Page 38 of Overtime Goal (Buffalo Warriors Hockey #4)

riley

Logan was sprawled beside me with one arm slung across my ribs and his head on my chest. Our legs were tangled under the covers, and his ankle was hooked around mine. I hadn’t moved, partly because I didn’t want to wake him, but mostly because I was reluctant to break the spell.

The night had been endless and perfect, all hands and mouths and heat. It wasn’t merely sex; we’d left that behind. Now it was deeper. A word I used to laugh at was stuck in my mind: lovemaking . Christ. I used to think that was cheesy bullshit from bad movies, but now I got it. I felt it.

His breath tickled my skin. Each warm exhale reminded me that all this was real. I traced a fingertip along his shoulder, and he stirred, humming low in his throat as he burrowed closer and mumbled what might have been “coffee.”

“I can make that happen,” I said. “But you have to get off me first.”

“Impossible. I live here now. On Ade.”

It took some negotiation, but we eventually made it out to the terrace, wearing only our boxers, with a bowl of fruit between us.

“Think we should put on some real shorts?” he asked. “What if Giorgia comes early?”

“She won’t,” I said. “And if she did, she wouldn’t see any more than she does on the beach.” I bit into a nectarine.

Logan drank some coffee and picked up a handful of cherries. “Has she seemed standoffish to you since that first morning?”

“Not really. She’s a nice girl and seems smart, so it wouldn’t have taken her long to realize we share a bed. I bet she’s just giving us privacy.”

“True,” he said. “She’s still cheerful and always speaks politely.”

I picked up my coffee and gave him a snarky look. “Why do you ask? If you’re interested in her, I could put in a good word.”

He almost choked on a cherry. “Fuck off. I’ve got all I need or want right here in you. And you know I’ve never been with a woman, right?”

I nodded. “You told me once. Did you ever consider it?”

“The hockey era I grew up in? Sure, but I just wasn’t interested. I’m all gay.”

“And I’m all yours,” I said. “Still figuring out the rest, but I know what I want and who I love.”

He broke into a grin. “I do too. And I love you.”

“Same. Never been happier.”

I guzzled the rest of my coffee, then stole sips of Logan’s.

“Why don’t you get another cup for yourself?” he asked.

I shrugged and popped a grape into my mouth. “Yours tastes better.”

He laughed. “You could charm the pants off anybody.”

“And yet I only want yours.”

Laughing again, he stood and picked up our cups. “I’ll get refills for both of us since you drank it all.”

I watched him go, hoping it wasn’t all a dream. We needed to talk about things, but we’d get to that. After everything we’d been through, we deserved a morning to chill.

Soon, he returned with the promised coffee as well as a book tucked under his arm.

“Are you bored with me already?” I asked as he set the coffee down. “Want to read instead of flirting like crazy over breakfast?”

He dropped into his seat and held up the book. “These are some of my favorite poems. Can I read something to you?”

I rolled my eyes, for dramatic effect only. “Do I have a choice?”

“Not really. It’s a love poem, one of my favorites.”

I groaned but couldn’t help smiling. “Oh my God. Are you seriously going to read a love poem to me? Isn’t that a little… cliché?”

“Who else would I read it to? I’ve never had anyone I loved enough to share this with.”

My breath caught, and I felt like a huge jerk. “I was busting your balls. Please read it to me.”

His smile was everything. “I know you were kidding, babe. We don’t need to walk on eggshells.” He flipped through the book until he found the right page. “This is by Yeats. He was an Irish poet.”

“I think I’ve heard of him. Let me have it, big guy.”

He gave me a long look. “Oh, I will. Poetry first, then back to bed.”

When he started reading, I closed my eyes. I wasn’t good at understanding poetry, but the way Logan read it brought the words to life.

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

It took me a moment to open my eyes and reach for his hand.

“Wow,” he said softly. “You were listening.”

My throat locked up because I was about to cry. “Fuck, Logan. That was so damn beautiful.”

He pinned me with a fierce, penetrating gaze. “I don’t have any fancy cloths, Ade, but this chance with you feels like the dream I never thought I’d get.”

I nodded. “For me too. I won’t stomp on your dreams. Never.”

“And I won’t walk on yours. Thank you for trusting me with your heart.”

“Always.” I lifted his hand to my face, pressed it against my cheek, and then kissed it.

