Page 65 of Just a Footnote

“Archer is going to smell the smoke,” Miles points out because he’s a little shit.

Aiden raises one eyebrow. “And we’ll say someone was smoking near us outside. Don’t be a snitch.”

He finishes the cigarette, not feeling as good afterwards as he had hoped. They end up waiting outside the arena for an hour instead of going to find Archer in the locker rooms. Skye finds them a little while later, pointedly glaring at Aiden when she smells the cigarette smoke because she’s a health nut. One cigarette isn’t going to kill Aiden so everyone can chill the fuck out. Miles with his good intentions, having forced Archer to quit the habit in high school, and Skye with her green juice health nut bullshit.

Maybe he just smoked the cigarette to remind everyone he’s an asshole.

The next dayAiden feels worn out. Probably because of the acrid cigarette he’d smoked the day before and because of his total lack of sleep the night prior. He drags himself to the arena beside a far too chipper Miles. Skye presses a still hot cup of coffee into his hands as they take their seats in the dedicated row in the arena. The row contains half their college teammates and Liam’s father. He watches as Matty and Simon Walsh talk about something seriously, pointing at the ice.

“Feeling better today?” Skye asks cautiously.

“Feeling great,” Aiden replies with sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Apparently today’s game decides if they play for a medal. Aiden can’t muster the energy to care. He sips at his black coffee, grateful for something to do to take his mind off of watching Liam on the ice.

Halfway through the game, Matty stands and makes his way over to Aiden’s end of the row. “Aiden, take a walk with me?”

“Uh.”

Matty tilts his head down closer to the ice. “Down there.”

Aiden stands, coffee cup in hand, then wearily follows Matty down to the edge of the ice. Everything is louder down there since they’re closer to the action. The fans are loud behind them along with the teams on the ice. A headache will surely pound at his temples later that evening from all the sound after his sleepless night.

“Sup?” Aiden asks, all fuckboy and attitude.

Matty leans his forearms along the wall that separates their seats with the nicer seats up closer. “I always liked you in college. Archer’s a good guy, so that means you must be too.”

Aiden isn’t sure where this is going. “Okay?”

“Liam is in love with you.”

Aiden snorts, then laughs, very loudly. “Did you hit your head?”

“Are you in love with Liam?”

“What is this? A shovel talk? Or is it that you want to stake a claim? We did this already, back in college, if you don't recall.”

Matty lets out a frustrated laugh, obviously annoyed by Aiden. “Man, you really are just fucking clueless. Aren’t you in medical school? You graduated with honors? Liam makes you sound so goddamn smart.”

Aiden glares at him. “Sorry to disappoint.”

“Look,” Matty says evenly, turning his body so it’s angled towards Aiden now. His face softens towards Aiden in a way that makes him feel like he’s about to be chastised. “Liam is one of my best friends and you’re close to Liam.” When Aiden goes to interrupt, Matty glares him into pained silence. “Liam will kill for his friends. He loves hard and rarely knows how to stop. He cares about people, wants everyone to be happy, and sometimes he cares more about their happiness than his own. Liam caresfor you, a lot, and I’m not an idiot, I know that you care for him too. I suggest you use your time here wisely.”

“What am I supposed to do, huh? I’ve tried to put distance between us. I’ve tried to ignore him. I’ve tried everything. I told him I don’twanthim and even that didn’t work. Okay? I’m trying.”

Matty considers him carefully. “Maybe you should just let him in. Try letting him love you.”

Aiden shakes his head, taking that as his chance to look away from Matty, aiming his gaze back out at the ice. Two minutes remain on the clock. They’re down by one. They’re not going to make it to play for a medal. It’s not the last time Archer and Liam will be on the Olympic team. He still feels bad though. He knows how badly they both wanted to win.

The buzzer goes off. The Czech Republic raucously celebrates that they’re going on to play for the medal. Aiden stands frozen, watching as the team's shake hands on the ice. What is he supposed to do with everything Matty said? Maybe he has been playing this wrong the entire time. Maybe he should just go back to them being friends and fucking when they have a chance. It’ll hurt him a little more, but isn’t that what he’s used to anyway?

He wants Liam to be happy even if it costs him a little.

Aiden successfully avoidseveryone for the remaining two days of the trip. He does touristy shit, gets back to the room late, drinks way more of the minibar vodkas than he should. Miles drags him bodily into the airport, still half asleep, and feeling off balance. Archer aims concerned glances his way but doesn’t press for answers.

Because Aiden has the worst luck ever, Liam waits four gatesdown from them for his flight back to Seattle. After noticing them, Liam makes his way over to join them.

“For once my flight will be shorter than yours,” Liam comments as he bumps fists with Archer.

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