Page 27 of One More Time

I bit back my smile. I was about to reply when Tyler lunged forward, grabbing Cal’s face and tilting it into the light. “What the fuck happened to your face?”

The sudden protectiveness of his voice surprised me. I saw the gash on the right side of Cal’s head, held together by stitches and tape.

“Nah, see? You’re cute,” Cal cooed jokingly, but Tyler was having none of it.

“Cal, what the fuck happened?”

Cal sighed. “Sabrina was desperate to try a triple twist lift in our routine. Let’s just say my face caught the third twist.”

Tyler and I both flinched. “Are you okay?” Tyler took a step back and searched Cal’s features. His voice was soft, sincere. I got that same pang in my chest that hit me when I saw them leaving the coffee shop.

You are not jealous; you are not jealous.

“I’m fine. I was more pissed at her yelling at me. Apparently, I didn’t throw her high enough—she had some choice words. She said I need to take a few days to ‘beef’ up otherwise she was going to find a new partner.”

“Sounds like a bitch if you ask me,” I offered. “And it sounds like you need a good night out. I’ll be your wingman--I know of a few guys who swing your way.”

Tyler rolled his eyes. Cal, on the other hand, lit up like a Christmas tree. “Thanks, Hunt!” He then sauntered up to my side and not-so-subtly whispered, “but if you want the baby gay to be in your bed tonight, maybe don’t mention all the guys you know that swing my way."

Damn it.

Chapter sixteen

Tyler

“Aye! It’s old Cap.” I was surprised to see Holden’s smile on the other end of the phone… sitting in my living room. I leaned in close to make sure I wasn’t imagining things and noted my furrowed brow in the viewfinder as I wondered what the hell he was doing answering my brother’s phone. I then voiced that very same thought. “Holden, what are you doing answering my brother’s phone?” He kept the camera fixated on his annoying face, making me groan. That ridiculous smirk told me he was well aware of how much it bothered me.

“Good to see you too champ.” His tone had me wishing I were there to knock him out cold.

“Fuck off. Where’s Jamie?”

“Getting his shit ready. I’m taking him to his training. Kay drove your mum to her hospital appointment. Jamie didn’t want to take the bus, so here I am.”

Somehow, I found myself in a conflicting state. I was ecstatic that someone was watching over Jamie, but my gut twisted at the thought of Mum undergoing another round of chemo.

“Thanks, Holden. For real.”

Holden’s cocky grin faded. “You know I care for Jamie. I promised I would watch out for him. You two are practically family.”

I relaxed into the couch, Cal’s singing followed him from his bedroom to the kitchen.

“So,” he drawled. “You been enjoying some college life, finally letting loose?” I could see the moment his gaze fell over my shoulder to where Cal was dancing into the kitchen shirtless.

“If you consider one wild night a college experience, Mr. Cute Australian boy, then yes—Ty here has lived his wildest self. Otherwise, he’s just a robot—wake up, run, study, hockey, study, and repeat. Why don’t you help a gal out and make him come out with me tonight?”

I shot a glare at him and clenched my jaw.

“Big wild night aye? I am all ears.”

“And you still wouldn’t listen because there’s nothing to tell”

“I call bullshit. You haven’t slept with anyone since you know who. And I know what that was like for you. So, she must have been a decent bird or… maybe a decent dude?”

I choked on my next breath. I heard a mumble from Cal behind me and his hand squeezed my shoulder. I met his gaze, understanding the unspoken apology in his eyes I hoped mine conveyed the anger simmering just beneath the surface. Apparently, my glare spoke volumes, as he retreated to his room. There would definitely be words exchanged between us later.

“So… now that the emu is out of the room, am I on the right track?”

My tongue felt too big for my mouth. I wasn’t ashamed that I was gay. But it was new. I was still wrapping my head around it, much less trying to help other people along. There hadn’t been a moment of the day where I hadn’t had Hunter’s face, or his muscles or his fucking ass flashing in my mind. Which when you share a locker room with the fucker… it was very inconvenient, to say the least.

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