Page 10

It was somewhat strange to be back, living in California again. He tried to stay out of the movers’ way while still pointing out where everything went. The travel and stress had worn on Oakley. Eric had made sure the bedroom was done first and sent Oakley to bed.

“Knock. Knock.”

Eric glanced toward the door.

Chipper stood in the doorway, smiling like an idiot. “Your door was open. I came by with a housewarming gift.”

Eric accepted the present Chipper held. He didn’t open it. Eric was too stunned to see the guy. “Where in the hell do you actually live? You turn up everywhere.”

A soft laugh rumbled from Chipper. “I don’t like to sit still, but I actually live here. Not here, here, but about forty miles south of here. Originally, I’m from Nevada, but I moved to California some years back to train with the best: Maverick Kapra.”

When Eric stared at him with zero recognition, Chipper expounded. “He’s won heavyweight champion like a gazillion times.”

“Oh.” Eric didn’t follow MMA. “That sounds amazing. Thank you for this, by the way,” he said, motioning toward the box he held.

“You’re welcome. It’s a personalized cheese board. This is a nice place.” He turned in a circle, eyeing everything.

Eric laughed. “Damn. You didn’t even give me time to open it.”

Chipper’s smiling face turned his way. His light brown eyes were incredibly sweet. Despite hitting people for a living, Chipper always seemed like a kind soul. “Sorry. I don’t like surprises. They’re rarely pleasant. Where’s Oakley hiding?”

Eric turned away so Chipper couldn’t read his expression. He set the box on the coffee table. “The move has been exhausting. I asked him to rest.” Eric didn’t know who all knew about Oakley’s illness. He didn’t want to say anything that might upset Oakley.

Chipper made a humming sound, bringing Eric’s gaze back his way. Again, Chipper eyed the house. Eric studied him, trying to read him. The guy had a jaw that could cut glass and a body that would make anyone drool. Eric wasn’t sure why Baylor didn’t jump at the chance to enjoy him.

Suddenly, Chipper focused on him. “You’re a good person. I’m glad Oakley found you.”

Eric fought not to blush. He wasn’t good with such direct praise. “Thank you, but I’m the lucky one. He showed up in my life exactly when I needed to be saved and loved me when I thought no one ever would again.” Eric had no idea why he admitted such a thing. Chipper just had a way of looking at people—like he saw them. It tricked the mind into believing they were closer friends than they were.

“You just described him exactly how he describes you.”

Eric wanted to melt. Every day, Eric discovered again exactly how blessed he was. Sometimes it was overwhelming, but always amazing. “Would you like a tour?”

Chipper brightened. “Sounds great. I love the neighborhood. Maybe I can move in next door, and we could have cookouts and shit.”

It hit Eric. Everything about Chipper suddenly made sense. The nonstop travel, the popping up everywhere, and even the intense way he chased Baylor looked completely clear now. Chipper was lonely. Eric knew then he would do whatever he could to set him up with Baylor. Chipper was a good man. He deserved to know the same happiness Eric lived every day. Eric wanted everyone to feel like this. He prayed it never stopped.

The bed dipped next to Oakley. Eric crawled into his arms. Oakley smiled as their bodies molded. God, he was just so sickeningly in love. Oakley would have thought things would have cooled at least a little by now, but no. Every day, this feeling grew bigger. They grew stronger.

“Are the movers already gone?”

Eric kissed his chest. “Already? You’ve been asleep for five hours.”

Oakley blinked. Damn. He must have been more tired than he realized. Luckily, he had Eric to watch out for him and send him to bed when he needed the push to rest. “Wow. I didn’t realize.”

He felt Eric shrug. “You were doing what your body needed. Chipper stopped by,” Eric added before Oakley could quip about doing Eric being what his body needed. “He brought us a personalized cheese board.”

Oakley took a second to fully wake before responding. “That was nice of him. I guess he must be home for once.”

“Does he know?”

Oakley could have pretended not to know what Eric meant, but he wouldn’t do that. He understood Eric’s position. Eric needed to hear he wasn’t the last to know. That was one thing he could give him. “Yeah. He knows, but I only recently told him. I didn’t decide to start telling my friends until after you knew. Not only did I think you should know first—other than Rocky, since he books my jobs—but I also don’t think I’m ready for it to hit the media.”

Eric stroked his stomach before shoving his hand beneath Oakley’s shirt so he could rub bare skin. “You don’t have to explain. I just wasn’t sure how much to say when he asked where you were. I want you in control of your business.”

Oakley never stopped being blown away by Eric’s thoughtfulness. “Thanks for that. I still haven’t told many people, but my closest friends know now. You’re probably exhausted. Why don’t you close your eyes for a little while? I’ll hold you.”

He swore he felt Eric’s smile. “I think we’ll have a really nice life here.”

Oakley snorted. “Nice? No. We’ll have a fucking phenomenal life here. It’s us. We’re together. How could it be any other way?”

“That’s true.” Eric kissed his chest again and snuggled even closer, as if settling in. “It’ll be the greatest life of all.”

Oakley smiled at the way Eric’s voice drifted as he obviously dozed off. Sometimes, it hit him again out of nowhere. He held his best friend. Eric let him love him. Oakley had been at a point of bleakness no one could understand, before Eric had looked at him, all annoyed at Oakley’s accusation of stalking, and caught him, saving him from the spiral. That was the moment Oakley’s entire future shifted from hopeless to beautiful. Oakley would never let Eric forget how loved he was. For whatever time Oakley had left on this earth, he would make Eric smile. He listened to Eric breathe and knew fate always had a plan. It was better than he could have ever dreamed.

Keep an eye out for the next Sporting Pride, Fighting Fate .

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