Page 39 of Spite Crush

“Okay.” He rolled off the bed and walked into the bathroom and a moment later I heard the shower start.

Okay.

It was entirely possible that I was never going to understand how thatman’s mind worked. And honestly…I kind of liked that.

Everything in my life had been planned out. High school, college, hockey pro. I knew from the first moment I put on skates what my future held. Live in the closet, confirmed bachelor, maybe eventually find a compassionate woman to attach myself to if rumors started, but I knew I’d always be alone beyond secret, hurried affairs in locker rooms until I was too old and forced to retire from the game.

I thought I knew it all. Until Kellen had come along and I realized that I didn’t know anything.

When he came back to bed a little while later, I was almost asleep, the excitement of the day and the exertion from the game having caught up to me. I felt him move in behind me, his fingers gently stroking my shoulder, then tapping softly in a strange but soothing, one-two-three rhythm over and over.

“Good night, Sally,” he whispered as he pressed a kiss to my skin where his fingers had just been.

“Sally?” I murmured, barely awake but conscious enough to be thoroughly confused.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, chuckling softly before kissing my shoulder one more time and settling in against me. “I’ll tell you later.”

But when I woke up the next morning, he was already gone. That was okay, though. We’d said everything we needed to say to each other and I had a feeling I’d be seeing him soon.

At least…I really hoped I would.

Chapter Fifteen

~Kellen~

From the moment I landed in Florida, I was too busy to freak out about the almost conversation Zak and I had shared regarding our not-quite-relationship.

The end of a tour was always insane, trying to wrap up obligations to the crew and ensure that instruments and electronics were cataloged for repairs and tune ups before being stored or shipped to our individual homes.

Then there were the back-to-back final shows, which were exhausting on their own, but coupled with the fact that Tim, Ford and I were so sick of each other by that point that every word spoken between us was pretty much shouted…well by time I walked off stage after our second encore I was ready to climb in a hole and sleep for a week.

But when I got back to the hotel, sleep wouldn’t come. Now that everything was done and I was free of the stress of touring, I just wanted to talk to Zak.

Kellen

Are you awake?

Zak

It’s eleven. I’m not that old.

Kellen

Sure you’re not.

Did you have a game tonight?

Zak

Playoffs start Tuesday. How was your show?

Kellen

It was fine.

“Hey,” I said, answering his call. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Zak said. “I just wanted to talk for a few minutes. I’m not really a big texter.”

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