Page 105 of Just a Footnote

“Come in the water with me before you get burnt.” Liam leans forward to press a cold ocean kiss to Aiden’s warmed cheek. He smells like citrus and ocean waves. The smell is so heady that Aiden almost swoons. “It’s fun out there. We’re all alone out here. Who knows what will happen.”

Aiden skewers him with a look. “You’re not fucking me in the ocean.”

Liam stares at him. “I never said anything about fucking, but nice to know where your brain automatically goes.”

Aiden huffs, but lets Liam tug him up. They hold hands as they walk into the refreshing water. Once up to their chests, Liam dips down beneath the water, so Aiden can only see his mischievous eyes. He slowly tugs Aiden towards him through the water. Instinctively, Aiden wraps his legs around Liam’s strong waist.

“See? Isn’t this nice?” Liam asks, lips tilted up in one corner in a teasing smile.

Aiden just hums, unwilling to admit that Liam was right. Fingers brush against the small of his back, tugging him closer against Liam’s body. Wrapping his arms around Liam’s neck, he leans in to brush a gentle kiss to Liam’s salty lips. He tangles his fingers in the wet hair at the nape of Liam’s neck.

“Maybe you should aim for a team on a coast since you love the water so much.”

“Nah.” Liam winks at him. “I love you a whole lot more.”

Aiden feels his face heat. A wave crashes over them, butLiam holds them steady. Just the two of them for an entire week. No phones. Nothing to distract them. It’s so much like their time in the snowglobe back in Seattle. Aiden never thought he could like spending time with someone so much that he’d be willing to be totally cut off from society. But well, here he is.

The reception to Liam coming out hadn’t been terrible, but it hadn’t been great either. His team was supportive at least. Sadly, Aiden hasn’t been able to float under the radar like he thought he might be able to considering he’s Archer’s twin. Everyone seems to have a comment on that one. But Aiden doesn’t read the headlines, so everyone’s opinions don’t really matter to him.

“Come back to me,” Liam whispers against his jaw.

Aiden tightens his fingers in Liam’s hair. “I never left.”

“You did.” Liam drags his lips across Aiden’s jaw. Teeth nibble at his ear before Liam whispers, “Be present with me, baby.”

Another wave crashes over them, pushing them closer together. Gently resting his forehead against Liam’s, he sighs softly, pressing a tender kiss to Liam’s mouth. They stay out in the ocean for a while, holding each other close, letting the waves crash over them. Finally, Aiden pulls away to float on his back. Liam’s fingers gently hold his ankle so he can’t float away. Clouds filter in and out of his vision. He’s never felt so relaxed before, just existing, no worry on his mind. It’s not just the tropical location that does that for him either. Being with Liam does that to him.

“My agent seems to think Boston is going to make an offer.”

Aiden sits up, treading water as he looks at Liam. “Really?”

Liam inches closer. “Yeah, they need a new center forward. Miles on my wing again. Sounds kind of nice. Plus…I’d be a few hours from you.”

“We wouldn’t see each other much during the season,” Aiden points out.

Liam shrugs as a wave crashes over them. “Maybe not. But it’s easier to make a few hours drive then hop on a plane to cross the country just to see you. When you graduate medical school…will you try to get matched for your residency wherever I am??”

Aiden doesn’t even have to think about it. “Yes.”

A shy smile crosses Liam’s face. Like maybe he’s still not sure howinAiden finally is with them. How Aiden might be an asshole, might be prickly, might be hard to love at times, but now that he has Liam he’s not going to let go.

After a little longer in the water, they amble back onto the shore. Liam picks the towel up off the ground, shaking the sand off of it so they can carry it up to the backyard of the house. He cups a hand over his eyes to look out at the turquoise waves crashing against the shore.

“Your cheeks are a little red,” Liam comments as they come to a stop beside the outdoor shower.

Aiden pulls off his swim trunks, carefully pressing his fingers to the tender skin under his eyes. “I always burn here. I think I miss it when I apply sunscreen.”

Liam hums thoughtfully. “I’ll remember next time.”

Of course he will, Aiden’s personal sunscreen applicator. The outdoor shower trickles on and Aiden stands under the warm water to rinse off. A moment later, Liam joins him, tugging him into the circle of his arms. He slides his hands over the firm muscles of Liam’s wet back, curling his palms over Liam’s shoulders. Leaning up on his tiptoes, he kisses Liam under the fall of the shower, tasting the sweetness on his lips from their lunch.

“You still taste like strawberries,” Aiden points out before pulling away to finish washing the ocean off his skin.

“You don’t like it?” Liam asks with a raised eyebrow.

Aiden smiles ruefully. “I didn’t say that.”

Somehow they get clean, despite being unable to keep their hands off one another. After drying off, they wander into the bedroom through the French doors opening out to the ocean. The palm trees sway in the salty ocean breeze that Aiden knows he’s going to miss the moment he’s back in New York. Aiden tosses himself onto the king size bed, enjoying the breeze that blows over his still dewy skin from outside. When the weight of Liam’s body doesn’t appear, he opens an eye halfway to peer across the room.

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