Page 34

Tenzin

A ll around me, people laughed, chatted, and drank as music played in the background. The ballroom at the beachfront hotel we’d been put up in was filled with posters advertising Bare Armor. As nice as the party was, after a long day of photo shoots, I was done with people.

My phone buzzed, and I slipped outside. The summer air was warm and humid, but better than inside. I walked along the patio, until the noise of the ballroom gave way to sounds of the night. Leaning against the metal fence that separated the resort from the beach, I checked my phone.

I missed Gwen so much. But tomorrow afternoon we’d head back to New York. On Sunday, we’d go to the fair and see my sister’s band play. Should I ask Clark to come with us? He was high energy and cheerful, but there was something about him.

It wasn’t just how physically attractive he was. Or that he was kind to Gwen. We didn’t have that much in common, other than hockey and similar taste in music. Still…

He felt right. They both did.

“There you are.” Clark bounded over to me.

“You found me. Did you want to go for a walk? I’m done with the party.” I looked back at the lights, music drifting toward us.

“I’d like that.” Clark gave me a shy smile.

He and Gwen were good together. Both of them were cheerful rays of sunshine. She was the morning sun, and he was mid-day.

They were closer to the same age too. He didn’t seem phased by her going off at the end of the season.

If only I could be like him.

We walked in silence, following the railing of the hotel, until it led to a gate to the beach. As we trudged through the sand, Clark took off his shoes and socks, then ran with abandon.

He was so carefree, and I loved that about him. I took some pictures of him running in the moonlight. Yes, I could use a little more sunshine in my life.

“Tag.” Clark touched my shoulder, and took off running across the beach, dropping his socks and shoes. When he noticed I wasn’t following him, he turned around, running backwards, arms out. “Come get me.”

What a loaded statement.

“Come on,” he teased. “You’re it.”

He wanted to be chased, did he? Maybe it was time to see if what I’d felt when we’d danced in the bar was real.

Without saying a word, I took off my socks and shoes, and put them neatly on the sand. I took off after him with a little growl.

“Shit, man.” Clark laughed as he changed angles, heading toward the water, trying to avoid me.

I raced after him, trying not to let the thoughts of what I might like to do with him when I caught him slow me down. Usually, I wasn’t playing tag for innocent funsies.

No, I played for another sort of amusement.

He turned again, and I dove, tackling him to the sand. My hands pinned his shoulders to the ground as I straddled him.

Chest heaving a little, I bent forward, my face hovering close to his. “Caught.”

Clark’s breath quickened, and I felt him harden under me. Oooh, he liked that.

I could imagine it now–chasing him, catching him, stripping off his clothes, and tying his wrists with his tie or my belt.

Making him scream my name as he came.

His scent, like a field of freshly mowed grass in the summer, flared with desire.

“You caught me. I… I’m at your mercy.” Clark’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight.

What was I doing? I let go and got off of him. “Are you okay? Apologies for being overzealous. I think we play tag differently.”

He looked up at me, still lying back in the sand. “I think I like this type of tag.”

For a moment we said nothing, listening to the lapping waves of the ocean, and looking up at the stars. Even with the lights from the resort, a vast expanse of twinkling stars filled the sky.

“When did you get a tattoo?” I finally asked. I’d noticed a small one on his leg and I didn’t remember it before.

“Have you met Gwen’s friend Mercy yet? She had a tattoo artist at her birthday party, though it’s the artist Gwen used for hers on her back. Anyway, I got Captain Everything’s shield. I’d always wanted one and it was free,” he told me.

“I’ve met Mercy. That sounds like some party,” I told him, looking up at the stars.

“It was.” His voice was soft as he turned his head to face me. “Hey, I understand if you’re not ready for more yet. I’ll wait for you, just like Gwen.”

“Why?” I looked for different constellations in the sky. Why would they wait?

“Because you’re kind. Because you’re smart. Because we like lots of the same things. Because you look hot in a pair of jeans. Because you care for Gwen as much as I do. Because you play hockey with such intensity and I can’t wait to see how that plays out in other ways. Because I wanted you from the moment you walked in on me last year, and getting to know you the past few days has only increased my crush from low-key to major.”

His look grew coy. “Need me to go on?”

I sucked in a breath and turned to face him. “Thank you.”

He’d look so good on his knees. Clark also took direction well, I noticed that when we were dancing.

Clark started pointing out constellations in the night sky, some of them I knew, and some I didn’t–and some he had different names for. Like the one he called ladybug.

Yes, this was nice, indeed.

“I… I’m in year two of a two-year contract,” Clark said softly. “I could be traded at any time. That doesn’t mean I don’t want whatever the three of us are, for however long we can do it. Life is so fleeting; you can blink and it’s gone. I’d rather have Gwen for a season, then kiss her and wish her the best, than not have her at all. That’s all I want to do–love her and support her… I’d do the same for you.”

My heart pounded. The three of us already had the potential to be so comfortable together. Logistically difficult, but still comfortable. Dancing. Watching movies. Playing hockey.

“We’ll wait. Give us a chance, Tens? Please?” His voice was breathy, eyes on the stars.

“Okay.” I wanted to. Wanted them.

Clark reached over and squeezed my hand. “Good.”