Page 64 of Stick By Me

“Like what you and Axel do?” With a grin, I creased my forehead. Touché. “And keep your voice down.” Axel was going to come running out of the hallway any minute.

He settled into his chair and slumped his shoulders, then giggled, his shoulders shaking. “Holy fuck, Leo. You’re queer.” He scrubbed his hands down his face. “How did I not see it?” His gaze cut to mine. “Fucking Angie. You asshole. It was Archer you were dating and not Angie.”

Nodding, I chortled. “Yeah, sorry about that, but I owed you one.” I grabbed his hand, resting on his thigh. “Remy, you’re my best friend and you’re the first person I told.” I squeezed his hand. “I figured if anyone could understand what I’ve been going through, it would be you.”

He lifted our hands and wrapped his other one over them. “Thanks for telling me and you’re right. I do understand.” He rolled his eyes. “Axel’s going to lose his mind.”

“Don’t tell Axel. Not yet.” I tensed my mouth. “I don’t know how my family is going to take this. Axel’s always been the gay son and?—”

“And you’re afraid everyone is going to see you differently. You don’t know where you’ll fit in anymore.” Remy freed my hand, shifted his chair closer to me, then wound his arm around my shoulders. “At least my sister is married and already gave my mom grandchildren. But I know your mom was expecting that from you.” He twisted his lips. “Not that you can’t, being in a gay relationship, but you’re right. Axel holds the title ofthe out and proud gay sonin your family. I get you.” He pressed his forehead to the side of my head. “It’s up to you when you’re readyto come out to them all and I won’t say a word. But please, Leo, talk to me. Let me help you through this.”

As he lifted his head from mine, I darted my gaze between his eyes. “Thank you, Remy. Just getting it out like this helps so much.”

“I know.” His lips quirked into a smirk. “Just…keep talking. Okay? I’m here for you. Always have been.”

“What the fuck is going on out here?” Axel stood in the hallway entrance, his black hair disheveled and his tattoos on full display all over his body with only his black silk briefs covering his groin. “You two having a bromance moment?” He ambled into the main room.

“Aren’t you cold walking around in only your…almost nonexistent underwear?” I averted my gaze. Why did he insist on showing himself off like that? I’d never get used to it.

With a smirk, he stalked toward Remy, then slid an arm around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. “Remy likes it.” He edged into Remy’s side. “It is kinda cold though.”

“Here, let me get you a blanket.” Remy hopped up from his chair, gave me a look, then snatched a blanket from the couch and wrapped it around Axel’s shoulders. “I’m surprised you’re up already.”

With a shrug, Axel said, “Yeah well, the bed was lonely without you there.” He padded into the kitchen and poured himself a coffee. “Besides, I could smell the bacon and I was hungry.” He plated himself some food, then brought it all to the table and sat down next to Remy and opposite me. “So, what the hell was going on out here?” He sipped his coffee with both hands, then wrapped the blanket tighter around him.

Remy glanced at me. “We were just talking, uh, about relationships.” He drank some coffee, then cut into his eggs.

Could I talk to Axel right now? I pursed my lips. No, telling Remy was enough for one day. At least Remy had understood and knew what I was walking into.

Axel’s attention drew to me. “So, how’s Angie?” He bit theend off a slice of bacon. “Doesn’t seem like you see her much anymore.” He chuckled. “Spending too much time with Archer.”

I frowned and pushed my eggs around on my plate. “Yeah, I don’t know if that’s going anywhere.” Fuck, I did not like lying to my brother. I downed the rest of my coffee. I’d eaten more than half of my breakfast, but I wasn’t hungry anymore. “Hey, I heard you guys got offered a show in Vegas?” I stood up and brought my plate to the sink.

“Yeah, think we’ll go out there in February maybe. We’ll see.” Axel ate some egg.

“Leo, let us get the dishes.” Remy twisted in his seat, studying me.

“Thanks.” I rubbed my hands together. “Uh, there’s a hockey game on tonight. Want to watch it with me?” It was an ordinary request. Maybe I’d get to talk to Remy some more without Axel around.

Remy flicked a glance at Axel. “What do you think? You need to study for finals, don’t you?” He leaned over and cupped Axel’s cheek. “And after the game, we can do something together.”

“Yeah, sure.” Axel gave Remy a warm grin.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ARCHER

Isat in the fucking sin bin, chewing on my mouthpiece, and watched Jonah steal the puck away from the Dartmouth center and beeline it down the ice toward their goal. Fuck, what an idiot I’d been. I’d made a rookie move, lifting my stick too high and smacking their winger on the back. The dude deserved it though. I’d heard the wordfaggotcome out of his mouth at least once tonight. I was sure of it.

Jonah sliced the puck to Mason, who coddled it for a beat, then ran, figuratively, toward the goal.

The Dartmouth goalie leaned over, fixating on the puck, twitching on his skates.

With a quick shot, he slipped the puck back to Jonah, who ran a circle around their D-man in the corner, then slapped it back to Mason.

Mason ticked the puck, and it flew across the ice toward the goalie.

With the left D-man skating in for the save, Jonah tossed himself across the ice and as he fell, the puck hit his stick and crawled across the goal line.

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