Page 26 of Bonus Game
Serious wasn’t a deep enough word to describe it. He wanted to be with Allen. He wanted to protect him, possess him, love him and worship him. He knew he had to say these things out loud because his facial expressions and mannerisms didn’t match up with his feelings, but he was working on it.
“You like Allen?” Jake asked.
Riley gave him his don’t ask me stupid questions face. “Duh. You’ve been hogging him all to yourself, but I think he’s perfect for you. I know you can’t see it, but you get all…glowy when you’re with him. I’ve never seen you light up like that, and I’m shit at explaining this, but let’s just say that you seem more like yourself when he’s around.”
Jake couldn’t see it, but he felt it. Riley made him feel the same way, but Allen had something extra that he couldn’t explain.
“I love him,” he admitted.
Riley nodded, like it was obvious. “Then let him meet your family, show him that it’s real, and tell him that. He acts like a brat, so you know he’s not going to say it first. Take the fucking initiative for once in your life.”
Jake hated hearing those words, but Riley wasn’t wrong. His relationships always failed because he was never fully present, and he didn’t care enough to put in the effort.
“Alright,” said Jake. “But don’t…help me. I can do it on my own.”
He knew Riley wanted to see this relationship work, but Jake was an adult, and he had to learn how to fight for love on his own.
“Fine,” said Riley.
“Fine,” Jake echoed, then he smiled. “So, what were you talking about with Sloan?”
Now that the threat of death had passed, Riley swung himself over the back of the couch and slumped into the cushions. “It’s so fucking stupid. The idiot refuses to rent a place because he’s waiting for the Citadels to call him up so he can buy a penthouse, and he’s been staying in a hotel since he arrived.”
Jake sat beside him and faced his body toward Riley to show he was listening.
“Coach is worried the big, important jackass from Alberta is going to run out of money due to pure stubbornness, and he knows I have a big place with spare rooms, so he’s been hinting for me to offer Sloan a place to stay. You know, to build team chemistry and all.”
Jake hummed, rolling the idea around in his head. “Is it because the son of one of the owners of the Halifax Citadels bought you the penthouse?”
Riley’s expression soured, and Jake could tell he had hit a nerve.
“Yeah, sounds like Sloan really is going to get called up, which means I’m just a stepping stone on his way to success.”
Jake wasn’t so sure about that. He had seen Sloan play, and he knew Riley better than anyone. They were evenly matched, but anyone with a brain could see they were at odds.
With the Citadels being a new team, they were trying to build lines that could place them in the running for a cup, so it made sense that the higher-ups were taking a hard look at their prospects. Riley was talented—Sloan was talented. But if they couldn’t get along, that was going to be a problem no team wanted to deal with.
The coach of the Citadels was most likely concocting a plan to force Riley and Sloan to interact and pray that they got along. Itmade a lot of sense; Riley just couldn’t see it over his hatred for his rival.
“Let him move in,” said Jake.
Riley’s jaw dropped. “W-What?!”
“My name is on the deed, so I get to decide,” said Jake. “Move Sloan in and try to make friends.”
Riley’s face was so red he was beginning to resemble a strawberry. “Are you serious right now? You’re joking?—”
“Not joking,” said Jake. “And don’t go crying to Allen. He’s going to tell you the same fucking thing.”
Riley showed him two middle fingers and then stood, stomping off to his bedroom to get ready for the family shindig.
Jake could make things easier by explaining why Sloan should move in, but it was more fun this way.
Besides, Riley chose to play with fire when he called Allen and messed with his plans, so annoying the shit out of him was the least Jake could do.
Allen was quiet during the drive to Timberlea, where his parents’ house was located. Jake didn’t know how Allen would react to seeing the decked-out mansion in the most expensive suburban area in the city, but he had a feeling it wasn’t going to be great.
He wanted to apologize to Allen for lying when he said he wasn’t busy, but it was hard when Riley kept singing Christmas music obnoxiously and kicking the back of Jake’s seat. He also had no idea what was making Allen upset, because it could be anything, but he didn’t know how to ask.
