Page 162 of Cheap Shot

“Damn.”

After breakfast, Sebastian helped him clear the table and load the dishwasher. “Thank you,” he said.

Luke shrugged and leaned against the cabinets. “No big deal.”

“No, not just breakfast. I mean for all of it,” Sebastian said thickly. “For babysitting Harper with me last night. Calling the ambulance. Waiting at the hospital. Being there for me when I needed it. Bringing me here so I could sleep. Making me breakfast …”

“That’s what you do when you care about someone right?” Luke said gruffly.

Sebastian nodded. “I guess I didn’t know how much you cared.”

Luke tugged at Sebastian’s shirt to pull him closer, then cupped his face in his hands. Sebastian looked tired and worried, but he was kinda beautiful too.

Luke wasn’t sure he’d ever really looked into his eyes that way before.

“I care more about you than I’ve cared about anyone in a damn long time,” Luke said quietly. “And I’m planning to care about you for even longer. I’m not an easy man to be with, I know that. But if you’ll be patient with me, I think we could be something good.”

Sebastian sighed and rested his forehead against Luke’s. “I think maybe we already are.”

“Hey, guys!” Connor called out. “Listen up!”

The locker room quieted and Luke glanced up from where he’d been pulling tape off his socks after practice. He wondered what his captain was about to say.

“Jesse got a text from my ma this morning. You all remember Harper, yeah?”

The guys chorused yes.

“Well, she was taken to the hospital last night. She’s okay,” he said when worried murmurs rose up. “But she had to have her pacemaker replaced.”

“Oh shit,” Tanner said. “That’s scary.”

Connor continued. “There’s gonna be a meeting at O’Neill’s Pub this evening about it. The SAPs are organizing it.”

“I guess Brie and Krista were hanging out last night,” Jesse added. “They were having dinner when Brie got the call aboutHarper. Krista and Mandy, along with Mrs. O, are organizing something to help Brie and Harper out.”

“Is it like a fundraiser?” Graham asked with a frown. “Because I’d be happy to donate.”

Jesse shrugged. “Not sure yet. I think it’s also about getting them help with like … meals after they’re home from the hospital and then babysitting and stuff.”

Luke was impressed how much they’d already done this morning. Seemed like they hadn’t said anything about him and Sebastian either, which was nice of them.

“If you have other plans, I understand,” Jesse continued. “But try to make it if you can.”

A bunch of guys nodded, most of them chorusing that they’d be there, and the impromptu meeting officially broke up.

Luke had just stripped down to his base layer pants when Connor wandered over. “Think you can make it tonight?”

“Yeah, of course,” Luke said.

“Good.” Connor slapped his shoulder, then frowned. “Shit, I wonder if we should invite Sebastian too. I know you’re not a big fan but …”

“He should be there,” Luke agreed.

“Hopefully Krista can pass that message along to him,” Connor said with a frown.

“I’ll tell him when I see him at the hospital later,” Luke offered.

So far, there was nothing online about him and Sebastian. Maybe the people in the waiting room last night hadn’trecognized him, or if they did, had been too worried about their sick kids to pay any attention to him or what he’d said.