We didn’t say much as we finished breakfast, but a question burned in my mind. If I didn’t ask then, I was sure it would come out at the worst possible time. “Logan? I need to ask something.”

“Go for it.”

“Try not to read into it, okay? It’s only a question.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Ask then. Now I’m getting nervous.”

“Don’t. It’s…” I took a moment to breathe. “Why did you even consider doing anything with Quinn?”

“Who says I did? We had drinks.”

“I asked you not to read into it, but please be honest.” I locked eyes with him and chose my words carefully.

“Yesterday, I asked when I’d see you again, and you said you didn’t know.

You knew I was asking if you’d be gone all night.

Then I found you, and Quinn seemed surprised when you were leaving with me instead of him. ”

I leaned in, and my voice was rougher. “When we were getting close, you told me how he tore you apart. It was still fresh, and I saw what he did to you. I’d like to think I helped you through it.”

Logan glanced away, then met my eyes again.

“You were amazing. It would’ve been a hell of a lot harder without you there.

Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking about Quinn these last couple of days.

I wasn’t sure where we stood, and I didn’t know you loved me.

I wanted a distraction. But if it helps, I’d pretty much decided not to go with him when you showed up. ”

It made sense. I’d been there myself, making dumb choices to get through things. “I get it. And I’m sorry it took me so long to come around.”

“Don’t be…”

I held up a hand. “I’m not judging you. Really, I should be grateful to Quinn. If you hadn’t gone to meet him, I don’t know how much longer it would’ve taken me to realize I love you. Hopefully, not long, but…”

“It’s okay, babe.” Logan reached for my hand. “Things happened the way they did. We’ve admitted what we feel now, so let’s move on and enjoy it.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” I looked at the table. “Want to take all this inside and find a place to cuddle?”

Instead of answering, he got up and started gathering dishes.

Once we had everything put away, we shared the hammock near the pool.

I tucked my head under Logan’s chin, and we enjoyed the shade.

Somewhere nearby, a scooter revved, and a dog barked.

For us, it was all quiet contentment and lazy touches.

Somehow, we’d made it through even when I was too pigheaded to realize what I felt.

Now, we were starting something genuine.

When we dragged ourselves out of the hammock, we showered and spent the day at home.

Between swimming, kicking around a soccer ball, and making love on the terrace, the afternoon passed quickly.

For dinner, we ordered Neapolitan pizza from a restaurant in town, which we agreed was the best pizza delivery either of us ever had.

After dark, we spread a blanket out on the grass and watched the stars. It wasn’t long until we were at it again. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other and had a lot of time to make up for.

After a late breakfast the next morning, we walked to town and explored the maze of Positano’s winding streets.

On my mad dash through town, not much had registered.

Now, with Logan beside me, the day was an adventure.

Our hands brushed now and then, and the temptation to take his was almost irresistible.

“We have to talk about stuff,” I said. “Set some parameters. I hate not knowing what to do in public.”

He nodded. “As soon as we get back home. I wish I’d thought about it earlier.”

“We had… um…” I couldn’t help smirking. “We were taking care of other important matters.”

“Damn right, we were.”

Laughing, we walked on. Shops spilled onto the narrow stone paths, everything from hand-painted tiles and baskets of lemons to fancy designer outfits. The smell of citrus mingled with espresso and buttery pastries, and whenever we saw something that interested us, we stopped.

We asked a kid to take our picture, then asked him to take one of each of us. Those could go on Instagram, but we decided not to post joint pictures until we hashed out the details of our relationship.

After Logan posted his photo, we spent a while looking at hand-carved wooden dolphins. There were so many we couldn’t decide on one.

“We’ll come back later,” Logan said. “One of those belongs on a shelf in my living room.”

I nudged him. “No problem. We’ve got most of the month left.”

At one stall, I found a wine cork with a rooster painted on it. I handed it to Logan, saying, “Bet you a hundred euros this cock’s seen some action.”

He rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh. Epic fail. “Very classy.” Leaning close, he whispered, “Not nearly as much action as our cocks have seen the last few days.”

“Best action mine’s ever had,” I said.

He glanced at a shelf and handed me a ceramic banana like it was made of gold. “For your kitchen, so you can remember your time in Italy with a giant yellow dong.”