From a very young age, Aldrich knew two things—he’d grow up to play professional hockey and he’d make his mentor fall in love with him. After years of hard work, both are within his grasp. Not only has a professional team called him up from his farm club, but the man he’s dreamed of for years has finally noticed him. Then everything is brutally torn from him when he suffers a career-ending injury and finds himself dumped before the relationship has even really started. Depressed, he retreats to his childhood home where he runs into his former best friend and hockey buddy, Nobel. They rekindle their friendship and grow closer…in more ways than one. Aldrich is shocked to realize that not only has he been overlooking what could be the best thing in his life, but love may have always been right in his own backyard.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Change on the Fly Copyright © 2011 Stephani Hecht ISBN: 978-1-55487-968-7 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com
Change on the Fly Blue Line Hockey By Stephani Hecht
Chapter One
A
ldrich caught the pass and centered the puck on the end of his stick, his gaze already fixated on the net at the opposite end of the ice. Most importantly, he noted the way the goalie stood just off to one side. It was only inches, but it was enough for Aldrich to mark it as a weak spot and know that he finally had the opportunity he’d been fighting all game for. His heart pounded as adrenaline raced through his body. All around him the crowd cheered and chanted his name. Instead of distracting him, the sound seemed to vibrate through his body, creating the most wonderful buzz. Despite the cold in the rink, droplets of sweat clung to his face. One bead of moisture trickled down his nose, while another laid a trail down his right jaw. Even though this was his third game with the Wings, he still could hardly believe he’d finally made it. All the hard work he’d put in at his farm team had finally paid off and now, at age twentytwo, he was playing for the NHL. 1
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He spotted his opening in the opposition’s defense and surged forward, the puck balanced perfectly on the curve of his stick. As he glided across the ice, he never felt more on his game. He knew at that moment, that nobody could touch him. The defensemen, the goalie—none of them could stop him from scoring. Once he reached the right position, he wound up and shot the puck. As it sailed neatly into the back of the net, he raised his hands in victory. His shout of joy lost in the buzzer sounding over the loudspeaker. He glanced over at the ref, just in time to see him blow his whistle and gesture that the goal was good. Aldrich let out a whoop of joy as he turned to share his celebration with his teammates. He raised his hand to exchange high fives. A heavy blow slammed into his side, sending him into the net. Aldrich barely had time to register that it was a check from an opposing defenseman, as they both managed to get tangled up in the goalie. As Aldrich scrambled to stay on his feet, his helmet slid slightly off to the side. At the same time he fell to the ground, his shoulder connecting painfully with the ice. He slid into the net, his head colliding with the metal post. More pain shot through him, this time the hurt going from the top of this skull and traveling down his spine. A few seconds later his 2
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head hit the boards, a weird crunching sound vibrating through his skull. Shit, that can’t be good. “Fuck, sorry about that. Are you okay?” the goalie asked as he untangled himself from the pile. Aldrich tried to answer, but all that came out was a strange gurgling sound. At the same time, he became aware that his body wasn’t cooperating. While his brain kept sending out the get-the-fuck-up signal, all his limbs did was twitch around. At the same time, he became painfully aware that he’d lost control of his bladder. Great! As if this wasn’t already embarrassing enough. “Oh, damn! He’s hurt, bad!” The goalie shouted to the bench. No shit, Sherlock! Maybe you should get a job as a damn medical detective. Aldrich let out a weird rasping sound as he continued to struggle to get up. The asshole defenseman who’d caused the whole mess got to his feet and skated to his bench. Unlike his goalie teammate, he didn’t seem to give a damn about the poor sap who was laid up on the ice. Coach’s dress shoes came into view before he crouched down. Usually he looked stern and a bit mean, but at the moment his brown eyes were full of concern. “Aldrich, are you with me, buddy?” Once again, all Aldrich could do was gurgle in response, although this time there was a hint of a 3
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whimper at the end. Fear clogged his throat as he realized just how damn serious things were. Meanwhile, a stunned silence filled the arena as the fans seemed to get that same message. Aldrich wanted to give them a thumbs up or some other signal to let them know that he would be okay, but his damn body still refused to obey. He must have passed out, because the next thing he knew he was on his back, on a cot and being rolled off the ice. As he watched the ceiling of the arena pass by, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever skate again. Three months later Ten seconds. That was how long it took for Aldrich to lose almost everything that ever mattered to him. Less time than it takes for a rocket to launch or for a ball to drop. Really, it wasn’t much more than a blink of an eye. Yet, that’s all it took for Aldrich to go from the highest point in his life to rock bottom. As he sat on the edge of his bed at The Lancaster Neurological Rehabilitation Center, Aldrich couldn’t help but feel a tad bitter. His life hadn’t just taken a nosedive—it’d taken a kamikaze plunge into a pile of manure. In his hand, he held two newspaper clippings. One of them was from the front page of the sports 4
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section. He’d read and reread it so many times, that even though it was only a few months old, it was already ragged with wear. In the center of the page was a large picture of him, lying on the ice. His teammates were surrounding him, their faces all wearing looks of concern. Above the photo the headline read, “Aldrich Simmer’s prognoses not good, Wings don’t expect him to return.” Not good? Is that how they described an injury that not only sidelined him from playing hockey ever again, but made him half the man he used to be? Aldrich didn’t know whether to curse or laugh at the understatement. Although he already felt low, he glanced at the second clipping. This one was much smaller and less explosive—at least to the casual observer. It was an engagement announcement. It hadn’t even come from the local Michigan paper, but rather from a Canadian press. The groom and bride-to-be didn’t stand out much in their tiny black and white photo. Some would even say their smiles looked too big and forced. The second clipping broke Aldrich just as much as the first one though. Because it wasn’t just any groom in that picture, it was the man that Aldrich had stupidly allowed himself to fall in love with. Anger swelled within him, making his chest grow tight with too much emotion. With a growl, he attempted to crush the clippings only to have 5
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his body betray him yet again. The papers slipped from his clumsy fingers and fluttered to the cold, white tiles. “Aldrich,” a soft voice sounded from the doorway. As he recognized it as Jochen, Aldrich didn’t turn around. Since they were cousins and good friends, Aldrich knew his emotions would be easily read by the other man. That just wouldn’t do, because if Jochen got any inkling about how Aldrich was feeling then the pity would come. Call him cranky, but Aldrich was up to his eyebrows with pity and he didn’t feel like dealing with any more. “Is it time to go?” he asked, careful to keep his voice natural. Jochen, the little bastard, had to come all the way into the room. He didn’t stop until they were facing each other. When he saw his cousin’s eyes soften with understanding, Aldrich had to bite back a curse. “Are you okay?” Jochen asked. No, Aldrich wasn’t okay. He’d finally made it to an NHL team, only to be permanently sidelined after a few games. Plus, he’d found out the guy who he’d loved for years had been using him. Then Aldrich didn’t even want to contemplate all the other issues he was having to deal with, mostly having to relearn how to do even the most 6
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basic everyday things. He still had issues holding a damn fork, let alone driving a car or playing hockey again. Aldrich forced a grin onto his face. “I’m great. Why shouldn’t I be? I get to leave this place.” As expected, he didn’t fool Jochen for a second. Jochen studied Aldrich’s face for a few moments, before dropping his gaze to the clippings. Aldrich felt his stomach clench as Jochen picked up the wedding announcement. After reading it, Jochen gasped, “Oh, Aldrich. I’m so sorry.” Aldrich gave a clumsy shrug. “It’s not like I expected anything different. All we had were a few brief hookups last summer.” “But, I know how long you liked him. You had it bad for him ever since you were twelve and started going to his hockey clinic. The only reason you even agreed to work for him after graduation was because of the crush you had for the jerk. It sure as hell wasn’t for the lousy paycheck or living conditions.” “I did do it for the money. It was a steady summer job to help get me by between hockey seasons. You know as well as I do that farm league pays crap. If memory serves me right, you worked at a camp last summer, too.” Jochen shook his head. “Yeah, and they paid me twice as much and gave me a decent place to 7
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stay. Grant made you stay in an old office over an abandoned rink. You told me yourself that the place reeked and was hotter than hell.” “It’s not his fault. The economy has been rough on him.” Aldrich reached out for the clipping, but Jochen jerked it away. “He’s always treated you that way. You were just too caught up in your crush to see it.” “That’s not true,” Aldrich protested, knowing full well it was. “Then how do you explain why he hasn’t bothered to come even once to visit you since you were injured?” Alarmed that they might be overheard, Aldrich cast a quick glance around, relieved to find that they were the only ones in the room and the hallway looked empty. “It’s not what you think. Neither one of us is out. It’s not like we can be a happy, open couple like you and Rebel. If everyone were to find out that Grant was gay, it would destroy his camp.” Jochen rolled his eyes. “And we wouldn’t want to put Grant out any. That would be tragic.” “You don’t understand him.” “What’s there to understand? He’s a selfish asshole who only cares about money and his image.” “That’s not true.” “Really? Then why hasn’t he even bothered to 8
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call you in the past three months?” Pain sliced through Aldrich. Unwanted tears formed in his eyes and he looked down, not wanting Jochen to see them. He must not have moved quickly enough, because Jochen let out a soft, “Damn, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” Aldrich kept his gaze directed toward the white sheets covering his bed. “That’s okay, it’s true. Although, I can’t blame him. Who wants to be stuck with somebody who can’t even function half the time?” Jochen sank down next to Aldrich and put an arm around his shoulders. “Just because you’ve been dealt this speed bump, doesn’t make you any less of a person.” “All I can think about is all the what if’s. What if I’d moved faster, so that other player didn’t check me from behind? What if I’d checked to make sure my helmet was on better? What if I’d kept my head up when I was skating?” “None of that was your fault. It was a bad check that should never have happened, but it was the other player’s fault, not yours.” Aldrich took in a shuddering breath. “I had it all, my career was right where I’d wanted it to be, but more importantly, I’d finally got him. Now I have nothing.” “Hey, you’re not alone. The whole family is 9
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behind you. We’ll see you through this.” Aldrich wanted to believe that—he really, really did, but he couldn’t help but have some doubts. While Jochen may be there for moral support, physically he would be miles away. Unlike Aldrich, he still had a love life and a career, so Jochen would be living with his partner, several cities away. Meanwhile, Aldrich would be going back to his sister’s house in Waterford. While he loved Tina and didn’t mind his hometown, it just wasn’t where he imagined he’d end up. He glanced back up at the articles still clutched in Jochen’s hand. At that moment, Aldrich realized that he could either wallow in self-pity or get on with his life. The only problem was, he didn’t know if he had it in his heart to go on anymore.
