that. He turns in Liam’s arms, shoves his fingers into Liam’s messy hair, taking Liam’s mouth in a savage kiss. The kiss is borderline painful when Liam returns Aiden’s fervor. Their teeth gnash together as Liam turns them so Aiden’s back hits the bathroom wall.

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