Page 75 of Bonus Game
Jake lifted his gaze and met Allen’s eyes. “If Sloan—Kingston had acted like he did the first time we met him and started a fight, I would have been bothered by the way he stared at you. But he didn’t, and he seemed sad. I felt…protective of him, like I am with you and Riley. Is that weird? Please tell me if it’s weird.”
Allen hushed him and kissed Jake’s frowning mouth. “No, not at all. I know forming connections with new people is hard for you, but your feelings are valid. I felt the same way about Kingston as soon as he started acting timid and polite around us.”
It made sense because Jake was a natural protector, and Riley and Kingston gave off signals that cried out for protection. Riley’s sadness made more sense now that Allen knew some of his backstory, but Kingston was still a mystery that he wouldn’t mind unravelling if the ornery man would allow it.
Allen was collecting quite a cluster of broken hockey boys.
“Do you like Kingston the same way you like me?” Allen asked, trying to judge the depth of Jake’s emotions.
Jake pondered—and then shook his head. “Not like you,” he said. “And not like Riley.”
Okay, so Jake wasn’t attracted to the man, but he was comfortable with him.
“And you would be okay if I conjured a miracle, and Riley fell for Kingston?”
Jake’s expression didn’t change. He was so fucking hard to get a read on sometimes.
“As long as they’re with us,” said Jake.
“Explain whatwith usmeans,” said Allen, but he had a feeling that he already knew the answer.
The question finally threw Jake out of his comfort zone, and he winced, looking guilty. “With us,” he echoed. “Hanging out, eating meals, going to games, and being close. I don’t want them to fall in love, move away, and forget about us.”
Riley and Jake were an endgame friendship, and Allen knew that nothing would change that. He could say that with confidence, but he understood why the thought of Riley disappearing with any partner bothered Jake.
Allen didn’t think Jake was sexually attracted to Riley and Kingston. He could totally see the four of them entering a platonic relationship if the right conditions were met, and Allen was surprised by how unbothered he was by the thought.
Remembering how adamant he was about havingoneguy was laughable now that he was contemplating havingthreeof them.
Allen blamed Jake for breaking his stubborn brain, but first?—
“I’ll talk to Riley,” said Allen. “Can you make his favourite meal so we can cheer him up after?”
Giving Jake a task would keep him calm, and he knew Riley would appreciate the gesture after Allen awkwardly cornered him.
“Stuffed peppers it is,” said Jake. He took Allen’s hands and raised them to his mouth, brushing his lips against the knuckles. “Please be gentle with him.”
Warmth thrummed in Allen’s chest as he gripped Jake’s hands encouragingly. “I’m not going to out him or pressure him. I just want to talk and see where his head is now that he’s had some time alone.”
Jake appeared content with that explanation, so Allen pressed one last kiss to his mouth before sliding off his lap. He stretched slowly, rolling his shoulders as he braced himself, then made his way toward the small in-home gym where Riley had holed up.
The room was soundproofed, so Allen couldn’t hear the thud of fists on the punching bag until he opened the door to reveal a shirtless, sweating, andfuriousRiley Evans.
He was beating the life out of the punching bag, his back and arm muscles flexing with every hit he landed. Allen could almost taste the suffocating anger in the air. It was enough to give him a brief pause before he forced his feet forward and entered the room, closing the door behind him.
“Riley?”
Allen knew Riley had heard him, but he showed no signs of stopping his assault on the punching bag any time soon.
Expecting this to take a while, Allen crossed the room to the weight bench where Riley’s hoodie lay abandoned and scooped it up. Tugging it over his head, he settled onto the bench to wait.
As predicted, Riley needed five more minutes of wild punching before he finally slowed with a frustrated growl. It took another minute for him to completely stop and step away from the swinging bag and rip his gloves off.
“Jake sent you in here?” Riley asked, stubbornly keeping his back turned to Allen while he unwrapped his hands.
Allen chuckled and rested his chin on his palm. “I think it’s cute when you assume that Jake can order me around.”
Something in his tone must have triggered Riley into thinking he was in danger because he finally turned and blinked at Allen, his cheeks burning. “Shit, Ally—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like an asshole.”
