Page 20 of Perfect Storm
“Yep. So, I got you a flight out from Detroit tomorrow morning. It’s early-ish, which means you’re going to have to leave even earlier for wherever you’re at.”
“Ugh,” Levi groaned. “Yeah, we’re an hour and a half out from Detroit.”
Alec chuckled sympathetically. “Better get some rest, then. I’ll send a car to pick you up.”
“Oh shit,” Levi said suddenly. “All I brought with me are lake clothes. Swimsuits. Shorts. T-shirts. I think I might’ve thrown a golf polo in . . .” He couldn’t remember exactly what he’d packed. Landry had told him about the trip at the last minute. “I honestly can’t say for sure though.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Alec said reassuringly. “You might not even end up in any meetings, I just want you here. Wecoulddo this over the phone but . . .I think this’ll be easier, for now. I’m sending your flight info now, it should be in your email.”
“Thanks,” Levi said. Carter had told him that Alec was the best agent in the business, and that recommendation seemed to be paying off in dividends now. Everything was unsure, except that he knew Alec would take care of him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Rest up, kid,” Alec said and hung up.
Like Alec promised, the flight info was in his inbox. And itwasearly. So early he was going to have to leave to drive to the airport in a few hours. Shit.Shit. He was gonna need to talk to Riley and Landry. And Aidan. God,Aidan.
Riley was still flopped on the couch when he walked back into the living room.
“Everything all good, bro?” Riley asked.
“I’m leaving soon,” Levi said, trying to stay calm. “Like really soon. Probably in a few hours. Gotta catch a flight out, go to LA, meet with some people and my agent.”
Riley shot him a sympathetic look. “Not gonna stay with the Seahawks, then?”
“Not looking that way.”
“Sucks,” Riley said.
“Yeah, maybe. But might be okay, too. I’m trying to keep an open mind.”
“Good. You should just take the rental.” And that was right,shit, he and Landry and Riley had only rented one car to drive out here. “We’ll get Aidan to drive us to the airport.”
Aidan would probably not love that, but he’d understand.
“Thanks,” Levi said gratefully. “I need to get like a couple hours of sleep.”
“Yeah, get some rest,” Riley said, nodding. “I’ll let Landry and Aidan know the deal.”
It felt kind of shitty to ghost Aidan like this, but only because of what they were in the middle of. If he’d never suggested the sex pact and they’d never kissed in the kitchen of Aidan’s lakehouse, it wouldn’t have been a big deal for Levi to have to take off without saying goodbye.
And that’s what it’s going back to. At least for the next twelve months,Levi reminded himself.
“Tell Aidan thanks for everything,” Levi said. He’d text Aidan himself in the morning, when he got to the airport. “And tell Landry I’ll keep the family group chat up to date.”
“Sure thing,” Riley said. He yawned and stood. Pulled Levi into a big hug. “Good luck, bro.”
Chapter 4
Atleast,Aidanthoughtas he stared at the ceiling, weak morning light dappling the white paint, he wasn’thungoverand freaking out this morning.
Just plain freaking out.
He’d kissed Levi yesterday and he’d liked it.
He’dknown, of course, that he was queer. His feelings for Mo, while unrequited, were clear enough. Thinking about touching Mo had made him hard lots of times. He had a nice stable of fantasies involving his best friend that he couldn’t help but reach for when he wanted to get off. He’d even done his time with gay porn, figuring out what he liked. What he wanted.
But he’d sort of assumed that for him, it wasn’t all guys, or evensomeguys, it wasonlyMo. That he was bi, maybe, but very selectively. That was a thing. The internet said itcouldbe.
And obviously whatever the internet said was true.
