Page 14 of Stick By Me

“Yeah, we come here after games a lot. We like the food and it’s a fun place to unwind.” Biting his lower lip, he played with a fold in the bottom of his shirt.

Remy drew a deep inhale. “So, have you talked with Milo at all?” He snuck a peek at me.

“Not really. How’s he doing?” Archer tensed his mouth.

Shit, why was Remy bringing that up? “Anyways, you played well tonight.” I placed my hand on his muscled thigh.

His gaze snapped to my hand, then up to my face and fell to my lips. “Yeah, I uh, got two assists tonight.”

Nodding, I glanced at Remy. Damn it, what was I doing with my hand on Archer’s thigh? I slid my hand off and rubbed my neck. This was little awkward.

Remy’s phone buzzed on the dark wooden coffee table between the couches. “Shit, Axel.” He picked up his phone, then tapped the screen. “He’s asking when I’m coming home.” He twisted his lips.

“Go, I can get an Uber home.” I waved Remy off. It would be easier if Remy left. Then I wouldn’t be second guessing everything I did or said to Archer.

“You sure?” He studied me.

“I can drive you home, too. I’m only having one beer. We have another game tomorrow, so I can’t be out partying too much.” Archer lifted the edge of his mouth. “But tomorrow night, that’s a whole other story.”

“Okay, then I’ll finish up this beer and go.” Remy downed his beer.

“When Axel calls, Remy goes running.” I chuckled. I’d had fun with Remy tonight, so I couldn’t complain.

“Well, you know how demanding your brother can be.” He held out his hand to Archer. “Nice to see you again, man. And you played great tonight.”

Archer shook his hand. “Yeah, I might see you tomorrow at the casino?”

“Sure.” Remy hooked his brow. “I take it Ryder and Milo are your friends now?”

“Yeah.” Archer shrugged a shoulder. “Ryder’s a nice guy and I’m happy for Milo.” He glanced at me. “Me and Ryder hung out together at the gig that time and got to know each other a little bit.”

I absently rested my arm on the couch back behind Archer, my heart warming. He seemed mature for his age and didn’t do drama. What a nice break from the women I’d been dating.

A grin flickered over Remy’s lips, and he nodded. “Cool, then I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow night.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “See you at home, Leo. Sounds like you’re in good hands.” He winked at me, then waved at Archer and sauntered off.

What the fuck was that about? I watched him congratulate the other players, all eating at the long bar across the room, then go.

Archer edged into my side and sipped his beer. “Remy seems like a good friend.”

“He is.” His body warmed my side, and I inched a little closer to him. Being close didn’t mean anything, right? I’d sat like this with Remy a million times. “We’ve known each other since we were babies. Our moms met in a stay-at-home mom’s club, and we used to have play groups.” I chuckled, thinking back on the days I was barely old enough to remember. Axel was still a baby with Mom while Remy and I tore up the playground, all the moms chatting at picnic tables in the shade. “What was it like for you, growing up?” I drank some beer, then set it in my lap.

He twisted his beer glass, wedged between his thighs. “For the most part it was great. I put on my first skates at four years old and never looked back.” He snuck a peek at me. “A neighbor kid played hockey and he made a little rink in his back yard withthe hose.” He huffed a chuckle. “You can do that you know, in Minnesota in the winter.” He took a few gulps of beer.

As the waitress dropped off his food, I nodded. What a different way to grow up. “I’ve tried putting on skates a few times at the rink in Gilbert when we’d have playgroup outings there, but I wasn’t any good at it. Almost gave myself a concussion.” I freed a soft snort. Probably would break my hip or something if I tried it now.

He slid forward in his seat and leaned over the table, then picked up his fork to cut into his salmon. “Well, there are leagues out here with the Arizona Coyotes and all the Midwesterners that have moved here.” Turning his head, he gave me a sly grin, then shoveled food into his mouth. “Damn, I’m starved.”

I chuckled and thought back over Remy’s leaving comments. “Hey, so what happened between you and Milo anyways? I know you said you hooked up, but…” I pursed my lips. I seemed to have remembered there being a little more to it.

He stopped eating, holding his filled fork above his plate, then inhaled deeply. “We hooked up a few times and I really liked him. I asked him if we could start dating.” He set the fork down. “The night I met everyone at the Knot Me show was supposed to be our first, well sort of, date.” He ate his food.

My chest heated. He’dlikedMilo. It was a little more than hooking up. Did he still have some feelings for him? I sat forward and rested my elbows on my knees, holding my beer with both hands. “So uh, do you still have a thing for Milo? I mean, at all?”

“What?” He twisted his head, snapping his gaze to mine, his brows knitting. “No, I ah, I’ve moved on.” He ate more of his salmon.

“Good,” I mumbled, then drank my beer. Shit, it wasn’t like I owned the guy. Not even like we had anything. But I still didn’t want to think about him liking Milo. Especially when we’d all be together tomorrow night. Fuck, what was wrong with me, thinking like this? I gulped down the rest of my beer and as thewaitress walked by, I ordered another, then shifted back and threw my arm over the couch behind Archer.

“So, tell me some more about why you’re not out to anybody or what you have to figure out.” He scooped the last bite of his food into his mouth, then slid the empty plate forward.

---