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Chapter Two
N
obel took a deep breath and slowly counted to ten as he reminded himself yet again how important his little brother was to him. It was damn hard though, especially since the punk wouldn’t shut the hell up. Five years younger and named Zimon, because their parents just had to be different and give them unique or oddly spelled monikers, the punk was going to be Nobel’s undoing. Zimon’s hyper ass was fully testing Nobel’s limits. He realized he should have known what he was getting himself into when he agreed to rent an apartment with his brother, but even in his wildest nightmares he hadn’t imagine it would be quite this bad. “What shirt should I wear tonight?” Zimon asked as he came bounding into Nobel’s bedroom. Last name aside, the two brothers couldn’t have been more different. Where Nobel had black, closely cropped hair and dark eyes, Zimon had 11
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auburn, spiked hair and soft blue eyes. Nobel still carried the hard build he’d earned from his fouryear stint in the Army, whereas Zimon barely topped five six and couldn’t weigh over one thirty. Even their personalities were miles apart, Nobel tended to be more reserved, while Zimon was a bitch slap to the face with his snark and outlandish antics. Nobel cast a jaded look over the two shirts, noting how each looked small enough to fit a toddler. “How about neither?” Zimon rolled his eyes. “God, you really need to get the stick out of your rear and learn some fashion sense.” “Just because I don’t think you should run around the club half naked, doesn’t mean that I don’t have any fashion sense.” “No, it only means you’re a prude.” Nobel resisted the urge to strangle his brother…just barely. “No, I just have class.” Zimon gave a melodramatic huff. “You really need to loosen up. I thought that now that you were out of the Army and the closet you’d actually be fun.” “I can be fun.” Nobel protested, a little offended. “Yeah, so much so that you haven’t gone out once since you came home.” “I just don’t like clubbing like you do. So, sue 12
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me.” “Funny, and here I thought it was just because you seriously needed to get laid.” Zimon went in front of the mirror and began to hold the shirts up to himself, comparing them. That zinger left Nobel speechless for a few moments as he struggled to come up with a snappy comeback. At the same time he found himself more offended. It was one thing to be called a bore, but it was quite another to accuse him of not being able to get any action. “I’ve had plenty of sex.” “Really? With who?” Zimon pursed his lips into a knowing smirk. Nobel scrambled his memory for a bit, only to come to the horrifying conclusion that he couldn’t recall the last time he’d had sex. Oh God, as much as he hated to admit it, the brat was right about something. Flustered, but knowing he had to give some kind of reply, Nobel shot back, “That’s personal and none of your business. I’m not about to discuss my love life with my baby brother.” “I’m nineteen, so I’m not a baby anymore. Plus, you know all about my fuck-apades.” “Only because you insist on bringing guys home all the time.” While Nobel didn’t like the idea of Zimon sleeping around so much, there really wasn’t 13
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much he could do about it. Like Zimon had pointed out, he wasn’t a baby anymore and of legal age. “You know what I think?” Zimon pulled off his baggy sleep shirt and replaced it with a red, cropped tee that fit like a second skin. “No, but I have a sneaking suspicion you’re about to tell me.” “I think you’re still trapped by that old Don’tAsk-Don’t-Tell rule.” “I’m not.” Zimon continued to study his own reflection as he toyed with his hair. “Then if that’s the case, it must be the other reason.” Oh fuck, that comment just reeked of a trap, but damned if Nobel didn’t go traipsing right into it. “What reason is that?” “Because you still have a hard-on for Aldrich.” Zimon finally turned, so he could flash a snarky look. The mere mention of that name made Nobel’s chest grow tight with emotion. His heart raced and he could have sworn that all the air had suddenly been sucked from the room. He’d die before he let Zimon see him react though. If his brother thought that Nobel really did still carry that years old crush, then the brat would get it into his head to play matchmaker. “I haven’t even talked to Aldrich since before I 14
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deployed, so what makes you think that I have any feelings for him?” Nobel asked. He didn’t add that he’d tried to visit Aldrich in the hospital only to have been turned away. While Aldrich’s sister had been polite enough about it, she’d made it clear that Aldrich wasn’t accepting any visitors. “I may be younger than you, but I still remember the way you used to look at him.” Yet another verbal trap and yet again Nobel dove right in. “What way is that?” “The same way I look at Taylor Lautner.” Nobel took in several deep breaths as he called on every inner Zen exercise he’d ever learned. “You really are a mess. You know that, right?” “Maybe, but at least I admit it. Unlike some people, I don’t bottle up my feelings. I swear— with all that anger and frustration you have building up, you must be ready to burst.” “Just let it go.” “I’m serious. One of these days I’m going to hear a loud popping sound and I’m going to come running in, only to discover that all the pressure has made your head blow off.” “That’s an interesting visual,” Nobel drawled. “What’s worse is I’ll get stuck cleaning up the mess because my name is on the lease, too. There’s no way in hell we’re going to get our security deposit back after that.” 15
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“And that would be a great tragedy, especially since I’m the one that forked over the cash for it in the first place.” “So that should mean that you wouldn’t want to waste it on a head gore clean-up crew.” Nobel arched a brow. “They actually have crews for that?” “Of course, from what I hear the pay is good, too.” “Maybe you should apply for a position then.” Zimon wrinkled his nose. “Why would I do that? I already have a job.” “Working as a go-go dancer twice a week hardly constitutes a career.” “Says you. I make amazing tips.” “Is that really what you want to do with your life?” “No, my biggest wish was to become an internet pop star, but Justin Bieber beat me to it. So, I had to settle for plan B.” “Did it ever occur to you to maybe go to college so you can get a real job?” “And waste all this, by hiding away in some stuffy classroom?” Zimon gestured to his own body. “Maybe you should just find some rich, older guy to take care of you.” Nobel shot back, teasingly. When Zimon pursed his lips together and 16
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cocked his head to the side, as if he were seriously considering that suggestion, Nobel snapped. “Come on, can’t you ever take anything seriously?” “No.” “Why?” “Because it would make me too much like you.” Nobel eyed a nearby wall and wondered how much it would disturb their neighbors if he started to beat his head against the thing. Zimon gave his shirt another inspection before asking, “So, are you coming to the club with me or not? I promise that I won’t do any go-go dancing tonight.” “No, I’m going to stay in.” Zimon gave a mock pout. “If you come out, I’ll tell you the latest gossip Miss Bevens shared with me.” Miss Bevens was an old family friend who always loved to share the newest dirt with Zimon. Even though there was a forty year age gap between the two of them, she and Zimon were very close. That still didn’t mean that Nobel had any interest in hearing her latest story. “I really don’t need to listen about the latest sordid fodder of Waterford.” Nobel sighed. “Even if it’s about Aldrich?” Zimon gave a selfsatisfied smirk. “And look how quickly we got back on the topic of him.” 17
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The temptation to strangle the brat grew so strong that Nobel actually raised his hands. The only thing that held him back was the fact that he really did want to hear the news—or at least he did since he learned it pertained to Aldrich. “What did she say?” he asked, striving to keep his voice neutral. The gotcha gleam in Zimon’s eyes screamed that he hadn’t been fooled by the casual tone. “I’m not saying anything until you promise to go out with me.” “Why do you need my company? Can’t you get one of your friends to go with you?” “They’re all busy.” “Then just go by yourself.” Zimon huffed. “I can’t show up alone. That would make me look like some kind of loser.” Nobel eyed the wall as he once more debated beating his head against it. “Fine, I’ll go out with you, but only for a couple of hours.” “See, that wasn’t too hard, now was it?” Zimon grinned and it struck Nobel that it was the first real smile he’d seen on his brother since their parents had left the state. It pained him to realize that maybe Zimon wasn’t adjusting to everything as well as Nobel hoped. He decided that it wouldn’t kill him to go out with Zimon. Even if it usually meant that Nobel just hung out at the bar, while his brother flirted with every 18
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available guy in the place. “I’ll give you a few minutes to get changed,” Zimon said as he practically bounded from the room. Nobel looked down at his slightly worn, but comfortable jeans and black t-shirt. “What’s wrong with this?” Zimon froze, hand on the door, a look of horror on his face. “Are you kidding me?” “No, unlike you, I’m capable of having a serious conversation.” “And here I thought that since you finally came out of the closet you’d actually display some style.” Despite the criticism, there was no mistaking the amusement sparkling in Zimon’s eyes. Nobel grinned. “Since when do you stereotype?” Zimon gave a mock sigh of dismay. “I guess you have a point. I should accept you for who you are. If I’m going to keep living with you, I’m going to have to learn to deal with all your boring ways.” Nobel reached out and pulled Zimon into a playful headlock. Zimon struggled to get away for a few moments, but soon gave up and just hung there like a limp dog. “You’re messing up my hair,” Zimon groused. “Really? Then just think of how bad it’s going to look after I do this.” Nobel gave Zimon an 19
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enthusiastic noogie. “I thought the Army was supposed to make you more mature.” Zimon renewed his efforts to get away, again without any success. “Let me go.” “Not until you tell me what you heard about Aldrich.” “Okay, you big bully.” Zimon’s chuckles took the edge off his accusation. “Rumor has it that your hockey player is back in town and recuperating at his sister’s house.” Nobel paused mid-noogie as those words sunk in. If that were true then that would mean Aldrich was a mere two miles away. The fact that his former best friend was so close made Nobel both excited and nervous at the same time. While he couldn’t wait to see Aldrich again, a part of him worried about how the passing years may have affected their friendship. Zimon said something, but his words were too muffled to hear since his head was still…well, locked. Nobel let him go then asked, “What were you trying to say?” “Does he know?” Zimon ran a fussy hand through his hair. “Know what? That I’m back home, too?” “That and that you’re gay?” “He doesn’t know. Or at least I don’t think he does. I haven’t told that many people yet.” And that was another reason why he was 20
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nervous as hell to see Aldrich. Nobel couldn’t help but worry that once Aldrich found out that his childhood best friend was gay that he’d also figure out that Nobel harbored a secret crush on him. “I don’t think he’ll mind,” Zimon mused, still messing with his hair. “After all, his cousin Jochen just came out.” “Actually, Jochen was shoved out when that damn paper printed pictures of him making out with another guy,” Nobel argued. “True, but that still doesn’t change how accepting Aldrich was. I heard he stayed by his cousin’s side through the entire scandal. The local paper even ran an article about it.” “I didn’t know you even followed sports?” Zimon shrugged. “I usually don’t. I only follow Aldrich and Jochen. Even though you guys are all older than me, I always considered them my friends, too.” “If that’s the case then maybe we’ll go to one of Jochen’s games this year.” “Yeah, that would be fun.” Zimon wrinkled up his nose. “I wish we could have gone to see Aldrich play.” Regret slammed into Nobel. “Yeah, me, too.” A silence stretched out between them, as Zimon nibbled on his bottom lip. Nobel waited it out, knowing that whenever his brother did that it meant something was really upsetting him. 21
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“They say Aldrich is never going to play again. Is that true?” Zimon finally said. “Yeah, it is. He sustained a pretty bad brain injury. From what I hear, it’s lucky he even walked again.” Nobel recalled how much he’d hurt for his friend when he found that out. How Nobel had just wanted to go to Aldrich and hold him in his arms. If for nothing else, than to offer Aldrich some reassurance that he hadn’t lost everything in life. To let him know that no matter what, Nobel would always care for him and nothing could ever change that. That he always would remain perfect, injury or not. But two things had held Nobel back, number one he had been deployed at the time and out of the country when Aldrich had first been hurt. Even when Nobel had returned home, he’d gone to the hospital only to be turned away. Number two, Aldrich wasn’t gay and while he may be accepting of Jochen, that didn’t mean he’d be open to another guy declaring his attraction for him. “It must kill Aldrich to know that he’ll never be able to play hockey again. I know how much he loved it,” Zimon sighed. Aldrich had more than just loved it. The sport had been his life. It’d been all he’d ever wanted to do and now that was forever taken away from him. Nobel couldn’t even begin to imagine how 22
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his buddy was coping with such a huge loss. “Yeah, I think it’s going to be really hard for him,” Nobel agreed. “Are you going to see him?” “Yeah, I’ll stop by his place tomorrow.” Nobel only hoped that Aldrich’s sister would let him in this time. “Will you let him know that I’m thinking about him too?” “Sure. You can even go with me if you want.” Zimon gave him a crooked smile. “Thanks, but I think it would be better if just you went the first time. You know, so you guys can catch up and everything.” Nobel pulled his brother in again, only this time it was for a hug. “You can be really thoughtful sometimes.” “Just don’t let it get out. I got to protect my shallow image after all.” Zimon wrapped his arms around Nobel’s waist. “I promise not to tell a soul. I’ll even do you one better and let you pick out what shirt I wear tonight.” Nobel only prayed that Zimon didn’t have anything that crazy in his size. It was moments like this that made him glad that there was such a height difference between them. “Cool, I have the perfect one in mind. It’s nice enough that you won’t embarrass me, yet boring enough that it won’t embarrass you.” 23
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Nobel laughed. “Okay, go get it. Tonight you and I will have some fun.” Then tomorrow he’d go see Aldrich and this time Nobel was determined that he wouldn’t be turned away so easily. He didn’t care what it took, one way or another he’d get in to talk to Aldrich.
