Page 49 of Spite Crush

“Well, don’t let that get around,” Rye warned him. “I have a reputation to protect.”

“So that’s settled,” Austin said. “And sleep we can help with, too.”

“As for the hockey player, that seems like a morning problem. Grab your bag and I’ll show you to one of the guest rooms. You can get some sleep and in the morning Austin will make pancakes and we’ll fix the rest of your life.”

“You are a good guy, Rye,” I said, standing up and letting him pull me into a hug. “Thank you.” I looked over at Austin. “Both of you.”

“Come on.”

I let Rye lead me upstairs and after a quick shower in the ensuite, I put on a pair of clean boxers and fellinto the bed, utterly exhausted but feeling a little lighter knowing that I had some semblance of a plan for at least part of my life.

****

“So, we figured out your Zak problem,” Rye said as he poured me a cup of coffee the next morning.

“Oh, the two of you did, huh?” I rolled my eyes as I turned and sat down at the kitchen table. “And what am I going to do?”

“Well, game three of the playoffs is going to be held right here in Chicago,” Austin said as he set aplate of chocolate chip pancakes in front of me.

“I’m not a toddler,” I said when Rye reached over to pour syrup on my plate for me. “Did you want to cut it up and play airplane to get me to eat it as well?”

“Kind of,” Rye said, grabbing for my fork, but I swatted his hand away. “So, you’re going to stay with us this week. Rest, relax and have some fun.”

“Help Rye with a song he’s stuck on,” Austin added under his breath.

“And then,” Rye said loudly, glaring at his husband. “Saturday, we’ll all go to the game together.”

“What if he doesn’t want me there? Ow!” I stared at Rye in shock. “Did you just slap me with a fucking pancake?”

“I see Dempsey’s been rubbing off on you,” Rye teased. “In more ways than one.”

“You’re such an—"

“Children,” Austin said sharply. “No fighting at the table.”

“Of course he wants you there,” Rye continued. “Besides, do you know how many strings I had to pull to get us tickets to a playoff game?”

“You called Cherry?” I guessed.

“Well, yeah,” he admitted. “But still. I had to pay for the tickets.”

“I can pay you back for that.”

“Like I give a shit,” he said, rolling his eyes before shoving a giant bite of pancake into his mouth. “Hurry up and eat. I do need your help with this song.”

I wasn’t sure this was a great plan, but as I didn’t have a better idea, I figured I’d just see how it played out. I was pretty sure that Zak couldn’t be any angrier with me than he already was.

“Here comes the airplane,” Rye said, moving his fork toward my face.

“Asshole.”

But I totally opened my mouth and took the bite.

Chapter Eighteen

~Zak~

We got to Chicago up two games to nothing in the series, and everyone else on the team was ecstatic. I, however, was so worried about what was happening with Kellen it was hard for me to focus on anything else.

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