Page 134 of Cheap Shot

“That sounds really hard,” Sebastian admitted. He still couldn’t imagine not being in control of his own career. Having to deal with the whims of a general manager as to where he lived and who he worked with. “You were traded quite a bit before you settled in with the Harriers, right?”

“Yeah,” Luke said. “Bounced around a lot at the beginning.”

“Why do youwantto keep playing?” Sebastian asked.

Luke gave him an incredulous look. “Are you fuckin’ serious?”

“Well, kind of,” Sebastian said. “I mean, I get why you want to keep playing. Butwhywork so hard for two more years if you—when physically, it seems like you’re really feeling the impact? Why push yourself that way? Why is it so important to you?”

“Do we have to talk about this shit?” Luke asked, sounding irritable.

“No,” Sebastian said. “Of course not. But if you ever change your mind, I’m here. I’ll listen.”

“Yeah, okay.” Luke rolled over and pinned him down. “But not right now, because I can think of better shit I could do.”

“Like distracting me with sex so you don’t have to talk about your feelings?” Sebastian teased.

“Yep.” Luke stared down, his hair hanging in his eyes. “Totally that.”

Sebastian reached up and tucked it behind his ear with a smile. “At least you’re honest about it.”

“C’mon, like you wouldn’t rather I suck your dick than talk about feelings?” Luke shot him a disbelieving look.

“Well, I never said that.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Thankfully, Luke only had to sit out a few games before he was back in the lineup. He focused on playing and not injuring himself again and managed to snag a couple of solid assists and a highlight-worthy hit.

He spent a little time with Sebastian before the Harriers headed out on a road trip again too.

It was a long one too. They were heading to Vegas, then playing the California teams.

Luke wasn’t mad about an opportunity to enjoy some warm weather in March—it had been pissing down rain when they flew out of Boston—and to see his dad and stepmom. They came to Luke’s game, then went out for a late dinner after he was done with his post-game shit.

Luke hardly knew his stepmom since she’d married his dad when Luke was in his late twenties, but she was a nice enough lady, and it was good to spend some time with his dad in person. Neither of them were much for talking on the phone or texting.

After a win in Vegas and San Jose, the Harriers headed to Los Angeles.

The team had a free afternoon after practice and Jesse planned a group trip to the La Brea tar pits. Because of course Jesse had. Luke would have been happier hanging out at the hotel pool, but … team bonding or whatever.

After Tanner nearly fell in the tar pits and was rescued by a beefy security guard who he proceeded to flirt with, they checked out the fossils in the museum. Heated arguments over the best dinosaur ensued before they started getting dirty looks from the staff, so they headed to L.A.’s Grand Central Market where they broke into smaller groups and went off to do their own thing.

The rookies quickly disappeared to find food and shop, while Graham and his boyfriend Thad headed out to meet up with a guy Thad had known in prison. His cellmate for a chunk of it, from what Luke could gather. Over the years, Luke had gotten to know some guys who’d been incarcerated. Most of them had said they’d wanted nothing to do with their fellow inmates after getting out but somehow it didn’t surprise Luke that Thad had stayed in contact with the guy.

Or that Graham was cool about meeting a guy Luke suspected Thad had hooked up with while they were locked up.

Luke headed to a taco place with the remainder of the guys. Tom, who had skipped the tar pits to meet up with former teammates, was planning to join them. On the way to the dining concourse on the lower level, Luke passed various vendors and shops, and he smiled as he passed a florist and caught a whiff of a cool green scent that made him think of Sebastian.

He reached for his phone, intending to take a picture to send to him, but Tanner bounced up, yammering about something or other.

Well, so much for that.

Luke couldn’t think of a single reason to explain why he wanted to take the photo that wouldn’t give away his relationship with Sebastian and lead to a whole shitstorm of questions he didn’t feel like answering, especially because he and Sebastian hadn’t really talked much about what the fuck they were doing.

Clearly it was more than just hooking up, but every time the conversation veered toward talking about what it all meant, Luke froze, then changed the subject.

He wasn’t much good at talking about his goddamn feelings, and he didn’t know how to get better at it. Hell, he wasn’t even sure what he wanted or if he could follow through once he did figure it out. Hookups were way fucking easier than whatever this was, but the thought of Sebastian not being around made Luke’s fucking chest feel tight, the same way it did when he thought about his contract negotiations and possibly having to leave Boston.