Page 181 of Cheap Shot

“It’s … it’s always been that way,” Luke said defensively. “I have to wash it all the time because of practices and games. It just kinda looks like that no matter what I do.”

“Hey, I still think you’re hot.”

“But I’d be hotter if I used something else?” Luke asked with a lift of his eyebrows.

“We could give it a try, maybe?” Sebastian offered, sliding a hand down Luke’s chest, over his stomach, and toward his cock.

“Yeah, okay,” Luke agreed, because he’d do just about anything when Sebastian touched him that way and looked at him like that.

Even use fancy-ass shampoo and conditioner and shit.

“Look, I’m not trying to change you. I love you just the way you are.” Sebastian smiled. “Just thought I’d make a suggestion.”

So Luke dipped his head and kissed Sebastian, careful not to mess up his hair.

After their shower, they got dressed. Luke put on jeans and a T-shirt because he never liked dressing up anyway. Sebastian changed into the outfit he’d worn to the ceremony. Thankfully,notthe Rockets jersey.

The team liked Sebastian, but they might draw the line at that.

Sebastian also went out to Luke’s car and grabbed the poor neglected flower arrangement he’d left in it. He fussed with the flowers for a few minutes before he plunked the vase down in the middle of the kitchen table.

“We can enjoy it tomorrow at breakfast,” he said.

Privately, Luke thought it would be a miracle if either of them were up before noon, since the Harriers had an after-party planned for tonight and Sebastian had already taken the morning off work.

But they could eat breakfast for dinner, he supposed.

Either way, it was good. The flowers didn’t look half-bad in his kitchen. And Sebastian looked even better.

It was a raucous crowd at O’Neill’s that greeted Sebastian and Luke by the time they finally made it to the pub. The place was decorated with Harriers colors and the mood was celebratory.

They’d taken a rideshare there so Sebastian immediately accepted a drink when it was offered to him. Luke did the same.

Luke quickly got pulled into the crowd, his teammates wanting to celebrate with him, and Sebastian was happy to let him go. He and Luke would have plenty of time together before the playoffs started.

After that, he’d belong to the team for the duration.

Sebastian talked to the other SAPs for a while and Catherine introduced him to her husband, Declan, and her older sons, Finn and Pat. Sebastian basically got passed from person to person until he was slightly drunk and very happy.

He reunited with Luke at one point and ended up tucked close to him, his body a warm, hard line beside Sebastian’s as they chatted with a couple of guys on the team, including Jesse, who was clearly feeling no pain tonight.

“Hey!” Jesse said with a sudden surprised laugh, interrupting the conversation. “Sebastian? Did you ever notice that you and Tanner kinda look alike?”

Sebastian squinted at Tanner who stood a few feet away. “I mean, I guess? We’ve both got dark curly hair and dark-ish eyes? Sort of the same body type, I suppose, although he’s in way better shape than I am.”

Tanner lifted up the front of his shirt to show off his abs and stuck his tongue out. “Yeah, I’m way hotter. Sorry, Sebastian.”

Sebastian shrugged. His ego could survive a few chirps from hockey players.

“I dunno,” Jesse said thoughtfully, looking between them. “Seems to me like Crawford has a type inbothkinds of D-partners.”

He gave them a showy wink and Sebastian snorted.

In unison, Luke and Tanner made faces, both looking like they were about to retch.

“Eww,” Tanner said with a full-body shudder. “Gross.”

Jesse cackled.