Page 32 of Provoking the Punter

“I’m used to sweaty and gross guys, and you smelt good compared to some of them. If you don’t want to put your T-shirt back on, take one of mine.”

Chester considered him for a moment. “Like you’re my boyfriend or something?”

That wasn’t his intent, but then he noticed the glint in Chester’s eyes and realized he was being teased.

“You don’t date closeted guys and I don’t date, so clearly not.” Garrett tossed him a grin and stepped into the shower.

Chester groaned. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“With your dimples and stuff…” Chester followed Garrett into the shower. “Because then I can’t resist you.”

Garrett pulled him close and kissed him. “That’s useful to know.”

“It means I can tell when you’re really smiling, and when you’re doing your fake media smile. You slip up sometimes and give them a proper smile.”

“You’ve been watching my interviews? Should I be concerned you’re a stalker?” This wasn’t weird, and neither of them was rushing to leave.

“I think you are the one stalking me.”

Garrett grinned and Chester licked one of the dimples before reaching around him to grab the body wash.

“I will take one of your shirts. Thank you.” His hands swept over Garrett, washing him, not himself.

And Garrett followed suit, letting his soapy hands drift over Chester’s body. “Just not one of the new ones. It’s too soon for me to be losing team jerseys.”

“If I’m taking a guy’s shirt, why the hell would I want a new one?”

“Because taking an old one means it will smell like me.” And they weren’t dating. Were they?

“Like I said, I’m not taking a new one. You can choose, or I can steal.” He gave Garrett a wink before maneuvering under the water.

He was out and drying off before Garrett.

By the time Garrett had wrapped a town around his waist, Chester already had his jeans on. He hoped Chester was dressing fast because he really wanted to stay, not because he wanted to run away.

Then why take the shirt and keep flirting?

He opened the wardrobe and pulled out, not his oldest T-shirt because that should be thrown out, but one of his old Copperhead’s shirts. The fabric was soft, and the team logo was faded.

“Are you trying to get me killed? I can’t walk around Austin in a Copperhead shirt.”

“I thought you were only wearing it to go home?” Because we aren’t dating.

“You’re right, it’s going to be far too big on me, anyway.” He slipped it on, and it was too big, but he liked the way Chester looked in his shirt.

For a heartbeat, they stared at each other as if knowing some line had been crossed, even though it was just a T-shirt. Chester stepped closer and put his hand on Garrett’s cheek. “I had a lovely evening. Please speak to Caitlin. She’s one of the good ones.”

And with those few words reality punched him in the face.

He must’ve winced because Chester wrapped his arms around him and squeezed him tight for a couple of seconds. “I mean it. Give them the heads up just in case… You don’t need to announce it to the world.”

There was a catch in Chester’s voice, as though he thought that was exactly what Garrett should do.

“I shouldn’t need to. It shouldn’t matter.”

Chester drew back and looked him in the eye. “Pick your battles, honey. You can’t fight them all without killing yourself.” He pressed a kiss to Garrett’s cheek. “You have my number if you need… if you want to talk.”

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