Page 7 of Crossed Lines

We haven’t even done anything and I’m still wired-up like a kid kissing his crush for the first time.

*

The party is in full swing by the time we make it to the apartment Junseo shares with three other teammates, located on the other end of the facility.

This place has everything from high-tech gym equipment to the swanky accommodation for away players. Very different to what we’ve got back in Oregon—being in Washington has its perks.

Junseo loves the protein bars I made for him, and our goalie, Ryan Taylor, snags three of them before anyone can blink.

Spencer and I grab a solo cup of some European beer he’s obsessed with. It tastes like piss to me but it gets the job done, I guess.

Everyone's careful not to get too drunk; the last thing we need is to hear one of Coach’s lengthy speeches.

2000s dance music blasts from an old CD player in the corner of the living room, pervasive with the smell of alcohol and sweat. Empty beer bottles litter every surface not crowded by muscled bodies. We catch up with a few of the guys, and soon everyone migrates to the couch and the large flatscreen TV complete with a gaming console.

Junseo challenges me and Spencer to a match of some soccer game loaded onto the console, us against him and Ryan. It’s the same game we played a few days ago, the one I lost the bet in. This time, we’re working together, and our easy chemistry from the pitch translates into game format.

It takes a few matches—Junseo refuses to surrender—but eventually Spencer beats his ass for the third time in a row. He claps my back, the warm length of his body pressed up against mine on the couch, and I can’t help but lean into him.

This is one of my favorite versions of him; soft and glowing with pride, his sword piercing glinting in the light.

“Dream Team, baby,” he says, grinning at me. “We’re perfect for each other.”

I blame the sudden heat in my cheeks on the alcohol.

For the rest of the night, I want to stick by Spencer’s side, but he disappears into the kitchen after the game. Thumbing my new bottle of Heineken, I tuck into the couch corner and chat with a few of the guys as I wait for him. After a few minutes, I realize he’s taking way too long for a normal piss.

I unfurl from the couch. “I’m gonna find Spencer.”

“I don’t think he wants to be found,” Ryan says beside me. He winks with his whole face, like we’re in a middle-school stage production.

“What’s that meant to mean?”

“Nothing. Just the last time I saw him he looked busy.”

Junseo rolls his eyes. He’s leaning over the back of the couch, chin resting on Ryan’s shoulder. “He means Spencer’s getting some chick’s number.”

Of course. We’re leaving in a few days and he’s worried about getting with some girl.

Abandoning my drink, I head for the kitchen where I saw him disappear. The identical looks of amusement on my teammates’ faces barely register.

Light filters into the kitchen from the living room, enough that I can just make out the tall silhouette of Spencer tucked into a corner, nodding and laughing at some girl I’ve never seen before.

She’s pretty, with dark skin and even darker curly hair. Sweet smile, dimples, nice eyes. Definitely his type. Something green and ugly writhes in my chest.

I stop by Spencer’s side. “Hey. Who’s your friend?”

“There you are.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder and gestures to the girl. “This is Imani, she knows the birthday boy.”

Imani says hello and her voice is as nice as the rest of her. The green thing twists deeper. I’m being an asshole, but I can’t help myself. The last thing I want to do is make small talk.

Gripping Spencer’s wrist, I tug him away, vaguely nodding at the girl in a gesture that could’ve meant goodbye, if you’re being generous.

Manners aren’t on my mind right now.

We stumble into a hallway with multiple doors and I pick the closest one. It opens into an empty bedroom decorated in soccer paraphernalia and framed posters ofThe Office.Definitely Ryan’s room.

The door slams shut behind us, cutting off Daft Punk. All I can hear is our harried breaths mingling in the dark. Spencer huffs out a laugh.

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