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Chapter Three
N
obel walked up to the porch of the neat, but small ranch home and hesitated for a few breaths before he worked up the courage to knock on the door. As he waited for somebody to answer it, he rubbed his sweating palms on his jeans. He told himself to relax. It was just Tina after all. In fact, they’d been in the same class as each other almost every year they’d been in school. While she was the elder sibling, Nobel was still closer to Aldrich despite the two-year gap in their ages. They became friends at a very young age when they’d both ended up on the same Pee-Wee hockey team. As they grew up, they became inseparable, that was until Nobel graduated and then a couple years later, went off to the Army. He missed their friendship. While they’d promised to write, it’d just never happened. Nobel knew a big part of it had been because he’d been battling his true feelings for Aldrich. He’d hoped 25
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that maybe if he broke off all ties, that he’d forget how much the other man meant to him. In the end, the long stretch of noncommunication had the opposite effect. Nobel’s desire to be with Aldrich had only grown stronger. So much so that he couldn’t even look at another guy without comparing them to Aldrich. Nobel’s heart raced as he spotted somebody approaching the door. He could make out a shadow through the window in the center of the entrance, but couldn’t quite distinguish who it was because of the thin curtain blocking his way. The deadbolt clicked before the door opened. When he saw it was Tina, Nobel was both disappointed and worried. He still forced himself to flash a smile. With the same soft brown hair and gray eyes as Aldrich, they bore a striking resemblance. With the exception that Aldrich dressed normally and she dressed like she’d been visited by the bat-shit crazy fairy. Ever since they were kids she loved to wear only pink and adorn herself with god-awful bows and apparently that habit hadn’t changed, because she looked just as gaudy as she had when they were still in school. She wore a baggy pink sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder to reveal a strap from her purple tank top. Her jeans even had splotches of pink and purple, the marks resembling paint splatter. She furthered her 26
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assault to fashion by wearing a Hello Kitty headband. “Nobel,” she breathed, her pale glossed lips parting in shock. “I didn’t expect you to show up here.” “Why not? He’s my friend.” “True, but you guys haven’t talked in a while.” She cast a worried glance over her shoulder. “Is he up to seeing me this time?” Nobel pressed, striving to keep his voice as sociable as possible. In actuality, it was taking everything he had not to give into the urge to shove past her so he could go inside to find Aldrich. To know that his friend was so close, yet still unobtainable, was driving Nobel crazy. Tina worried her bottom lip, transferring some of the gloss to her top front teeth. “I don’t know.” “Tina. Who’s there?” a voice called from inside. Nobel’s heart jumped when he recognized it as Aldrich. “It’s Nobel,” Tina called back. “Really? Let him in.” Tina worked her lip for a few more seconds before she finally gave a curt nod then stood to the side. As he walked by, Nobel couldn’t resist saying, “Thanks, I promise not to bite him.” She didn’t reply, instead just giving him a narrowed eye glare before she shut the door then 27
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flounced off, leaving Nobel to find his own way around. He paused a moment to glance around the place. It would seem that Tina’s love for pink and fluff carried over to her interior decorating skills. There was so much pink and pastel on the walls it looked as if a bunch of My Little Ponies had exploded and left their pale rainbow infused hides behind. Several pictures dotted her walls, while some were of Aldrich and their parents, a lot more of them were cartoonish pictures. Some were unicorns, but there were some teddy bear and cat ones, too. “Oh, my God. Poor Aldrich. He must be going crazy surrounded by this mess,” Nobel muttered under his breath. He located the living room and quietly walked inside, to find Aldrich sitting at one end of an overly fluffy, pink couch. Nobel froze, his stomach clenching as he got a look at his friend’s condition. Aldrich had always styled his hair so carefully, making sure to have the latest trend. Now it was cropped even shorter than Nobel’s, the spiky brown strands barely covering his scalp. That wasn’t the only change either. Aldrich had to have lost at least twenty pounds and he’d taken on an almost sickly pallor, his once tan skin now pale and almost dull looking. He had purple bags under his eyes, further adding to his emaciated 28
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appearance. He still had the same smile, however. He flashed it at Nobel. “Hey, long time no see.” Nobel went over and took a seat in a chair opposite of the couch. Aldrich had on a plain gray sweatshirt that seemed to swallow his thin frame and a pair of equally baggy workout pants. “Sorry, I tried to visit you when I first came home, but you weren’t taking visitors,” Nobel hastened to explain. For some reason it felt important that he let Aldrich know that he’d wanted to see him before now. That Nobel had tried to be there when Aldrich had still been in the hospital. The smiled faltered a bit on Aldrich’s face. “Yeah, sorry about that. I wasn’t looking so hot then, what with all the wires and tubes still in me. I didn’t want anybody to see me like that.” “Hey, I saw you when you had chicken pox. I don’t think it can get any worse than that.” Aldrich gave a short laugh. “That doesn’t count. You had it at the same time, so we both looked awful.” “Yeah, and if I recall you were the one who had it first, so it was all your fault.” “No way, I’m not taking the fall for that one. It was Tina who caught it first and then she passed it on to both of us.” “Knowing her, she did it on purpose, so she 29
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could cover her body in pink calamine lotion.” Nobel picked up a lace pillow and studied it with disgust. “I guess some things never change.” “You should see my bedroom. It looks like something out of a Hello Kitty themed brothel.” Aldrich gave a shudder. They shared a laugh before they grew sober and an uneasy silence stretched out between them. Nobel finally cleared his throat and forced himself to break it. “So, what do the doctors say about your injury?” Aldrich fiddled with the lace from another pillow as he gave a shrug. “They told me it’s a closed head injury and that while I may get some of my functions back, I’ll never be the same again.” “Functions?” Nobel echoed weakly, his stomach churning with dismay. “I have trouble holding things and my fine motor skills are for crap now. I have trouble writing and my dreams of becoming an embroiderer are out the window.” Nobel gave a tiny chuckle at Aldrich’s attempt at a joke before asking, “So, they don’t think you’re ever going to get one hundred percent better?” Aldrich continued to fiddle with the lace. “No, the funny thing about brain cells is once they’re gone, there’s no getting them back. The physical 30
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therapy has been helping some, but it’s never going to be the same as before.” “I heard that the player who checked you didn’t even get suspended,” Nobel bit out angrily. “Yeah, ain’t that a kicker? The league says that it was a clean hit.” Rage surged through Nobel. “But the ref had already blown the whistle and killed the play. How can they call that clean?” “What can I say? The defenseman who did this to me is a big name in the league. I was just some farm player who’d managed to get bumped up into the big time. I only played a few games before it was all over for me. Meanwhile, he’ll keep playing and making money for the league.” “That just doesn’t seem fair to you.” “I guess they figure that since they’re still shooting me a paycheck, I really can’t complain.” “Yeah, but you don’t get to play hockey anymore. I know that means more to you than any amount of money.” As soon as he saw the look of hurt flicker over Aldrich’s eyes, Nobel wanted the words back. He took a few breaths as he mentally called himself every name in the book. “Maybe I can’t play again, but it’s not all bad. At least I have all this.” Aldrich gestured to the garish room, an expression of abject bitterness on his face. 31
