Page 87 of The Puck Chase

His gaze meets mine, as he huffs a laugh. “Different kind of church, kid.”

He’s different from what I remember, and I can’t help but feel the vast void between us that was cast by him leaving, and heightened by our brother’s death, is bigger than ever.

“Why didn’t you come to his funeral?” I ask a question I have wanted the answer to for years. “What was so important that you weren’t there for him, that you weren’t there for me?”

Jasper sighs, swiping a hand down his face as he turns to face me. “I was in rehab, I wasn’t allowed out, not even for a funeral,” he replies, and my eyes widen in surprise, his answer not what I was expecting at all, and when I don’t say anything, he sighs.“I had been in a bad way for a while, strung out on anything I could get my hands on to try and numb the pain, and then I got the news of Ryan’s death,” he pauses, like just saying the words out loud cause him physical pain, and it’s only now I see my own grief mirrored back through him. “I overdosed and ended up in hospital. Caleb, my MC President, carried my ass to rehab and signed me in against my will, I was there for four months.”

Four months.

I always wondered why he never came, not just to Ryan’s funeral, but to me as well. I was alone and I needed someone, and like him I turned to drugs. We’re more alike than I thought, but what do I even say? How could we possibly repair a rift as big as ours?

“Look, Daemon, I’m not asking for us to be brothers, I’m not even asking for us to be friends, but I need you to know I’m sorry, for everything.” His words have tears burning at the back of my eyes, and I know if I speak now that my voice will crack. “I know it doesn’t change anything, but now that dad is gone, we can be free.” It’s the same words I just said to Ryan, and any other time I might find the irony funny.

“I need time,” I finally reply, not ready to forgive him, and the truth is, I might never be ready, and my brother only nods, his eyes flicking to where Archer is standing guard, watching our every move.

“That’s okay, kid, I know you’re in good hands.” He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder, noting my flinch, and I swear his eyes wash over me, as if he knows where every scar sits, and I shift uncomfortably. He pulls away, his eyes stained with regret, as he moves to the headstone and taps it twice. “See you next week,” he whispers, before nodding his head at me soberly and moving to leave.

“Dad didn’t kill himself, did he?” I call out to his back, and the slight freezing of his movements tells me everything I need to know.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replies without emotion, but still I see the same demons in his eyes that I know reside in mine, before he continues on his way.

Archer is back at my side in a second. “Are you okay?” he asks, his stare moving between me and my brother’s retreating form, and I nod.

“Yeah, baby, I’m good, let’s go home.”

When we get back to the house, Archer heads for a shower while I cook us a quick dinner, and when he returns he is wearing a pair of my sweatpants and one of my jerseys. Seeing him in my clothes does something to my insides, I can’t help but watch him as he slinks around the kitchen, grabbing utensils and making drinks.

“I know you’re obsessed with me, Forbes, but no need to stare at me,” he purrs, his flirtatious stare meeting mine, and I can’t help but smirk.

Since that day in the locker room, where we outed ourselves to the entire team, we have been inseparable. We eat together, work out together, and If he isn’t in my bed, then I’m in his, so much so that Coach made a new rule that no one is allowed to fuck in the locker rooms. A rule we enjoyed breaking after our most recent game on Friday night, the memory of which only widens my smile even further.

“Yes, falling in love with my stalker has been a terrible idea on my part,” I reply, dishing up the food onto the plates he laid out for us, and Archer scoffs a laugh.

“The only terrible idea you’ve had, is thinking we could fuck in that tiny shower stall without getting caught,” he claps back, and I roll my eyes.

“That was your idea, and I think you scarred Nova for life,” I snap back, but he only grins.

“Please, I’ve seen that fucker’s bare ass more than yours, he nails Maddie anywhere and everywhere,” he purrs, just as Josh enters the kitchen and curses.

“For fuck sake, Gray,” he groans, moving to the fridge and snatching two bottles of water in disgust, before glaring at Archer as he retreats. “I was going to ask what’s for dinner, but I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.”

Archer only laughs as Josh rushes from the kitchen, heading back upstairs to his wife, which by the sound of it, is the best thing in the world.

We eat dinner like we always do, and then when we head back upstairs, my eyes remain pinned to my name across his back. So much so that when we reach my room, I grab him and slam him into the wall, stealing his breath with a kiss, pressing my erection into his hip.

“Mmm, someone’s needy,” Archer grunts against my mouth, and I grind my hips into him.

“Yeah, now get on your knees, on the bed,” I demand, pulling back and watching the way his eyes dance in delight at my request.

“Yes sir,” he replies mockingly, not realizing what that does to me, but still he moves instantly, beginning to tug at his clothes, when I stop him.

“Everything but the jersey comes off,” I order, and he smirks over his shoulder, before slipping off his pants and boxers in one sweep. “Now, on your knees, baby, get that ass nice and high for me,” I add, stripping off my own clothes and moving to my nightstand to grab some lube.

Stroking my cock I approach him, his eyes tracking every move of my hand, as he curses. “So fucking perfect.”

I don’t stop until I am on the bed behind him, spilling lube down his ass crack, and massaging it against his rim. “It will be so fucking perfect when you’re filled with my cock,” I grunt, pouring more lube onto my dick, before circling his hole without entering.

“Don’t fucking tease me, Forbes,” he grits through his teeth, dropping his head to the mattress, arching his back so he can press his ass further into me.

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