Page 88 of Game On

“What about your living situation?” Andrew perched on the edge of a dresser. “Will you stay with Dorian now that you’re together?”

“No.” Jamie dropped onto one of the bottom bunks. “That doesn’t seem smart. We’re too new to know if we’ll last long-term, and I don’t want to mess things up by moving in together too quickly.”

“But you’re half in love with him already.”

Jamie’s heart jolted, then sped up like the wheels on a runaway train. Of course, he was half in love with Dorian already, but he hadn’t known he’d been so damn obvious about it.

Andrew snorted a laugh. “You should see the look on your face.”

Loosing a quiet chuckle, Jamie rubbed his jaw. “He’s just so...”

“Tough on the outside but soft on the inside?”

“You see it too, huh? He pretends he doesn’t need anybody, but secretly, he’s starved for affection.” But, because of the way he’d grown up, Dorian didn’t believe he was worthy of that affection. “He tries so hard, and he wants to be there for everybody, but he won’t let anybody be there for him. He’d never say it, but the fact that you were all supportive of his new business means a lot to him.”

“It’s a great idea,” Andrew said with a shrug. “Circling back to living arrangements, though... Have you found a place?”

“Actually, yeah. One of my teammates has a guest house on his property I’m moving into at the end of the season.”

Archie had invited him to visit it this weekend, but since he’d given Jamie a lift home upon returning from Manitoba, they’d detoured by his place first to tour the guest house. It was as small as Archie had said, but it was better than a room in a house shared with three to five other people. Besides, Jamie didn’t need much. If it had a bed, a bathroom, and a kitchen, he was happy. He’d have to go into the main house to do his laundry, but that was fine.

He hadn’t told Dorian yet, and he wasn’t sure why. Maybe because it would put a firm end date on their living situation? And a part of Jamie was worried that would change things between them.

“Nice,” Andrew said. “Once you’re settled, Nikki and I will bring the kids for a vis?—”

Jamie’s phone rang, interrupting him.

Andrew straightened off the dresser. “You get that. I’ve got to corral the kids anyway so we can get out of here. Eleanor’s got skiing lessons in an hour.”

He left, and Jamie swiped to answer Gio Vitone’s call. “Hey, man.”

“Hey.” Gio sounded... rough. “This a bad time?”

“No, I... Are you okay?”

“Guessing you didn’t see yesterday’s game?”

Jamie’s body tensed. “No. I was having dinner with Dorian, my brothers, and some of their friends. Why? What happened?”

“I’m out for the rest of the season. Took a bad check and re-injured my shoulder. So... yeah. I’m out for six to eight weeks.”

Which would take them into early June, and with the Cobras’ chances of making the playoffs, six to eight weeks off was a season-ending injury.

And in Gio’s case, a career-ending injury given he was retiring at the end of this season.

Fuck. To go out like this... It wasn’t how any athlete wanted to retire.

“Fuck, man.” Jamie passed a hand down his face, his heart squeezing. “I’m sorry. That sucks.”

“Yeah. I’m sitting here feeling sorry for myself, so I thought I’d call you so you can feel sorry for me too.”

Jamie laughed. “Why don’t you come feel sorry for yourself here?”

Silence. Then, “What?”

“Come visit for a week or two. Since you’re just sitting around anyway, why not sit around over here?” The more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed. It’d be great to see Gio again.

“But I’m starting rehab soon.”

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