Page 44 of The Home Game

“I’m probably not going to remember any of your names,” Antoni said helplessly. There were so many of them.

They all laughed.

“It’s fine,” Matty said with a big grin. “You’ll have plenty of time to get to know these guys.”

But the one man, the one who had introduced himself as an alternate captain, narrowed his eyes at Antoni, studying him intently.

Antoni wondered about that as he made a final sweep through the house to be sure everything important had been packed. Tomorrow he’d come through and clean but he didn’t want to accidentally leave a beloved stuffed animal or something behind.

“Hey,” Antoni said when he ran into Matty in the hall. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“The guy who’s the other alternate, what’s his name?”

“Dominic Olson,” Matty said with a smile.

“I get the vibe that he doesn’t like me much. Is that my imagination or …”

Matty sighed and leaned against the wall. “It’s not you, really. He’s annoyed at me. He thinks I … I’m too soft.”

Antoni looked Matty over, taking in the silky athletic shorts that clung to the spectacular ass he’d been trying not to stare at too much today and the Fisher Cats T-shirt that hugged every inch of his equally impressive upper body.

Soft around the middle, maybe? But God, it looked good on him.

“Uhh, too soft?” Antoni managed, confused.

Matty smiled. “Too much of a pushover for people in need.”

“Ahh,” Antoni said, putting it all together. “He thinks I’m using you.”

“He’s worried about it, yeah. Once he gets to know you, I’m sure he won’t think that.”

“Mmm,” Antoni replied. He wasn’t holding his breath on that one. He sorta felt like he was using Matty.

“Dom’s a loyal friend,” Matty said earnestly. “I love that about him even if it’s frustrating sometimes. My ex … she kinda did a number on me. He just wants to be sure that anyone else in my life isn’t doing the same.”

Antoni blinked because Matty had worded that in a way that made it sound like Antoni and Matty were dating. Like Dominic assumed they were. But that was crazy, right?

Matty was straight.

Sure, Antoni had seen the rumors online that Matty had hooked up with a man once but that was probably either internet bullshit or wishful thinking on the part of fans. That happened all the time.

And any little crush Antoni was developing on Matty was just because he was … well, the total package.

Handsome and kind and generous and …

Okay, maybe Antoni needed to watch it because that little crush could easily turn into a big, inconvenient crush if he wasn’t careful.

It could make things awkward between them.

Clearly Matty was comfortable with gay people. He hadn’t blinked when they’d caught two of the guys stealing kisses in the kitchen—the blond guy and the referee, Antoni was pretty sure—but that didn’t mean he was okay with a guy having a big old crush on him.

Especially when he’d done nothing to encourage it.

“You ready?” Matty asked and Antoni shook himself out of his daze and nodded.

“Yeah. Let’s head out,” Antoni said. “It hasn’t sunk in that I’m moving into your place yet but I’m not sorry to leave this one behind.”

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