Page 104 of The Recovery Coach
“We’re breaking up.”
Chapter 35
Hazy
Ittookthreemorepep talks from Tiffany (who he should send flowers to because that girl was a saint) before he worked up the courage to talk to Lover.And he was only able to broach the subject because Tiffany forced him to send Lover a text inviting him to dinner out of the house.
He tried to ignore his desire for Livy.He shoved it down, repressed it, wished it away.Having her in his house made it worse.She’d taken to spending evenings at Jake’s place, which was both a relief and a bummer.
At first, their relationship bugged him, but he was glad she had Jake.Hazy couldn’t be a perfect best friend anymore.Everything she did turned him on.If she spoke passionately about anything, he wanted to kiss her.If she snuggled him, he fantasized about slipping his hands under her shirt and getting to know the parts of her he wasn’t as familiar with.
He thanked God she’d stopped undressing in front of him.If he had to see her scantily clad, he might die.His relationship with his hand had never been so important—or so boring—in his life.The guilt was immeasurable.
Hazy sat in a booth at a greasy sports bar, his glass of liquid courage half drained on the table in front of him while he waited for Lover after practice.He drew shapes in the condensation pooled around his drink.He had rehearsed what he wanted to say in his head so many times that he could have recited it in his sleep.
Lover arrived right on time, punctual as ever.He slid into the booth across from Hazy with a toothy grin.
“Hi!”he said, running a hand through the hair he’d been growing out for months.The ends rested right around chin length.Hazy hoped he kept the length.It suited his bone structure.
His stomach rebelled at the idea of doing anything to wipe the smile from Lover’s perfect, handsome face.Instead of jumping right into his rehearsed speech, he said, “You know I love you, right?”
The light in Lover’s eyes died.“What’s wrong?What’s happening?”
Hazy opened his mouth to calm him, but Lover cut him off.
“You can’t retire.I can’t play without you forever.Your leg is getting better.It’s going to be fine.You’ll be back in no time.”
Despite the nausea rolling through him and a sky-high blood pressure, Hazy’s lips twitched.He signaled for Lover to calm the fuck down.
“Hey!Relax.I’m not retiring.”
He adored Lover.Only he would jump to hockey-related worst-case-scenario end-of-times conclusions.If Hazy lost this man’s friendship over a stupid crush, he’d never forgive himself.He sighed.Stupid crush didn’t begin to cover it.He’d fallen head over heels in love with Lover’s girlfriend.
Lover clutched his chest.“Oh, thank God.You scared me.I love you too, man.”
“Don’t be too relieved.”
Lover stole Hazy’s drink and took a sip while he scanned the bar for their server.
“Hey, as long as you’re still playing hockey, we’re good.Unless you’re dying.Are you dying?”
Hazy chuckled, his affection for Lover overwhelming him.“I’m not dying.”
“Is Olivia dying?”
“Uh, no.”Hazy frowned.“Maybe stop guessing.You’re not even close.”
Lover caught the eye of the bartender across the empty bar.He raised Hazy’s glass and two fingers.The bartender responded with a thumbs-up.
“Well, you’re giving me nothing to go on here.I got one cryptic text in the middle of practice with an hour’s notice to meet you in a bar for dinner.When we already had dinner plans with Olivia.”
“Livy decided to go to Jake’s for dinner.”
“Yeah, he told me.She’s making pasta.I’m kind of jealous.”
A server placed fresh drinks on their table, and Lover handed her the empty glass.
Hazy drank half his drink in one go, almost gagging as it went down.He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.Lover stared at him.