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It killed Nobel to see Aldrich this way. The Aldrich he knew was happy and easy going. There were times where Aldrich’s constant teasing and smartass comments had gotten on Nobel’s nerves. Damn if Nobel wouldn’t do anything to have that sassy attitude back though. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” he muttered, hating himself. Aldrich gave a tight smile. “Why not? It’s true.” “I wish this had never happened to you,” Nobel confessed raggedly. “Me too, but I can’t change it. I can only try my best to make the most of what I have left.” Aldrich ran a hand over his head, as if he were looking for the soft locks that were now gone. He gave Nobel an almost real smile. “But enough about me. I want to learn what you’ve been up to. I heard you were stationed in Afghanistan.” “Yeah, I got home not too long ago.” “Are you going back?” “Nah, I’ve had enough war to last me a dozen lifetimes. I never thought I’d say it, but I don’t want to leave Waterford again.” Aldrich chuckled. “Wow, and you were the one who used to say that he couldn’t get away from here fast enough. What made you change your mind?” “I saw first-hand just how crappy the world can be.” Nobel swallowed a few times as he struggled 32
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to get his emotions in check. Aldrich had enough to handle without Nobel adding his baggage on top of it. “Let’s just say that I long for the boring life Waterford has to offer.” Aldrich reached out and put his hand on Nobel’s knee. “Okay, you don’t have to talk about it now if you don’t want to. Just know that if you ever do need to unload, I’m here for you.” Nobel glanced down to where Aldrich’s hand rested, a heady thrill going through him from even that simple contact. “I missed you.” It shocked Nobel how easily that confession came out. “I missed you, too.” “I’m sorry I didn’t keep in contact,” Nobel said, his voice thick with emotion. “That’s okay. It’s not like we were engaged or anything.” Nobel forced himself to smile at the joke, even though his stomach did a flip over the thought of having that kind of relationship with Aldrich. Just as quickly, Nobel told himself to get over it. Aldrich was straight and that was never going to change. No matter how much Nobel wished otherwise. He nervously cleared his throat. “So, does the warden let you leave this place?” “Yeah, why?” “I thought that maybe you’d like to get 33
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something to eat at the diner.” Aldrich’s face lit up with excitement. “Is that place still open?” “It’s been there for over thirty years. I don’t think it will ever close.” “I wonder if our gum is still stuck to the underside of our corner table?” “Going by the cleanliness of the place, I’d say the odds are high. So, does that mean you want to go get some dinner?” Aldrich frowned. “You would have to drive. They took my license away because of the seizures.” It broke Nobel’s heart to hear that, but he knew he couldn’t let it show. He pasted a grin into place. “If they’d known about that fire hydrant you hit your junior year, they would have taken your license a long time ago.” “Hey, that’s not fair. A squirrel jumped out in front of my car.” “Are you still using that excuse?” “It’s not an excuse. It’s the God’s honest truth. If I didn’t know better I would swear that the squirrel had some kind of death wish. It was almost as if it purposely threw itself into the path of my wheels.” “And you had to deny its suicide wish when you swerved to miss it.” Aldrich struggled to get to his feet, his 34
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movement slow and painfully clumsy. It took him several attempts to lift his ass from the couch. A couple of times, Nobel found himself rushing forward to help, but each time he pulled back. Something told him that Aldrich wouldn’t appreciate the help, instead looking at it as a weakness to need assistance. After several torturous moments, Aldrich was upright. He flashed Nobel an apologetic look. “Sorry, it won’t always be this slow. It just takes me a few moments to get my balance settled when I’ve been sitting around for a while. I usually try to get up every hour to walk around, but I got caught up in a Project Runway marathon.” That comment made all the tension leave the room. Nobel cocked a brow. “You really watch that show?” “I can’t get enough of it,” Aldrich confessed in a stage whisper. As they walked out of the living room, Nobel noted that Aldrich did move a bit quicker, just as he promised. It eased some of the tension in his chest. As they passed by the kitchen, Aldrich called, “Hey, Tina. I’m going out for a while.” She rushed out and joined them in the foyer. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” “The doctor said it would be good for me to leave the house,” Aldrich said as he toed on some slip-on sneakers. 35
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“Where are you going?” “To the diner. Do you want me to bring you something home?” She wrinkled her nose. “No way, you’d probably bring home a heavy dose of botulism along with it. That place is gross. Why in the hell are you even going there?” “Because that was our favorite hangout when we were kids,” Nobel explained. “Gah, I hoped you’d have outgrown that kind of dive, but I guess some things never change. How are you getting there?” “I’m driving your car,” Aldrich cheerfully informed her. Her eyes grew wide as she let out a sharp gasp. “There is no way in hell you’re taking my car anywhere. I wouldn’t let you touch it, even if you still had your license.” Aldrich rolled his eyes. “Like I would be caught dead in a hot pink PT Cruiser.” Nobel jerked in shock. “Are you kidding me?” “God, I wish I was, but it’s the truth. The car looks just as horrifying as you’re probably imagining too.” “It’s a very nice color,” Tina defended. “Maybe in moderation, but I’m in danger of having an overdose.” Tina pursed her lips, but Nobel could tell that she wasn’t really that angry. It really did look like 36
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some things never changed. Even as kids, Tina let Aldrich get away with just about anything. “Okay, go to your awful restaurant. Just make sure you don’t forget to take your six-o-clock meds. I don’t want you to start having seizures again.” Aldrich pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I promise.” “I’ll make sure to remind him,” Nobel added. He still felt a bit sick over the fact that Aldrich suffered from seizures. To know that the once strong, athletic man was now battling something so serious hit hard. It once again served as a reminder as just how close they’d come to losing him. “I’m sure you will. You were always such a nag,” Aldrich groused good-naturedly. “Only because you always managed to find so much trouble.” Aldrich laughed. “Maybe you have a point there. Do you remember the time we were hunting for frogs and I fell into the lake and almost drowned?” “Yeah, I had to dive in after you. As I recall the bottom was thick with mud and we both got stuck.” “By the time we got out, our clothes were ruined.” “It sucked, because I was wearing my favorite 37
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Tigers t-shirt. Your mom tried so hard, but she never could get all the stains out for me.” Nobel didn’t add that his own mother hadn’t bothered to try because she’d been too focused on her career to ever worry about her son’s problems. If it hadn’t been for Aldrich’s mother, Nobel wouldn’t have had anybody who gave a damn about him. Nobel gruffly cleared his throat before he fished his keys from his front pocket. “Are you ready to go?” Aldrich flashed that grin of his that never failed to send a rush of desire through Nobel. “Yeah, I can’t wait. We have so much to catch up on.” Yeah, they did. Nobel only hoped that when Aldrich heard everything, he’d still want to be friends. Because now that he’d finally seen Aldrich again, Nobel didn’t think he’d ever be able to live without Aldrich being a part of his life.
