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Chapter Thirteen

Travis

I felt the crunch of bone from the stands.

Well, no bone had actually broken.

Or at least I hoped not.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God.” Carsyn squealed.

Carsyn? Carly? Corey?

Damn, I couldn’t remember.

Johnnie had gone on three dates with her, and somehow she’d wrangled tickets out of him.

Becca had used a very unflattering name for the woman when she’d arrived.

I could admit her pink sequined crop top, white jeans, and jean jacket, along with her sandal high heels didn’t exactly fit the near-freezing temperature of the Sunday afternoon game. At least the rain had stopped.

“Johnnie! Yoo-hoo? Are you okay, babydoll?”

Becca, who thank God was on my right side—and therefore likely out of hearing range of the squealing woman on my other—snickered.

As far as I could tell, and again to my relief, Johnnie couldn’t hear Carsyn above the shouts of the crowd at the refs for only using a yellow card and not the red ejection card they all felt was warranted.

In my ignorance, I sat back and let people howl their displeasure.

Mallow had spent many, many, many hours teaching me the intricacies of the game. At first, he rewarded me for getting things right.

Soon he started rewarding effort when I got it wrong.

Eventually he gave up trying to teach me, and we spent all our spare time in bed.

Most days, when not practicing, he taught physical education at a local school. He’d neglected to mention he’d somehow obtained a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate. All by the age of twenty-five.

Plus a professional rugby player. Which didn’t pay nearly as much as it should have, given the physical punishment of the game.

Carsyn gripped my arm.

No, Carly. Right. Carly.

“Is he going to be okay?”

“Well, he’s walking off the field, so I suspect so.” Johnnie wasn’t even limping, so I took solace in that.

“He’ll be fine.” Becca spoke loud enough for everyone in three rows to hear. “He’s a tough bastard.”

“Mom.” Cassandra appeared mortified, given her red cheeks.

I chuckled to myself because, not twenty seconds earlier, she’d been one of the spectators howling about the bad call and the crappy refereeing .

The girl amused me to no end. And since tomorrow was her twelfth birthday, Isaiah and I had a gift for her.

My man knew the birthdate of every child of every teammate. Written down on a huge calendar, thank God.

Francine, the trainer, continued to work on Johnnie’s knee.

“He might be out for the rest of the game.” Becca blew out a breath. “He’s the best hooker. They need him.”

I didn’t laugh. Came close…but managed not to.

Suddenly, there was a loose ball.

Okay, scrum time.

This part amused me to no end. A bunch of guys huddling and pushing against each other while another guy tried to get the ball, and—

Bam, they were off.

The sideways tossing continued until Roger crossed the line.

Cheers, hoots, and hollers went up from the crowd.

Roger held the ball aloft in triumph while Cassandra whistled. Then she shouted. “Way to go, Dad.”

Louder than anything her mother had done so far this game.

Finally, the match ended. Vancouver won by ten. And Johnnie hadn’t returned to the game.

To my relief, and shame for the relief, he grabbed Carly, and they headed out. If they were going to get drinks, good for them. If they were going to have sex? Yeah, whatever.

Becca and Cassandra went home, so I was invited to join the crew at the local brew pub.

I noticed I was the only guy. “What about the wives and girlfriends?” I nudged Isaiah.

“Not tonight.”

“Yet, I’m here.”

He cocked his head.

“Well, am I not one of the girlfriends?” I used air quotes.

He considered. “Some of them went to the bar down the road to share cosmos. Did you want to join them?”

“They all drink cosmos?”

“No, some enjoy beer. You get what I’m saying.” He sighed. “You think we’re being sexist.”

I shook my head. “I just figured you’d all want to celebrate with the game.”

“Tonight’s special.”

“Huh?”

“Jason’s getting married next month.”

In early December. I remembered. A rugby-themed wedding because Sonya was as nuts about the game as he was. And she was also tolerant of the salty-mouthed parrot, Wally.

“So this is the bachelor party—only he doesn’t know it. Just like Sonya’s at the bachelorette party. A bunch of her girlfriends are joining, and—” He was cut off by the arrival of two massively huge guys.

Jason rose. “What are you doing here?”

“You think I was going to miss my baby brother’s bachelor party?” The bigger of the brutes pulled Jason into a hug.

Jason was a big guy. His brother easily had an extra three inches and thirty pounds on him.

“Surprise!” The entire table broke into cheers and cries.

Fortunately, none of the other patrons appeared perturbed by our raucousness. Likely why they chose this bar. And Johnnie’s missing this . That caused a pang because he really loved spending time with his crew.

Jason’s brother and best friend from high school pulled up chairs, and the festivities began.

I had one beer—as did Isaiah.

He was driving us home tonight.

I’d made noises about getting a bigger bike so we could ride together.

He called it a death machine and asked me to consider getting an SUV. He said he’d even pay for the extra parking spot in his building.

That kind of warmed my heart. In all these years, no one cared that I rode a motorcycle.

Well, Dodge teased me about being an organ donor.

At first I hadn’t understood because, of course, I had a card saying I would be one.

He’d meant that riders of motorcycles tended to die more frequently, on a per capita basis, and so we were more likely to be organ donors. He’d laughed.

I’d had to think some more about that.

Jason thoroughly enjoyed himself. No doubt in my mind as he laughed, put up with the ribbing, demanded to know where the strippers were, then pretended mock offense when none showed up.

Isaiah assured me that had never been in the cards. Frankly, too much respect for women to objectify them.

That’d surprised and pleased me. I had enough of that shit at work.

If I heard one more story about a titty club , I was going to lose my shit.

Always said in front of Annabelle, of course.

Sometimes I wondered if she might be bi or lesbian or something, but I never asked.

Never would. Her business and hers alone.

The car ride home from the pub was quick, and soon we were brushing our teeth and heading to bed.

Isaiah raised an eyebrow as I crawled into bed.

Naked, of course.

“What?”

“Does this feel…domestic…to you?”

I stilled. “Is that a bad thing? You asked me to stay over tonight.”

“Because it’s closer to your work. I always want you to stay over. I’d be happier if you just never left.”

I blinked. “Like move in with you?”

“Well, yeah.” All casual.

He slid into bed next to me. Naked, of course.

“This is a small place. You’re going to get tired of me and all my shit.”

“Your furniture might be a tight fit.”

“My furniture isn’t worth a storage fee. I can give it away and would be lucky if someone took it.”

“There are places to donate to. People in transitional housing. New immigrants. Students. Your stuff is sturdy.”

He’d been to my place all of once—but had obviously been observant.

“There’s enough space here for your stuff. We can make it work. Or I can look at buying a two-bedroom condo in the building. They come up for sale periodically.”

He wouldn’t be able to afford the mortgage on a two-bedroom.

Not without help.

“Are you suggesting we buy a place together?” I had some money set aside. Money for my retirement since my work didn’t offer a pension plan. Since one bad injury could sideline me forever. But I could invest that in a down payment. “You’re serious.”

“Yeah, Travis. I really am.”

“We’ve known each other just over a month.”

“Do you want to see other people?”

“Hell fucking no. And I don’t want you to either.” I winced. “But that’s not up to me.”

“We’re boyfriends. In a monogamous relationship. It’s very much up to you.” He pulled me against him so my chin rested on his chest as I gazed at him.

“You’re sure.”

“As much as I can be about anything.”

“Then yeah, let’s do this.” My stomach went into freefall, but I also felt a certainty I hadn’t…perhaps ever in my life.

The next week I gave away my furniture and moved into Isaiah’s place.

I did not, however, give up my bike.

Compromises.