Page 64 of Bonus Game
Riley had gone through something similar with Jake because it was harder for people on the spectrum to express themselvesduring social interactions in a way that wasn’tdifferent. He didn’t think Sloan was on the spectrum, but maybe if he looked at this from a different angle, he could approach the moody jackass in a way that didn’t raise his hackles.
Riley…felt like a genius.
“Hey, Sloan. Could you please grab me a bottle of water? My head is…hurting.”
Riley held his breath, keeping alert as he studied Sloan’s body language and facial expressions.
The slow turn around to meet his gaze. The frown. The way those blue eyes searched Riley for traps and other dangers before those plush lips pressed into a firm line, and then?—
Sloan went to the fridge and retrieved the water, staying silent until he closed the space between them and offered it with a death glare.
“You can’t have Advil, so water and greasy bacon on BLT sandwiches is all you’re getting,” said Sloan.
Riley took the water and smirked, but he kept it friendly. “I know. I didn’t take you as being a stickler for the rules, but it’s cool.”
Sloan scoffed like he thought Riley was being dramatic. “It’s not that deep, Evans. I already told you that I need you, so our rivalry is only on hold until you get your ass back on the ice.”
Sloan was so damn prickly, but after Riley had politely asked for the water and made a few light jokes with him, his sharp edges dulled a little. It was subtle, but now that Riley was studying his actions instead of listening to his words, everything was clicking into place.
“Eat this and shut up, dickhead,” Sloan said, handing him his sandwich.
“Put your gross feet on the couch so you’re not tempted to look at the screen,” Sloan said, as he picked Riley’s feet up, turned him, and shoved a pillow under his knees for support.
“Drink more water. You need to keep that peanut-sized brain of yours hydrated so it doesn’t shrink anymore,” Sloan said, as he handed Riley another water bottle.
“No. Stay where you are before you get up and trip into a fucking wall,” Sloan said, as he cleaned up after their meal, so Riley didn’t have to do his own dishes.
Allen was fucking right. It was like taming a feral cat.
“Can I ask you something?”
Riley opened his eyes, not realizing he had closed them. Sloan was sitting on the opposite end of the couch to keep a foot of space between them, staring unblinkingly at the TV screen.
“Sure,” said Riley. He didn’t know if there was a way to prepare himself for what would come out of Sloan’s mouth, but he steadied himself and held his breath.
“How are you sure that you don’t like guys?” Sloan asked. He was fidgeting, drumming his fingers on the arm of the couch and narrowing his eyes at the TV. “Like, you’ve never questioned it once? Not even around the pipsqueak?”
Riley understood that the pipsqueak was Allen, but the rest of the question went over his head.
“You’re asking me if I’ve ever questioned my sexuality?” Riley countered, wishing he had his phone so he could send an emergency text to Allen for advice. “Not really. I can look at a guy and think they’re good-looking, but I’ve never wanted to have sex with them.”
Sloan’s frown deepened, and he finally looked away from the TV to meet his eyes. “Are you saying that if the big guy pinned you to a wall and kissed you, that wouldn’t do anything for you?”
Jake pinning him and kissing him?!Riley flinched just thinking about it.
Having that huge, solid frame pressing him into the wall while they sucked on each other’s tongues wasn’t on his bucket list. Jake would turn everything into a challenge, and thenthey would start breaking furniture while they wrestled for dominance, which was…
Fun. That sounded fun in the weirdest way, but that didn’t mean that he wouldenjoykissing his friend—who was aguy.
“And if that pretty thing got on his knees and looked up at you with those big brown eyes?” Sloan added, eyebrow raised. “Nothing?”
Sloan made Allen sound so submissive, but Riley had a feeling he would be worse than Jake, just on a different level. That teasing tone Allen used when he wanted Riley to do something for him would hit different if he were sucking his cock, but still?—
“Why are you obsessed with getting me to admit that I’m dating them?” Riley snapped, anger kicking his pulse into a higher gear. “Is that what you’re trying to accomplish?”
Sloan was a lot more expressive than Jake, and the confusion on his face was baffling.
“No, I’m just—” Sloan sighed and then scoffed, shaking his head. “I just wanted to know how you were sure. Don’t get your fucking panties in a twist.”