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Chapter Four
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s Aldrich slid into the passenger seat, he took a deep breath as he fought to get control of his nerves. Relax, this is just Nobel. We’ve been friends for years, so there’s no reason to get all hot and bothered over him. Nothing has changed…well, other than the fact that Nobel has gotten damn hot. When did that happen? Or has he always looked this good and I was too caught up in my infatuation with Grant to notice? Nobel got in behind the wheel and flashed an easy going smile. Of course he was at ease. He had no clue what Aldrich was thinking. Otherwise he’d be uncomfortable, or worse pissed. Licking his dry lips, Aldrich tried to study his friend without being too obvious. While Nobel had always been built, his time in the Army had added a good twenty pounds of muscle mass. In addition, he now wore his once floppy brown hair in a neat military cut. He’d also ditched his baggy pants and overly large shirts for a pair of 39
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comfortable looking jeans and a button up black shirt. Gone was the scrawny kid only to be replaced by a man…a mighty damn fine man. One that Aldrich wouldn’t have minded getting to know better. That is if Nobel were gay. But Nobel wasn’t gay, so Aldrich would be better off ditching his new-found crush. The last thing he needed was to be chasing after yet another doomed, never-going-to-happen relationship. He grabbed his seatbelt and brought it across his chest. As he tried to click it in place, his finger refused to cooperate. He fumbled around for a few frustrating moments before Nobel leaned over. He smoothly took charge, snapping the belt into place. “Thanks,” Aldrich muttered, shame flooding through him. A heat came over his face and he looked down, too embarrassed to meet Nobel’s gaze. Nobel gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. “It’s okay. You don’t have to worry about me thinking any less of you because you need a bit more help right now.” Aldrich gazed up from under his lashes. “I hate being this way.” He instantly wanted that admission back. Ever since he’d been injured, he’d worked so hard to 40
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put up an all-is-dandy front. To have broken down that wall so quickly in Nobel’s presence both unsettled and terrified Aldrich. Nobel gave him a sad smile. “I know you do. You always tried to be so strong for everybody. This must be so difficult.” “That’s not exactly true. Growing up, you supported me just as many times as I did you. In fact, I remember one time when you literally carried me a mile on your back.” “That really doesn’t count. You’d twisted your knee and couldn’t walk on your own.” “It does too count. Especially since it was the dead of winter and you hauled not only me, but our skates and sticks.” A warm feeling went through Aldrich as he recalled that day. Even though it’d been ten years, it still felt as if it’d happened yesterday. They’d been playing a pickup game at the lake when Aldrich had hit a rut in the ice. He’d fallen and hurt his knee. When he’d only been able to limp, Nobel had carried Aldrich piggyback style. It must have been hard, but Nobel never uttered one complaint the entire way. “You were right earlier, you always were helping me when I was in trouble,” Aldrich breathed, his chest tight with emotion. Nobel gave him a lopsided grin that did all kinds of wild things to Aldrich’s insides. “And if 41
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you let me, I’ll be here this time for you too.” “That’s just it though. There is no way that you can pull me from this mess. This isn’t mud or a hurt knee. My head is fucked up and it’s never going to get better.” Wow, there he went spilling his guts again. In the span of a few minutes Aldrich shared more than he had in the previous three months combined. Nobel gave a slow nod. “True, you’re never going to be the same again, but that doesn’t mean your life has to end. You still have so much to offer.” Bitterness cut an ugly path through Aldrich. “What? All I’ve ever been good for is scoring goals.” “That’s not true. Sure, you were a great hockey player, but you’re also a great person, smarter than hell and you have a way with people. They like and trust you.” “You don’t have to say that to make me feel better.” “I’m not saying this only to pump you up. I’ve seen it for myself. I remember how good you were with the younger players when we were playing hockey together as kids. No matter how busy you were, you would always make time to give them private lessons if they needed. You never even charged them for it either. You just did it because 42
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you’re nice like that.” “I’m just a sucker. Grant used to tell me all the time that I let people take advantage of me.” It still hurt Aldrich as he recalled all the times Grant had called him foolish, gullible or stupid. The older man never believed in helping somebody out unless there was something in it for him. “Yeah, well no offense, since I know you used to work for him, but Grant’s an asshole,” Nobel all but growled. Surprised at the venom in Nobel’s declaration, Aldrich blinked a few times. “I thought you liked him. You went to his camp almost every year, just like me.” “I only went because I wanted to spend the summer with you. It sure as hell wasn’t because of that jerk’s teaching skills.” A warm feeling pooled in Aldrich’s stomach. “You really only went so we could hang out together?” “Of course, who else would pull you out of all your messes? I had to be there for your own safety.” Aldrich laughed. “Hey, I saved you as many times as you rescued me.” Nobel studied Aldrich intently. As the seconds began to tick by without anything being said, Aldrich began to squirm nervously. If he didn’t 43
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know better, he’d almost swear that there was a sizzle of attraction going both ways. That couldn’t be possible, though, because Nobel was straight. “You’re right,” Nobel finally said in a thick voice. “You did save me, so many damn times that I lost count.” Okay, wow…if it had been any other guy other than Nobel, Aldrich would have sworn there were some sensual undertones to that statement. Arousal even flooded through his body as Nobel’s gaze continued to burn a heated path into him. Aldrich shifted slightly in his seat as his cock swelled to life. He prayed silently to every god out there that there wasn’t a telltale bulge in his pants. Heaven forbid he had to explain that away. Luckily Nobel didn’t seem to notice, he even turned his head and keyed the ignition. Aldrich let out a sigh of relief that his new-found secret was safe. As they made the short drive into town, they caught each other up on the latest gossip they’d heard. “I heard that you’re living with your brother,” Aldrich said. “Yeah, my mom got transferred to England and Zimon didn’t want to leave the country. I decided to room with him so we could both save on rent.” “So does that mean you’re not going to re-enlist into the Army?” Aldrich held his breath as he waited for the answer. 44
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Even though they’d just been reunited, Aldrich found himself terrified at the prospect of Nobel leaving again. With so many changes going on in his life, it was nice to have a few familiar things to hold onto and for Aldrich, they didn’t get more familiar than Nobel. Nobel shook his head. “No, I’m going to stay home so I can be with Zimon.” “Have you gotten a civilian job yet?” Aldrich asked. He was hard pressed to hide his grin of relief. Nobel was staying home! Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad in Waterford after all. “I’ve been working at my uncle’s store.” “I thought you hated it there.” Aldrich wrinkled his nose as he remembered the grouchy old man. Mr. Culvers owned the oldest grocery story in Waterford. Just a mom and pop type of operation, it’d somehow managed to stay open, given the current crappy economy. Which was a miracle considering he wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type, even to his customers. “I do. At least he promoted me to management,” Nobel replied tightly. Aldrich felt for his friend. He’d also worked at the store a few winters while still a teenager. He remembered how mean Mr. Culvers had been to his staff. Even worse, he often seemed to single 45
