Page 138 of Cheap Shot

He didn’t like to punchanyonesignificantly below his weight class. It just felt fuckin’ wrong. So unless this Darla woman was an Amazon …

“I don’t think she’sviolent,” Tom said. “Just … mixed up. We tried to get her some help but … it just kept getting worse.”

“Fuck,” Luke said. “That sucks.”

“Yeah. I cared about her too, you know.” Tom stuffed his hands in his hoodie pockets.

“Gonna be honest, I don’t get the poly thing,” Luke admitted. “Course, I usually don’t get relationships with one person either, so …”

“You really don’t date or fall in love?” Tom asked, his gaze curious.

“Date? No. Love … that’s … I mean, I love other people. Love my family, love the team. It’s not like I can’t loveanyone.I just don’t … romance for me isn’t … fuck. I don’t know. It’s just that I never—well, hardly ever—meet anyone who makes me think, ‘fuck, I want them around more,’ you know?”

Tom nodded.

“Besides, what I want isn’t usually the same as what other people want.”

“Whatdoyou want?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know,” Luke admitted. He knew he didn’t want the white-picket-fence life everyone else seemed so eager to lock down but that didn’t mean he had a clue what would be right for him.

Tom huffed. “Makes it hard to figure it out with anyone else then, I guess.”

“Tell me about it,” he groused.

Because that had always been his issue. The rare times he did meet someone who made him want more, they always wantedtoomuch.

Luke thought about Sebastian as they walked through the crowded halls to the candy shop.

They’d both admitted there was something there, but Luke still didn’t know what that meant for them. What it would look like. Or if Sebastian could handle what Luke wanted.

Once inside the shop, Tom wandered off to pick out stuff for his wife and kids. Luke kept an eye on Tom as he browsed. Luke didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, other than liking chocolate from time to time, and he wondered if Sebastian was the same.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pulled up his text app.Do you like candy?he sent, then immediately felt foolish. Especially when Sebastian didn’t answer.

Still, he wandered the store, collecting a variety of things like chamoy mango—the sweet, salty, sour and spicy seasoned dried mango that Luke did really like—along with trail mix, chili pistachios, plus assorted chocolates and sour candies he thought Sebastian might be into.

He got a bag of pork cracklings for himself too, which the team dietician would hate and that Tom made a face at when they stood at the counter, comparing their loot while they waited in line to pay.

They made one more stop in the market so Tom could get a boba tea.

When he offered to buy one for Luke, he shook his head. “Nah, can’t do it. It’s a texture thing. Tanner made me try it once, and I almost gagged.”

Tom shrugged and paid for his before requesting a ride to the hotel.

Thankfully, they left Grand Central Market and made it back to the hotel without incident. They rode up to their floor in silence and Tom thanked him before they went their separate ways to their rooms.

“Yeah, no problem,” Luke said, his tone easy. “You need to go out anywhere while we’re in L.A., you message me, okay?”

“Okay,” Tom said. He looked tired now.

“Sorry you’re dealing with this shit. That’s really gotta suck,” Luke said with a frown. “Caring about someone who—who is doing this kind of crap.”

“Yeah,” Tom agreed with a sigh. “It’s been a lot for us. But I appreciate you having my back.”

“Sure. Any time,” Luke said.

“Good luck with your … thing.”