Page 79 of The Inside Edge

“HE SAIDwhaton the air?” Aubrey half shouted over the Bluetooth, making the final turn into his driveway. He’d spent the past three days meeting everyone involved in the show and planning out choreography, including learning the various apparatuses that would be used and skating to the point of exhaustion, so he’d missed the last episode.

“Oh, he tried to walk it back,” Nate said, sounding like he needed to break something. “But it was obvious he meant women’s sports are never going to ‘measure up’ and they shouldn’t ever expect national audiences.”

“I hope Kelly puts a fastball through his windshield.”

“Atleastlet the air out of his tires.”

Aubrey put the car in Park and closed the garage door. Then he grabbed his phone and went into the house.

“Anyway, that was my day yesterday. Christmas shopping today. Spoiler—it sucks, so I went home and bought everything online.”

“It’s a jungle out there,” Aubrey agreed, closing the door behind him. Then he crossed to the patio doors and went outside. He liked Vegas in general. It suited him better than the frigid wind and bitter cold of Chicago in the winter. And the idea that he could spend time outside in his own yard in December without risking frostbite, wearing only a light sweater… delightful.

“Try blizzard,” Nate said ruefully.

At least Aubrey knew Nate wouldn’t be driving in it. “Sad for you. It’s seventeen degrees here. Uh.” Aubrey grimaced, doing the math. What was it, multiply by nine, divide by five, add thirty-two? That was a lot of mental math. “Like, sixty? Not a cloud in the sky.”

“You’re a cruel man,” Nate sighed. “I never minded the cold until I hit thirty-five. Now it drops below fifty and I swear I can hear creaking from every one of the bones I’ve broken.”

Aubrey smiled. “That’s just the wind off Lake Michigan.”

That made Nate laugh, and Aubrey’s heart clenched a little because he’d missed that sound. “Asshole,” he said fondly. Then he cleared his throat. “So I was talking to my mom….”

Something in his tone made Aubrey sit up straighter, wary. “She and your dad are okay?”

“They’re fine,” Nate soothed. A beat passed, and he cleared his throat. “Look, I know… you just moved and you’ve got a lot going on. She just wanted to make sure I officially invited you to Christmas.” He paused again. “So this is me, officially inviting you.”

Ah, shit.Aubrey closed his eyes, feeling that sinking sensation in his stomach. He should’ve known. “I can’t.”

“Going home?” Nate asked quietly.

Aubrey let out a deep breath and nodded because he’d forgotten Nate couldn’t see him. “Yeah. Uh, I haven’t been home for Christmas in….” Longer than five years, definitely. But it hadn’t been ten yet, had it? The sensation in his stomach turned into something heavy and sour when he couldn’t remember for sure.

“I understand.”

The words were quiet and gentle, but they cut anyway. Aubrey dug his fingernails into his palm as he clenched his fist. This was so—stupid. He wanted to invite Nate to come to Vancouver. Aubrey’s parentswouldlove him, and now… now Aubrey thought he could maybe stand that, instead of resent it. Hell, part of him thought he’d even enjoy it.See, Mom? I did okay, didn’t I? Isn’t he great?

But this was Nate’s niece’s first Christmas. He’d been looking forward to it for weeks.

And Aubrey didn’t know what he’d do if he made that offer and Nate turned it down.

“I’m sorry,” he said helplessly and wanted to kick something.

“It’s okay,” Nate assured him, though he sounded disappointed. And then he cleared his throat, and Aubrey knew the conversation was over. “All right, I have to go. Caley and Kelly’s holiday party is in an hour and I haven’t even bought wine. I’m a disgrace.”

“Truly a failure as a gay man,” Aubrey agreed, trying for a levity he didn’t feel. Good thing he was a natural-born performer. “For shame.”

“I shall diminish, and go into the west,” Nate quoted. “Call me tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Aubrey agreed, and they hung up.

For a few minutes, he simply sat in the sunshine, which was growing cooler by the minute. Finally he couldn’t stand his own company anymore, so he went back into the house to grab his keys and gym bag. He was still sore from the physical challenge of work—learning new skills and the various apparatuses the show employed took training and effort—but right now he needed the meditation of exercise.

Too bad Nate was in Chicago and Aubrey was here. Sex would’ve been a really great way to get out of his head.

Chapter Twenty-Five

AFTER THATSaturday’s episode, Nate needed a few minutes to himself. Preferably to break something that wasn’t his own teeth.

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