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Nobel out for even more abuse. Almost as if he took some sort of satisfaction out of making his nephew miserable. “I guess it’s good that he promoted you,” Aldrich ventured. “I think he only did it to look good in the community. You know the whole helping out a war veteran thing. He even made sure to run an article about it in the paper. While he said it was because he was proud of me for my bravery, I knew it was just his way to get more publicity.” The sad thing was, Aldrich didn’t doubt for a second that Nobel was right about that assumption. “Maybe you’ll get lucky and something better will come up then you can quit the store” Aldrich offered, desperate to find any words of encouragement. “I hope so, but I’ve been looking for three months now and I haven’t had any luck. They say the job market is getting better in Michigan, but I haven’t seen it yet.” “Does Zimon have a job?” To Aldrich’s surprise, Nobel visibly tensed at the question. “He’s been working at some bars and clubs.” “Doing what? I know that he’s not a bouncer, he’s way too small for that. And I don’t see him employed as a bartender. Not with the way he 46
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pops off at people when they annoy him.” “He dances,” Aldrich said, the words coming out hard. “At the women’s only strip club in the next town over?” “No, he dances for the guys at the gay bar.” Aldrich carefully schooled his features so his shock didn’t show. Not that it surprised him to hear that Zimon was gay, but because the punk was actually performing in public and not bothering to hide it. In a way, Aldrich envied the younger man for his bravery. “That must make your father real happy,” Aldrich drawled out sarcastically. Nobel’s dad was so straight laced and uptight that he probably didn’t even like to admit his son even ventured into a gay bar, let alone professionally danced at one. “I wouldn’t know, Dad isn’t speaking to either one of us.” “Is it because Zimon is gay?” Aldrich held his breath as he waited to see how Nobel would react to that question. Would he be pissed? Ashamed over Zimon? Or did he accept his brother? “Yes, he all but disowned Zimon. After I found out, I cut off all ties with my father. If he can’t accept Zimon for who he is, then neither one of us needs the bastard in our lives.” 47
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Just when Aldrich thought Nobel couldn’t get any better, he had to make that admission. Aldrich couldn’t hide his smile this time. “I’m so proud of you.” “For what? Standing up for Zimon? That’s what brothers are supposed to do. You and Tina would have done the same for each other.” That was true. Despite her horrible love for pink, Tina was the best sister a guy could ask for. In return, Aldrich would kill if needed to keep her safe. “Yeah, we would have.” “So, how are your parents doing?” “Just okay. My injury has been hard on them. Not that they’re disappointed in me or anything. It just killed them to see me hurt. Right after I was first injured, my brain swelled and I slipped into a coma for a few days. It was pretty touch and go for a while and they thought they were going to lose me. Ever since then, they’ve been…” Aldrich trailed off, looking for the right word. “Overprotective? Scared to let you out of their sight? Coddling?” Nobel offered. “All of those.” Aldrich flushed. “Sorry about that. I sometimes have trouble with my verbal skills. It’s one of the more fun effects of my brain scramble.” “Hey, you still have a much better vocabulary than most people. Take Zimon for example, just yesterday he told me that he had the bestest, 48
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biggest wiener in town.” Aldrich let out a bark of laughter. Leave it to Nobel to find a way to make him feel better. “That sounds like something Zimon would say.” They pulled into the parking lot of the diner. A wave of nostalgia hit Aldrich as he gazed at the familiar rounded building, with its blue-shingled roof. Even the signs in the window remained the same. He smiled, finally feeling for the first time like he was truly home. “I can’t believe how much I missed this place,” he admitted. “Me, too. While I was in Afghanistan I would lie awake at night, craving one of the greasy burgers from here.” There was the tiniest hint of sadness in Nobel’s tone and it made Aldrich wonder what his friend went through while he was deployed. Aldrich longed to ask Nobel about it. In the end, Aldrich held his questions in. There would be plenty of time for him to talk to Nobel about that time, so there was no need to press him before he was ready to share. They got out and walked inside. As soon as the familiar scents of grease, fries and soup hit Aldrich, his stomach growled. Nobel must have heard it because he asked, “I take it you’re hungry.” “Yeah, Tina is on this crazy no bread, no carbs 49
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diet, so I’m stuck eating whatever strange meals she’s decides to make up.” “Oh, that can’t be good. She was never good in the kitchen to begin with.” “It’s a nightmare. The other day she made some kind of fish and it was so undercooked it was practically swimming across my plate.” Aldrich shuddered as he recalled how the slimy fish had felt when he’d tried to bite into it. Not that he was against sushi or anything, but only if it was raw on purpose. Nobel clapped him on the back. “Next time that happens, just call me and I’ll smuggle you in a pizza.” “Look,” Aldrich pointed to the back corner. “Our regular table is open.” They rushed over to claim it. Shaped like a horseshoe the booth was really meant for more bodies, but they’d always used it as kids. Aldrich ran a loving hand over the scarred surface of the table as he thought back to all the good times they had in this very spot. “Wow, they even have the same duct tape on the tears,” Nobel observed as he gazed down at the blue vinyl seat. “Remember the time Katey Mills threw up all over that seat?” Aldrich laughed. “She was so drunk. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone down as many wine coolers as she did that 50
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night. I kept warning her what would happen, but she wouldn’t listen to me.” Nobel paused. “I still don’t know why she always had to tag along with us so much.” “Duh, it was because she had a massive crush on you.” Aldrich shook his head, amazed that even years later his friend could remain so clueless to that obvious fact. Nobel scratched his head, a perplexed expression marring his brow. Aldrich wondered why he never noticed before how cute Nobel looked when he was confused. “Funny, I thought it was always you that she liked,” Nobel said. “No, that was Judy Carson. She was downright stalkery with me. Every morning during my senior year she would leave notes in my locker. Near the end, she moved up to slipping in some risqué photos of herself.” Now it was Aldrich who shuddered. While Judy had been nice in a batshit crazy kind of way, that didn’t mean he wanted to see her sans clothes. To make it worse, she’d attempted some Hustler worthy poses. “She really sent you naked pictures of herself?” “Yeah, thank god, she was eighteen by then or else I would have felt really dirty.” “Oh my God, as I live and breathe. My boys are back.” 51
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They glanced up to see their favorite waitress standing in front of the table. An older lady with the misfortune of having Bertha for her name, she was equal parts sweet and no-nonsense. Her once black hair had some shots of gray through it, but otherwise she remained the same, from her tight bun to her blue, polyester dress uniform and white sensible shoes. “Hey, Bertha. How have things been going?” Nobel asked as he slid out from the booth and gave her a hug that she eagerly returned. Aldrich would have gotten up to join them, but he was afraid he’d lose his balance and make an ass out of himself. So he just settled for a wave. Bertha was having none of that, she slid into the booth next to him and pulled him into an embrace. While it was a bit awkward, it still felt good and Aldrich allowed himself to sink into her arms. “I’ve been really worried about you, baby,” she said, before adding, “I’ve been worried about both of you. It would have killed me to lose either one of you boys.” Aldrich didn’t bother to point out that they weren’t exactly boys anymore, knowing that they could be sixty and she’d still think of them as kids. “You don’t need to worry anymore. We’re home now,” Aldrich assured her as they pulled apart. She gave him a probing stare, her blue-eyed 52
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gaze seeming to see straight into his soul. “I’m not so sure that I should stop being concerned about you.” “I’m fine.” For the first time since the injury, he really meant it, too.
