Page 2 of Slew Foot
The team. It was always about the fucking team with Logan, wasn’t it? He cared more about the team than he’d ever cared about Rafe.
Ignoring that, Rafe dragged his suitcase behind him as he went into the living room and looked around. Shit, he’d almost forgotten his Nintendo Switch. He swiped it off the entertainment center, grabbed the charger, and stuffed all of it in his already full carry-on.
“Theteamwill be fucking glad I’m leaving. I’ve been playing like shit since our argument and we both know it.”
Because it was an argument, Logan, not a breakup!
After grabbing his coat and doing one final scan of his apartment, Rafe held out his hand, palm up. “I need your key back.”
Hurt flashed across Logan’s face and Rafe wanted to shake him. That was what he was hurt about? Not the breakup, but Rafe needing to give the spare key to the leasing company?
Logan fumbled in his pocket before pulling his keys out, twisting a silver one around the ring until it came loose. He slapped it into Rafe’s palm, and Rafe tried not to flinch at the touch.
Or, worse, grab his hand and hang on. God thissucked.
He tucked the key into his own pocket with a mental note to give it to Zach along with the one on his keychain when he picked himup. Speaking of … He glanced at his phone to see a message from his buddy that had come in ten minutes ago.
OMW.
Zach might be a man of few words but when he said he was on his way, he meant it. Which, since he lived close, meant he’d be here in about five minutes. Perfect.
Rafe opened the apartment door and gestured for Logan to leave.
He huffed but did it anyway. Rafe flicked out the lights and followed, letting the door close behind him.
Well, that was it. The end of an era.
Rafe walked down the hall toward the elevator as he tried not to think about all the firsts that had happened in the apartment. The first time he’d invited Logan to hang out. Their first kiss. The first time they’d had sex.
And then he flinched as he thought about the last times they’d done those things too.
Because Logan wouldn’t even leave him to deal with all this shit in peace, he followed Rafe into the elevator.
Rafe leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, suddenly exhausted. It had been a whirlwind since his conversation yesterday morning with Gavin about the trade. Talks with his agent. Packing his shit and planning this move. Trying to accept he was a Boston Harrier now, not a Minnesota Acorn.
Ahh well, he had a red-eye flight to Boston tonight. Hopefully he’d be able to nap on the plane.
The lobby was empty when Rafe stepped out into it with Logan still on his heels.
He glanced through the windows to see if Zach’s car was out there. No, not yet. Ugh, and it was beginning to snow. He’d thought it wasn’t supposed to start until after he left Minneapolis.
Fuck, he better be able to leave.
Rafe parked his suitcase, then set his carry-on beside it, hoping Logan would finally go away now. Instead, he stepped up beside Rafe, close enough their arms brushed, staring out the window too.
Rafe’s throat went tight and he shifted a little, enough to get away from the touch. A part of him wanted Logan to get down on his knees and say he’d made a mistake. Beg him to re-consider.
But the trade had been made, and they both knew Logan wasn’t the type to beg. Even if he wanted to. And he had Kelsey now.
Clearly, he didn’t want to.
Silently, Rafe watched the fluffy white flakes come down, harder and harder with every second that passed. It was a relief when Zach’s car finally pulled up, fishtailing on the slippery pavement.
Rafe shrugged on his coat, slung his bag over his shoulder, and reached for the handle of his suitcase.
“So, you’re running away?” Logan asked, sounding hurt. “Not even a hug or a ‘goodbye, man’? C’mon, we agreed if we started dating and it didn’t work out, we’d act like adults.”
For the first time in a damn long time, Rafe looked his ex in the eye and held his gaze. “Yeah, I’m running away. There’s nothing left for me here in Minnesota.”
