Page 71 of One Touch

“I disagree, Mills, but that’s beside the point. My mother finds a way to leverage everyone. It’s better if you stay far away from her.”

“Duly noted. Now, can we circle back to the fact that you admitted you like me? Lathan Silver likes Miller Fahn! And here I thought we were destined to be enemies forever.”

“Shut up.” He laughed, and the sound filled my whole body.

“It was the friendship bracelet that finally won you over, wasn’t it?”

“Nah. It was just you, Mills. Just you.”

How could I not fall in love with this guy? He was such a sweetie when he let himself open up to others. I was grateful to be in the minority that got to know him.

“You heading back tomorrow?” he asked, pulling me from my musings.

“Yeah. You?”

“Yes. Thank God. I can only handle my mother in short doses. It’s exhausting being the perfect son under her roof.”

“Have you tried just talking to her? Telling her how much her pressure stresses you out?”

“It wouldn’t matter. I’m a Silver. We rise above and push through. We don’t let anything, even our own humanity, bring us down. It’s not worth it. Nothing will ever change with her.”

“I’m sorry. That’s gotta be hard, and a heavy burden to carry.”

“Yeah. It is.” He cleared his throat. “How do you think we’ll do against Minnesota?”Ah… subject change.

“It’s gonna be a tough game, but it’s at home, so hopefully that gives us the advantage.”

Lathan hummed, and we talked a little more about hockey before I started yawning so big that you could see all of my molars.

“Sorry. I guess the sleepiness is catching up with me.”

“What if we didn’t hang up?” Lathan asked.

“Hmm?” I asked and snuggled down under the covers.

“It seems I can’t sleep without you snoring in my ear, so what if…” he trailed off, but I understood his meaning.

“Yeah, okay. Let me grab my charger.” I climbed out of bed, searched for my iPad charger, and turned off the lights.

“Wait, is this your childhood room?” Lathan asked.

“Yes. Why?”

“I want to see. Give me a tour.”

Laughing quietly, I turned the lights back on and gave him the nickel tour. I showed him my hockey posters. The collection of sticks I’d outgrown in the corner. The stack of pucks with tape, each representing a moment in my life. Then, lastly, I showed him my corkboard where I’d tacked pictures from college.

“Wait. Was that my college hockey card?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I hurried to turn off the lights and climbed into bed. Crapola. I’d forgotten all about that. I’d impulsively taken it from Landon’s desk one night.

Lathan squinted at me but thankfully let it go. I snuggled under the covers and propped the iPad up on the pillows. We stared at one another for a while until neither of us could keep our eyes open. And I slept better than I had since I’d left him.

When I woke up the next morning, the screen was black, but a message was waiting for me.

Lathan: I can’t wait to see you today. I’m going to spend all evening kissing, licking, and fucking you. Be ready.

Lust shot through my veins, and I packed my bag in a haste. I had a plane to catch.

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