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Chapter Five
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lump formed in Nobel’s throat as he watched Aldrich and Bertha. It’d felt like a punch to the gut when Nobel realized that Aldrich hadn’t gotten up because he didn’t trust his body not to fall or stumble. But Bertha managed to smooth things over, just like she always had. Nobel made a mental note to leave her a massive tip when he paid the bill. Nobel slid in the opposite side. While he would have loved to scoot all the way over so he could offer Aldrich a hug or two, he resisted. It was getting harder not to give into those urges though. With each passing moment that they spent together, the desire for some physical contact just continued to grow. Bertha got up and grabbed her pad from her apron. “So what will it be? Your usual?” Aldrich gaped at her. “You still remember after all this time?” “Two mega-burgers. One with all the works, 54
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the other with just ketchup and cheese. Make sure the fries are extra crispy on both.” Now Nobel was surprised as well. He cast a teasing smirk in Aldrich’s direction. “Do you still only eat boring burgers?” Aldrich wrinkled his nose. The movement making him look cute. “Of course, I do. The thought of mayo and mustard make me want to gag.” “That’s too bad, you could have used them to cover up the taste of your sister’s cooking,” Bertha drawled. They laughed and Nobel realized how much he’d missed her sassy attitude. “Can we get a couple of Cokes to go with it?” “Oh, and a chocolate shake,” Aldrich added, his eyes wide with excitement. “Do you want that with one straw or two?” Bertha asked, a teasing glint in her gaze. Aldrich gave a teasing waggle of his brows as he leered at Nobel. “Nah, we’ll just share the one straw.” Even though he knew his friend was only joking, the suggestion still went straight to Nobel’s cock. On its own accord his gaze drifted to Aldrich’s full lips. Nobel wondered what they would feel like pressed to his skin. Was Aldrich the type to take things soft and easy, his lips leaving behind a velvet path? Or was he the hard 55
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and fast type, who liked to bite and lick? Not that Nobel cared, he’d take it either way. Nobel nervously cleared his throat. “How about you just bring us both a shake? Then we won’t have to worry about it.” “Buzzkill,” Aldrich said with a slow shake of his head. “No, I just remember how you always hog the shake and don’t give me my rightful half.” There’d been many times, when they’d been younger, they had to share drink or food. While their parents always made sure they had an allowance, they both tended to waste it on frivolous things. So when it came time to buy lunch, they’d often had to pool their funds together and buy just one meal. Bertha gave them a speculative look before giving a curt nod. “Fine, two shakes. I’ll put in your food order and then bring the drinks out.” After she left, Aldrich asked, “Is it just me, or did she act a little strange just then?” Nobel shrugged. “Bertha has always been a bit off. That’s what makes her so great.” “True, but today it was as if she expected something from us. Like she was just waiting for us to admit to something.” Fear shot through Nobel as he wondered if maybe Bertha had picked up on his true feelings for Aldrich. While Nobel always was careful to 56
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keep his attraction hidden, Bertha was sharp. If he’d had even one tiny slip up she’d pick up on it for sure. “She’s probably just waiting to hear about the wild life you had as a pro player,” Nobel offered, hoping that suggestion would placate Aldrich. Aldrich snorted. “There was nothing exciting about it. I wasn’t there long enough and when I played for the minors, I didn’t make enough to go out. I was lucky if I could afford the dollar menu at the fast food joints. If anyone has exciting stories to tell, it’s you. I mean you went to a different country and fought in a war. I didn’t even leave Michigan, aside for my summer job at the camp.” Just the mention of his time in Afghanistan made Nobel’s gut clench. He reached out and began to toy with the napkin dispenser, desperate for any distraction. “It really wasn’t that exciting either.” Aldrich’s expression said he didn’t buy that, but he didn’t press. Instead he asked, “So, do you have a girlfriend?” “No, you?” When Aldrich shook his head, Nobel felt a burst of excitement that lasted until he reminded himself that Aldrich was straight. So, it didn’t matter if he was single or not, because he was just as unavailable as far as Nobel was concerned. 57
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“I don’t think I’ve ever had a serious relationship,” Aldrich said. “Why not?” Aldrich’s gaze dropped to his hands, which were resting on top of the table. “I stupidly fell in love with somebody who only wanted to use me. They strung me out a long time, making me think there was a chance that we’d end up together, but it was all a lie. They never really wanted me.” It broke Nobel a bit to hear the hurt in Aldrich’s voice. “I hope the bitch realizes what she missed out on.” Aldrich gazed up from under his lashes and gave a short chuckle. “I’m sure the person has never given me a second thought. Now that I’m hurt and not able to be their personal whipping boy, I’m useless as far as they’re concerned.” The bitterness that came along with that statement was so unlike Aldrich that it stunned Nobel. It struck him how much his friend had changed because of the injury. Where he’d once been so sweet and happy, now he was angry at the world and jaded. Nobel knew then that he had to do everything in his power to bring the old Aldrich back. After dinner, Nobel drove Aldrich back to Tina’s. After he parked the car, they both paused, neither of them speaking as they stared up at the 58
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house. “Have I ever told you how much I hate pink?” Aldrich finally said. Regret tugged at Nobel that he couldn’t do more for his friend. “Is it hard living with Tina?” Aldrich ducked his head, a blush covering his pale face. “I shouldn’t have said that. She’s done so much for me and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. In fact, I would have been lost without her these past few months. She’s been my strength.” “What about your parents? Have they been around?” “They were there at first, but then they had to go home to Florida. Dad’s health isn’t the best and the Michigan weather makes him worse.” “What’s wrong with him?” “Emphysema and arthritis. It’s so bad that he’s in a wheelchair now.” Nobel felt for bad for the man. Aldrich’s dad had always been so proud and strong. Some years, he’d even coached their hockey team. What’s more both he and his wife always been so nice to Nobel while he was growing up. If not for them he would never have known what a loving family was. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” “It’s not all bad. Dad got one of those power wheelchairs. He loves ramming that thing into stuff.” 59
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“Yeah, I can see him doing that.” Aldrich let out a sigh as he stared at the house. It became painfully obvious that he dreaded going back inside. “Why don’t I pick you up tomorrow night? We can go to the drive-in and then you can crash at my place.” A huge grin broke out over Aldrich’s face and damn if that didn’t make Nobel feel ten-feet tall. “That sounds great. Is the US-23 drive-in still open?” “Yes, and it has a double horror feature going on.” “That would be perfect. I haven’t seen a good horror flick in a long time.” “I can’t guarantee it will be good, but at least we can have a blast making fun of it.” Aldrich chuckled. “That’ll make it even better.” The sound of Aldrich’s laughter did strange things to Nobel’s emotions and before he knew it, he’d reached out and lightly stroked Aldrich’s cheek. The caress wasn’t long, just the briefest of touches, but there was no denying that it’d happened. All the air seemed to leave the car as they locked gazes. Nobel’s heart pounded as he waited for Aldrich to react. Would he be angry? Disgusted? Horrified? In the end, Nobel got none of those reactions. 60
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Instead Aldrich gave a weak smile and said, “I wasn’t kidding earlier. I really did miss you.” Was there a hint of arousal in his voice at that admission, or had Nobel only imagined it? Maybe he wanted Aldrich to return his feelings so badly that Nobel was finding hope when there wasn’t any. Then Aldrich did the most stunning thing of all—he leaned in and gave Nobel a soft peck on the cheek. Nobel barely had time to register the velvet brush of Aldrich’s lips before it was over. “I’m sorry I refused to see you when I was in the hospital,” Aldrich said in a near whisper. Nobel resisted the urge to reach up and touch the area that’d been kissed. “It’s okay. I know you were going through a lot then. I don’t hold it against you.” Aldrich nipped at his own bottom lip as he appeared to be having some inner debate. After several tense moments he blurted, “Did you hear about Jochen?” “Are you talking about the scandal?” Nobel asked carefully, wondering where the conversation was heading. Aldrich nodded. “Yeah, does that change how you think of him?” “Of course not.” “A lot of people won’t even talk to him anymore. He lost so many friends when they 61
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turned their backs on him.” “Then they were never his friend in the first place.” “So, it doesn’t matter to you that he’s gay?” Damn, Nobel wasn’t ready for this conversation yet, but there was no way he could avoid it. He debated on a second before he decided that he better lay out the truth. “No, it doesn’t.” “Because of Zimon?” “Because of me.” Aldrich blinked a few times, his brow creasing in confusion. “Are you trying to tell me that you’re…” “Gay? Yes, I am,” Nobel replied bluntly. His heart hammered in fear as he waited to see how Aldrich reacted to that bombshell. The tension grew so strong that Nobel found himself holding his breath. Just as he felt himself getting ready to break, Aldrich’s lips curled up into a smile. “Oh.” “That’s all you have to say about it?” “At the moment, yes.” Nobel studied his friend closely, looking for any sign that would show him how his friend was really feeling. Going by the grin still covering Aldrich’s face he was taking the news pretty well. “Can I tell you a secret?” Aldrich asked. “You know you can.” 62
