Page 67 of Meet Me in the Blue

“You guys were too cute with those kids.” Luka beamed. “I think I took about a thousand pictures.”

“One of the upsides of being in the League, we get to do cool shit like that all the time. Some of the guys hate the charity stuff, but I think it’s fun. We make a lot of money, and yeah, we kill our bodies, but it’s nice to give back. Without our fans, we don’t have a job.” He took a sip of his water, watching us from above the rim. “It’s story time, boys.” He placed his glass on the table and stretched his arms across the back of the booth. “What’s going on with you two?”

“Mom didn’t say anything?” I asked and he shook his head. “I figured she would have.”

“Shit.” His posture changed, his shoulders slumping forward. Reese scrubbed a palm over his hair. It was longer than he usually kept it, the tight curls falling over his forehead. “I didn’t think… I’m so sorry, Luka. About your dad. I wanted to be there, but—”

“Thank you, and don’t… I understand. My mom got your flowers, she loved them.”

“I’m an asshole,” he grumbled.

“We weren’t close, not like—”

“You and my brother.” That look returned to Reese’s eyes, like he was waiting for some revelation. I still couldn’t believe my mom hadn’t said anything. “Seems like you guys patched up everything… Last time I heard, you were in California.”

“He moved back,” I said. “And yeah… I guess we patched things up.” I turned to look at Luka and smiled. “We’re together.”

“I can see that.” The humor in my brother’s tone grabbed my attention. “Like boyfriends?”

“Yes.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Luka asked, and his defensive tone surprised me.

It surprised my brother, too, and he laughed. “Calm down, tiger. I’m not a bigot.” He swallowed and fiddled with a straw wrapper, tearing it in two. “Rook… when we were younger, I thought maybe you’d come out to me at some point, and when you didn’t, I figured I was wrong to assume shit.”

“I didn’t know then.”

“No?” he asked, and his dark brows slanted into a crease.

“It’s not always black and white,” Luka explained. “For me, sure. I knew I was in love with your brother the minute I understood what it meant to be attracted to someone, but for some people it’s not that straightforward.”

“You’re in love with my brother?” A slow grin spread across Reese’s face.

“I am.”

“I love him, too. This is… it was confusing for a long time.” I held my brother’s gaze. His eyes the same blue color as our mom’s. “I didn’t understand it back then… but when I’m with Luka… I feel like myself. I don’t have to talk myself into being with him.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me,” Reese said, his voice as soft as his smile. “If you’re gay then you’re gay… If you’re straight, bi… whatever. You’re my brother and I love you, alright. Who you’re attracted to has nothing to do with that.” I rubbed the sting from my eyes with the back of my free hand, and Luka scooted closer to me, pressing into my side. Reese touched the tip of my sneaker with his and shook his head. “I swear to fuck, if you make me cry right now, I’ll tell my publicist you’re not allowed to print any of those pictures.”

“Wow.” Luka laughed. “He doesn’t play fair.”

“Not on the ice.” Reese knocked a fist on the table. “And not in life. Play dirty or don’t play at all, that’s my motto.”

He winked at the waitress as she approached our table and flirted with her while he ordered half the menu for himself. Over dinner we talked more about the charities my brother’s team worked with, and the photoshoot and what Reese could expect for the interview tomorrow with Zach. I didn’t miss my brother’s fascination every time Luka and I found ways to be close or kissed each other. He’d tried hard not to stare, but I’d caught him. This time when Luka kissed the back of my hand before excusing himself to go to the bathroom, I said something.

“It’s weird for you?”

“I don’t think weird is the right word.” He sighed. “You were never affectionate with any of the girls you dated. It’s different.”

“The connection I have with him is deeper.” I pushed my empty plate to the side of the table. “Attraction for me… it’s not about sex or gender, it’s about the person. I didn’t know those girls like I know Luka.”

“But did you want to know them?”

“Maybe I could have… but they never stuck around long enough. It’s not easy for me like it is for you.”

“Shit.” He laughed. “For me… Relationships are far from easy … trust me.”

“Luka makes me feel safe… and that’s what does it for me.”

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