Page 160 of The Substitute
It’s so cute how anxious he is over this. Savage has an early practice today, and somehow, we managed to have a mostly free day. Which means all three of us together.
It’s been a while since we spent real time together as a group.
I have to admit, I kinda missed him too.
A little.
Maybe.
“Sweetheart,” I turn his chin toward me so he’s looking at me. “Even if we show up a few minutes after he’s done, we’ll find him. It’s okay.”
“But that defeats the purpose of the surprise!”
“Oh, he’s going to be surprised.”
Tobi grabs my wrist and pulls me through the station and down the street, forcing his way through the crowds with purpose towards the Gods campus.
Savage and I still have some issues to work out, but it’s a little easier. Jealousy still rears its ugly head sometimes, but we talk about it instead of picking a fight. Usually.
The guys are filing out of the rink when we get there, but I don’t immediately see Savage. Was he the first one out and therefore gone already? I hope not.
“I don’t see him.” Tobi worries his lip and bounces on his toes again. Rhys stops when he sees us and gives me a chin lift.
“Hey, you good?” he asks Tobi.
“Yeah, I am.”
Rhys looks between us. “Your parents want another family dinner.”
Tobi groans, and I stiffen. The last one did not end well for any of us. “I can’t do another one.”
Over Rhys’ shoulder, I watch Savage push through the door, talking to a few of the guys. He turns and catches sight of me, cocking his head and smiling as he changes direction.
Is he smiling at me, or because he can see Tobi around his teammate? Is it both?
Do I want it to be?
Maybe?
“If I come, and it’s a big if, you have to keep him from talking,” Tobi mutters.
Rhys barks out a laugh. “You think I can keep Teddy quiet? He talks in his sleep. It’s impossible.”
“I’m sure you can think of something.” Tobi crosses his arms, and I shake my head.
“No, no, Rhys is right. There’s no keeping him from talking,” I say, certain after months of rooming with him at away games.
“Duct tape—” Tobi cuts himself off when he sees Savage and shoves past Rhys to launch himself at his boyfriend.
Rhys turns to stand shoulder to shoulder with me and watches them. I don’t know him well enough to know what he’s thinking, but he looks happy for Tobi. Hopefully, they can repair their friendship. Tobi deserves friends, and I know he misses Rhys.
“He does know that Savage is a goalie, right?”
“Oh yeah, we’ve had that spiral already.” I laugh because it still amuses me.
Rhys chuckles. “I can imagine.”
Savage wraps his arms around Tobi and lifts him up, carrying him toward us.
