Page 96 of Home Game

He nodded once. “I have nothing to hide,” he said. “Cutmore was the one with the issues.”

I chewed the inside of my cheek. “I’m not sure.”

“If anything,” Emmett mused, “being associated with you would probably help my career at this point, not hurt it. I saw an article about you the other day that was praising you.”

“Wait, what?” I asked. “You’ve been looking me up?”

A sheepish smile crossed his face. “A little bit. Sometimes.”

“And? What did you find?”

“The Denver New Times said that you are one of the most outstanding voices in environmental activism, and that you’re an example for all professional athletes. They like how you donate your time and money to causes.”

I whistled. “Well, well, well,” I said. “Not too shabby.”

Emmett brought my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “To be honest, Iama marketing guy. If you ever wanted me to connect you with a public relations team, you could get a whole lot of positive articles written about you.”

I hummed. “I don’t know about that.”

“When I first met you, I thought you’d spit in my face if I ever suggested anything like that. But if that’s the only thing you’re worried about with dating me… fuck it, Storm.”

“Never thought I’d hear you sayfuck itabout a potential media problem,” I told him.

He shook his head lightly. “It’s worth it for you,” he said. “Worth it totry, I think. It’s been years since I’ve tried anything new, and I’m overdue for it.”

“This next one goes out to the happy couple that invited us to a heated game of billiards,” a voice came from over by the dance floor, where people were singing karaoke tonight. “Emmett and Storm, here’s to you!”

It was the old woman who’d been playing with us. She broke out into a great rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” showing herself to be a talented vocalist as soon as the song began.

“Did she just say what I think she said?” I asked Emmett.

“Seems like our little announcement might be expedited,” he told me, smiling.

“Shall we dance?” I asked.

“Let’s do it.”

We headed out to the dance floor, which started out with only us and two other couples. But as the woman sang and people started to notice how good her voice was, more people filtered onto the dance floor bit by bit.

I danced with Emmett like he was mine.

Like I’d been with him for years, and this was just something we did all the time, comfortable with each other as ever.

“Hey,” I asked near his ear, “how much would I have to pay you to do ‘Bad Reputation’ with me on that thing next?”

“I’m not much of a karaoke guy,” Emmett said, grimacing.

“You want me to beg?” I asked, teasing him.

“God, no, because then I’m going to gethardwhile doing karaoke, and I don’t think anyone needs that.”

“Hey! You guys,” Chase said, coming over to us on the dance floor with his boyfriend Adam. “Did that lady think you were a couple?”

Emmett and I exchanged a glance before looking back at Chase.

“Well… she might have, because wearea couple,” Emmett said.

Chase giggled, but then as he realized we weren’t joking, his face changed. “Wait a minute. You better not be messing with me, because if you’re serious, that’s fucking awesome. Storm, you’re into dudes?”

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