Page 139 of Cheap Shot

“My thing?” Luke asked, confused.

Tom looked surprised. “Oh, I assumed you—that there was maybe someone you were seeing. That’s why you talked about the whole relationship thing. Maybe I got it wrong.”

Luke hesitated. “There might be … someone. I don’t know. Still figuring shit out. Don’t say anything to the other guys though, please. I don’t wanna deal with everyone getting nosy and Tanner being all up in my face about shit and …”

With a chuckle, Tom clapped him on the shoulder. “Dude, I get it. Nobody wants Tanner up in their business. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thanks, man,” Luke said gratefully.

“Any time. You know, I’ve played for a couple of teams now and it was great to see my buddies from L.A., but I’ve gotta say. There’s something special about the Harriers.”

Luke nodded because he could feel it too.

There were a lot of reasons he didn’t want to play anywhere else. The team, the city, and now Sebastian, were at the top of the list.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

In his hotel room, Luke tossed the candy and snacks in his suitcase, stripped down to boxers and a tee, then sprawled on the bed.

He pulled up his phone and dialed Sebastian’s number. When the call connected, he blurted out, “What if I can’t—can’tdothe relationship thing?”

“Luke?” Sebastian rasped. “What? Is everything okay?”

It hit Luke how late it was in Boston right now. “Fuck,” he said. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you. Just, uh, forget I called. We can talk tomorrow.”

“Wait! No. I’m awake now.” Luke heard a rustling sound like Sebastian was sitting up in bed. “What do you mean about not being able to do the relationship thing?”

Luke huffed and got up to pace around the room. “I don’t—I don’t fuckin’ like labels, okay? They feel … itchy to me. Like someone’s trying to stuff me into a too small hockey sweatermade of burlap or somethin’. That’s what relationships do to me too.”

“Okay?”

Luke sighed. “But the guys were talking a while ago and uh, one of them was saying they were aromantic. I think that’s me too. You know what that means?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian said slowly. “Although it can mean a lot of things for different people. What does it mean for you?”

“I don’t fuckin’know,” Luke admitted, still pacing. He tugged at the collar of his T-shirt. Fuck, he wished he could crack open a window or something. “That’s the thing, it’s been years since I’ve met someone I’ve wanted anything like this with.”

“So it’s not that you never want a romantic relationship,” Sebastian said slowly. “It’s just not very often.”

“You’d be the second person ever.” Luke’s tone was dry. “And before … there was a lot of shit that didn’t feel right.”

“Okay, so do you know whatdoesn’twork for you?” Sebastian asked.

“Some,” he said. “I’m not … I don’t want to be with someone 24/7. I need my space.”

“So you want something less traditional,” Sebastian said. “Well, that seems reasonable. You’re gone a lot with the team anyway, right?”

“Yeah.” Luke scuffed his toe on the carpet. “I won’t always be though. I’ll retire eventually.”

Maybe sooner rather than later, he thought a little bitterly, because he’d talked to his agent yesterday and they were still making no fucking progress on contract negotiations.

Sebastian hummed. “True. Well, maybe you’ll have a job where you travel after. Have you decided what you want to do?”

“I’m opening a bar in Boston. Or, that’s the plan anyway.”

“Oh right, I remember now. You’re planning to openCheers. Well, yeah, you probably wouldn’t travel much then, huh?”

“No.” Luke tugged at his collar again. “And I don’t know that I can live with someone. At least, notallthe time.”