Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
I dive in for a joyful kiss. But when I break away, I get a better idea. “Let’s get a new place. Together. One we both pick out.”
“Yes,” he says. “It’s always yes with you.”
We spend the weekend screwing, and sucking, and eating, and shopping. And we see friends — old and new. Turns out Maddox is buddies with Declan, so we have dinner with Declan and Grant, catching up on their plans to head to Hawaii in the off-season. “Hawaii is my favorite place,” Declan says over sashimi.
Grant’s eyes twinkle, and it sure looks like it’s a special place for them. “Mine too, babe,” he says, then smacks a kiss to his husband’s cheek.
On Sunday morning, we go to a coffee shop around the corner — iced tea for me — where we run into Jason McKay, the quarterback for the San Francisco Hawks. He’s ordering a mango smoothie and a cup of black coffee. As he waits for the drinks he catches my eye, and tips his chin toward us. “Zane. What is up?” He asks, then gives a fist knock as I join him.
“My life. It’s up, up, up,” I say, then clap Maddox on the shoulder. “My guy’s moving in with me. You know Maddox LeGrande, right?”
Jason extends a hand and shakes. “Heard of you. All good things. Good to meet you officially.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” Maddox says as he shakes Jason’s hand. “You’ve having a helluva season.”
The affable quarterback smiles. “I do my best.”
“Keep that up,” Maddox says and when the barista serves Jason’s drinks, the quarterback thanks him then says to us, “Better bring this cup of Joe to my dude before the coffee cools off. But why don’t you two come to my next home game? Would love to host you.”
“I’d love to go,” Maddox says.
“Absolutely,” I chime in.
Once Jason is gone, I wrap an arm around Maddox. “See? We already have friends here.”
“We do,” he says, and he smiles. Fuck, I love that smile, and I love putting it there.
I do my damndest to make him smile more the rest of the weekend.
Baseball season’s over, I collected my winnings from Gunnar since I finished the year with more RBIs, so when the weekend ends, I fly with Maddox to Los Angeles to help him start packing—though he doesn’t have much. I’ll miss his pool, but I won’t miss being apart from him. “Will you miss your friends here? Like Ellie and Bryan and the whole crew?” I ask, as I help him sort through his kitchen.
“I will. But I’ll visit Los Angeles for work, so I’ll see them then,” he says then checks his watch. “And we’ll go spend some time with Bryan now for lunch.”
“Can we scooter?”
He snort-laughs. “Knew you’d like scooters.”
He pulls his out of the garage, and I rent one since they’re all over the streets, then we ride to Santa Monica and meet his buddy for lunch at a sidewalk café.
“Can’t say I’m shocked he’s moving to San Francisco. Did I or did I not predict you were getting ready for a date the first day you spent with Zane down here?” Bryan asks, needling Maddox.
“Oh, this is gonna be good. Tell me more,” I say.
“He was shaving, and he always shaves right before a date,” Bryan recounts.
Maddox rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling too as he mutters, “Why do you do this to me?”
Bryan smacks Maddox’s shoulder affectionately. “Pretty sure Zane knows you dig him now.”
I beckon with my fingers. “Nope. I want more. I want all the goods, Bryan.”
Bryan sits back in his chair, smiles, and says, “I like you. You’re good for him. That’s the goods.”
“I’ll take it,” I say, then I press a kiss to my guy’s clean-shaven jaw. “I know you always shave for me, and I love it.”
“Me too,” Maddox answers softly.
The next night, we head out to dinner in Venice, and when we grab a table at the restaurant, Maddox does a double take. “That’s Braxton at the bar,” he whispers.
“Jackass,” I say, putting two and two together to figure he was the guy who wanted Maddox to be at his beck and call.
Maddox turns to me, a thoughtful look in his eyes. “He called me the other day. Said he wanted to meet.”
“Do you want to meet with him?”
Maddox shrugs. “He has this jackass friend who kinda makes all his decisions—”
“Shhh,” I warn, since Braxton just got up and is walking over to us now.
“Hey, there,” he says, looking a little sheepish.
Maddox stands, shakes his hand, ever polite. “Good to see you again. This is my boyfriend, Zane Archer.”
Braxton gives a chin nod and a smile. “Big fan. Great season.”
“Thanks, man,” I say.
Then Maddox asks, “How’s everything?”
Braxton sighs but nods a few times. “It’s…okay. Ronan and I broke up.”
Maddox blinks. “Oh.” He takes a beat. “As…friends?”