Page 127 of Perfect Storm
Aidan knew he should say something—he didn’t think he could tell him what had happened with Mo, because that would mean having to parse out what itmeant, and Aidan had yet to figure that out—but he could make small talk.
Normally, conversation flowed between them so easily.
Maybe Aidan had brought on Levi’s silence by not being enthusiastic about sex. Or maybe he was just tired from the game, and Aidan was being neurotic, imagining the worst-case scenario.
“You good?” Aidan said, nudging him with his leg. He couldn’t kiss him, even though he wanted to, because they were in the back of a cab, and the driver had definitely recognized them, congratulating them on a great game when they’d first climbed in.
“Yeah, ’course,” Levi said, their eyes meeting in the dark.
The cab stopped in front of their building and they climbed out, Aidan nodding along and giving the guy an autograph on top of a really healthy tip.
“It was a good day,” Aidan said when they were in the elevator, floors flashing past. “Would’ve liked it if it didn’t come down to the last few plays, but I’ll take it.”
Levi shot him a wry smile. “Overachiever,” he joked gently.
Between the fond tone and the teasing, Aidan was fairly certain everything between themwasokay, but then they walked into the condo and instead of Levi heading with Aidan into the bedroom they’d been sharing for weeks now, Levi went straight into the guest room without a word.
What the fuck. Aidan didn’t want that. Aidanhatedthat.
Aidan hesitated in the hallway, eyeing the open doorway. Listening to the noises of Levi undeniably getting ready for bed.
Maybe Levi wanted his space, but fuck that noise. Maybe it was unfair, but Aidan didn’t want to give it to him.
They hadn’t talked about it, but Aidan liked having Levi in his bed for more reasons than just sex. Itwasmore than just sex. Aidan believed that, and he wanted Levi to believe it too.
He made the decision in a second and didn’t let himself overthink it.
Approaching the guest room, he leaned against the doorframe, trying to appear casual about it. Like internally he wasn’t strongly considering grabbing Levi’s arm and dragging him to his bed like a caveman with a particularly tasty morsel he didn’t want to share.
“What’s up?” Aidan asked, watching as Levi unbuttoned the shirt he’d worn to Vault, tossing it into the empty laundry hamper. Empty because he’d been using the one in Aidan’s room.
The one he should still be using, the voice in Aidan’s brain screamed.
Levi glanced over at him. “Going to bed,” he said. He didn’t sound short, but there was an edginess to his tone that Aidan also hated.
He’d fucked this up.Don’t fuck this up, he could imagine Riley yelling at him right now.
I’m fucking trying, he yelled right back.
Try harder.These days it felt like Riley always got the last word, and Aidan loved him so much, he couldn’t even be angry about it.
“In here?” Aidan questioned as carefully as he was able. Because damnit, Riley, hewastrying.
A flush climbed up Levi’s cheeks. “I wasn’t sure, I didn’t want to overstep and you didn’t seem interested earlier . . .”
“Was a long day.” That muchwastrue. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want you in my space. Doesn’t mean I want you to come back in here. But if that’s whatyouwant . . .” Aidan trailed off. Hoping desperately itwasn’twhat Levi wanted.
“I don’t,” Levi said.
Aidan hadn’t even realized his shoulders were tense until they were relaxing, sloping downwards again.
“Well then,” Aidan said.
Levi smiled, goofy this time, but it felt like they were both in on the joke.We’re both being stupid, bro, he could imagine Levi saying, but Levi didn’t have to, because it was so obvious.
Levi hadn’t even gotten far in getting ready for bed without Aidan, but it still felt so right to have him back in the bathroom next to Aidan, brushing his teeth and getting water everywhere,splashing up on the mirror in a way that Aidan tried to pretend didn’t bother him.
It turned out though that the most important thing was that it washappeningat all. Aidan couldn’t even imagine if Levi had ended up dotting the guest room bathroom mirror.
