Page 63 of Just a Footnote

They break away panting, staring at one another in shock.Aiden uses the moment to spin them around, earning a pleased groan from Liam. His fingers fumble with Liam’s belt as both of them watch his hands.

Only seconds tick by before Aiden’s pushing Liam’s too tight jeans and boxer briefs midway down his thigh. The sight of Liam halfway undone, debauched, and hard for him in the bathroom with their friends waiting outside sends Aiden into a flurry of movement. There’s not enough time to do everything he wants so he just gets his mouth around Liam as fast as he can.

Liam swears loudly, gripping Aiden’s hair tightly, tight enough that tears spring to Aiden’s eyes. He’s missed this so much. The ability to trust someone to give it to him like he wants, like he needs, isn’t something he’ll have with anyone other than Liam. It’s not the most skilled blowjob he’s ever given, but it does the job because it only takes Liam a few minutes to come down Aiden’s throat with a breathy gasp. Standing up quickly, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, then goes over to the sink to wash his hands.

He can’t bear to look at Liam now. The urge to scrub his hands clean threatens to overwhelm him. He leans against the counter to steady himself just for a moment.

Liam comes up behind him, heat radiating off of him. The familiar smell of oranges hits Aiden causing tears to spring to his eyes. Aiden lifts his eyes to meet Liam’s in the mirror. He looks like shit and he wonders if Liam sees it too. He feels weak, beaten down, he wishes that he was anywhere but this bathroom.

Liam trails a hand down his arm and whispers, “Aiden, let me–”

“No,” Aiden interrupts him. “See you later.”

“Aiden–”

Aiden doesn’t give him the chance to finish. No one paysmuch attention when he rejoins the table except for Miles who sends a borderline murderous glare Aiden’s way. He returns it with a toothy grin. A few seconds later, Liam comes stumbling out to retake his seat directly across from Aiden. They don’t meet eyes again, but Aiden recognizes the hard set of Liam’s face as frustration, maybe even irritation. He’s a little pleased because Liam deserves it.

They part ways not long after. Archer comes back with Miles and him to their hotel. The car ride back to the hotel is silent which Aiden is thankful for because he couldn’t keep up small talk even if he tried. All he can think about is Liam. The taste of Liam on his tongue and the smell of him still on Aiden’s hands.

The driver of the car drops them off right in front of their hotel. Archer scrambles out first, Miles after him, then Aiden lags behind feeling like his feet weigh a trillion pounds.

“Hey!” Miles yells at Archer when he’s halfway to the hotel entrance. “Archer, let me talk to Aiden for a minute.”

Archer falters for a moment, trying to decide between who to protect, before shrugging and heading inside. Piece of shit. He’s probably pleased at the idea of Miles tearing him a new one.

“Yes, your highness?”

“You are so fucking stupid,” Miles says, voice low and irritated. “Seriously?”

“I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re talking about,” Aiden says dryly. “Would you like to elaborate?”

“No,” Miles breathes out, clearly irritated but reigning it in. “You’re worse than Archer. I’m done trying to help you.”

Aiden rolls his eyes dramatically. Although he feels a little relieved. “Golly gee, oh darn.”

Aiden marches past Miles into the hotel, hands deep in his jeans pockets, and goes straight to his room when he stumblesinto the suite. A door slams but he ignores it. He sleeps great despite everything.

The Olympics are profoundly boring.Aiden spends most of his time checking out events that happen simultaneously with hockey. In an odd turn of events, Miles follows him. Archer is busy either doing press or practicing so they both gravitate towards each other in the strange land they find themselves in. One of the best days is when they watch curling, making fun of it the entire time. Their badly hidden snickers finally get them enough death glares that they have to sneak out.

He keeps his distance from Liam. It’s not that hard since the athletes are so busy being athletes. The few times they’ve been in the same room together, Liam’s stare is so hot on him that Aiden thought he might melt from it. Miles keeps close to him though, as if sensing that whatever mistake Aiden had made at the initial dinner, he doesn’t want to make again.

Hockey finally starts and Aiden can no longer avoid it.

They all sit together, a little team of cheerleaders, as Team USA takes the ice with Archer as goalie and Liam on the first line. He looks so young out there against the seasoned professionals. But he holds his own. Liam might be young but he’s just as good a player as his father was, maybe even better.

Aiden sits in the cold arena wearing his asshole leather jacket. Miles and Skye bracket him on each side as Ollie yells at something he saw on the ice from beside a calm Skye.

“So…” Skye trails off, still looking at the ice.

“So?”

“You and Liam?”

“It’s a non-starter,” Aiden says point blank, hoping to end the conversation.

“For who?”

“Would you just give it a rest?” Aiden says bitterly. “I’m sick of everyone in my business. Fuck off.”

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