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“It’s pretty big. Only a couple of people know.” Mouth dry with anticipation, Nobel nodded. “I promise I won’t tell anybody.” Aldrich nibbled on his bottom lip for a beat before he blurted, “I’m gay, too.” Before Nobel could even think of a reply to that admission, Aldrich got out of the car and slammed the door. He stumbled a bit, before he caught his balance. Shooting Nobel an everything-is-all-right look, he slowly walked to the door. He went inside without glancing back again. For several moments, Nobel sat there in stunned silence. Mentally, he kept repeating the same thing over and over again, Aldrich is gay. He’s really, really gay. A feeling of joy went through him as he realized that maybe his crush wasn’t a lost cause after all. Perhaps, if he played everything just right, there could finally be something special between them. But along with the joy came a stab of pain as Nobel recalled the way Aldrich talked about his past relationship and how he’d been hurt so bad. Looking back, Nobel couldn’t believe he hadn’t picked up on the way Aldrich had never said she or her but rather had referred to the individual as somebody or that person. Wow, the clues had been right in front of Nobel and he’d missed them. It made him wonder what other verbal cues, he’d failed to pick up on in the 63
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past. He also wondered just who the asshole was that’d broken Aldrich’s heart. Nobel only had to scramble his memory for a few seconds before he realized who it was. Grant! Of course, it all made sense now. The way Aldrich had idolized the guy. Why Aldrich continued to work for Grant summer after summer, despite the poor pay and treatment. Then Nobel remembered that he’d heard somewhere that Grant was getting married to some former female model and the final puzzle pieces clicked into place. His gut clenched painfully as he fully realized how much Aldrich must be suffering. “Oh babe, it must have broken your heart,” Nobel whispered. The urge to run into the house, so he could hold Aldrich was strong, but Nobel resisted. He sensed that Aldrich needed some alone time to digest all that’d just gone down. Truthfully, so did Nobel. Now that he was so close to finally having Aldrich, Nobel didn’t want to ruin it by pushing too hard. He did vow to himself that he’d do everything in his power to make sure that Aldrich found some healing. And not just for his head. It was painfully obvious that Aldrich’s soul was just as injured. Nobel was determined to mend both. Even if he had to fight Aldrich’s fears to do so. 64
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Chapter Six
A
ldrich was nervous the entire next day as he waited for the evening to come. It didn’t help any that Tina was in a foul mood either. After snapping at Aldrich most of the morning, she camped out in front of the TV and watched bad reality shows for the rest of the day. When Aldrich got up to get ready for the movies, she shot him a suspicious look. “Where are you going?” “Nobel and I are going to the drive-in?” She made a sour face. “Why? There are so many nice indoor theaters.” “It’s fun.” “I don’t see how being cramped in a car for hours on end can be fun.” “That’s because you’ve never tried it.” Even as small kids, Tina refused to go to the drive-in, always opting to stay over at their grandparents’ rather than going out with the rest of the family. Come to think of it, Tina hadn’t 65
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usually gone along for any fun events. “When’s the last time you went out?” Aldrich asked. She instantly became flustered, a blush covering her cheeks. “I don’t know. I’ve been really busy taking care of you.” Yeah, right. Aldrich was willing to bet that it’d been long before he’d been injured. “Tell me the truth.” She let out an exasperated huff. “That’s really none of your business.” “I’m just worried about you,” Aldrich defended. His heart sank as he realized just how lonely his sister must be. No wonder she so eagerly welcomed him into her home. She probably was getting depressed with nothing but pink and ribbons to keep her company. “You’re the baby in the family, so it’s my job to worry about you. Not the other way around.” He sat down next to her and took her hand. “I’m also a full-grown man and, older or not, you’re still my sister. So it’s only natural for me to be concerned about you.” She sighed, the anger fading from her face. “Let’s just say it’s been a while.” “Why?” Tina rolled her eyes. “Look at me. Do you honestly think a man is going to be interested in 66
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somebody like me?” “Don’t say that about yourself. There are plenty of guys who would be crazy for you. All you need to do is get out of the house more, so you can meet them.” “Aldrich, I appreciate you trying to boost me up, but let’s be real here. I’m not that pretty, I dress like a twelve year old and I have the social skills of a hermit. I may as well get twenty cats and just get it over with, because we both know that’s how I’m going to end up anyway.” It saddened Aldrich to hear Tina speak of herself that way. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Hey, I happen to think you’re pretty hot.” She gave him a sideways glance. “Not to be mean, but you’re the last one I would trust with that assessment.” Aldrich tensed as the implication of those words hit him. “What’s that supposed to mean? That just because I’m your brother I’m blinded to how you really look?” “No, it means that because you’re gay, I’m not for sure that you know what straight men are looking for.” When Aldrich gaped at her for several breaths, she let out another sigh, “Are you really shocked that I know you’re gay? Come on, Aldrich, aside from Nobel, I know you better than anybody.” 67
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Aldrich swallowed several times as he struggled to get himself together. “Are you mad at me?” “For what? Being who you are? Don’t be stupid. I love you—every part of you. The grumpy part, the smart part, the athletic part and the gay part. All of it is what makes you who you are and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.” Tears pricked Aldrich’s eyes. He blinked several times to clear them before he rasped, “I was so afraid that you’d hate me when you found out.” She used her free hand to give him a good slug in the arm. “I could never hate you and how dare you think so little of me.” He rubbed the spot, suddenly feeling a bit guilty for not trusting her sooner. “I’m sorry. I realize I should have known that, especially since everyone was so supportive of Jochen. I was just so terrified of losing you guys.” “There is nothing you could ever do that would make us stop loving you.” She paused for reflection before amending, “Well, other than becoming an Avalanche fan. That’s just plain unforgivable.” Aldrich laughed, both from her joke and just because he was so damn relieved. After confessing first to Nobel and then her, it felt as if a huge weight was lifted from Aldrich’s shoulders. 68
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Tina gave him a sly look. “So, are you and Nobel just hanging out or is it a date?” Aldrich jerked, shocked at just how much she’d managed to figure out. It looked as if he wasn’t as good at putting on a front as he always thought. “Damn, you don’t miss anything, do you?” She grinned, seeming damn pleased with herself. “Nope, Sherlock and I have a lot in common. So, are you going to answer my question or not?” He sucked in a deep breath as he wrestled for an answer. “I’m not sure. I think it’s a date, but I don’t want to get my hopes up.” “Bah,” she gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I wouldn’t worry. Nobel has been in love with you for years.” That stunned Aldrich so much he almost fell off the couch. “No way.” “Yes, way. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” “How’s that?” She gave him a tender smile. “Like he’d do just about anything for you.” “That’s just because we’re best friends,” Aldrich protested, still not willing to get his hopes up. He’d been burned before and didn’t relish a repeat. “It’s more than that and you know it.” Aldrich paused, his chest growing tight with emotion. Did he dare believe it? Could Nobel 69
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really have strong feelings for him? Most of all, could Aldrich take the risk of getting hurt again? “I’m scared,” he admitted. She gave him a tender smile before pulling him into her arms. He soon became enveloped in a cloud of Love’s Baby Soft, but he didn’t care. It felt too damn good to be in her comforting embrace. “I don’t know who hurt you, but if I ever find out, I’m going to hunt him down and put his nuts in a vise,” she declared savagely. The comment was so uncharacteristic of her that it brought out a short burst of laughter from Aldrich. “That sounds really painful.” “It’s the least they deserve for breaking my baby brother’s heart.” He snuggled into her, not even caring that he was rubbing against a picture of The Care Bears. “Those guys don’t know what they’re missing. You’re the best.” She snorted. “That’s not what you said the other day when I made my special pizza.” “That’s because you made it with that crappy, fake crust. Plus, the sauce tasted funky.” She rubbed his back, in a soothing manner. “Maybe you have a point. You’re so thin I should be looking for ways to fatten you up. How much weight have you lost?” “I don’t know. Does it matter? It’s not like I need to keep fit anymore.” 70
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Tina pulled back, so she could cup his face. “Yes, it does matter. I want you around for a long time and that’s not going to happen if you don’t start taking care of yourself better.” The stark worry evident in her gaze made a lump build up in the back of his throat. Unable to speak, he just nodded. It must have been enough to placate her because she flashed a satisfied smile. “Go get ready for your date.” He got up and went to his room. As he tried on various outfits he was dismayed to find out that Tina was right, he’d lost a lot of weight. The only reason he hadn’t noticed it before was because he’d been only wearing sweats and t-shirts. Now that he was trying on his old jeans and dress shirts, the loose fit was painfully obvious. He finally found something that only fit slightly baggy, a pair of black jeans and a red, longsleeved shirt that buttoned up the front. Since it was still a little warm outside, he rolled the sleeves up. The clothes were a few years old and before his professional hockey days, but they would do. Next he went into his bathroom and looked at his reflection. When he saw how pale and gaunt he was, dismay crashed into him. Hell, he even had dark rings under his eyes, making him look all the worse. His hair wasn’t any better—the too short, brown strands sticking up all over the place, his scalp visible in several areas. Which shouldn’t 71
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come as a surprise, given the fact that his last haircut had been courtesy of the hospital when they had to shave his head for surgery. He ran his fingers over some of the scars left behind by the various procedures they’d performed to save his life. While he knew it’d been a necessary evil in order to relieve the pressure in his skull when his brain swelled, it still made him bitter. “You look beautiful,” Nobel declared as he walked into the bathroom. Aldrich jumped, shocked at the man’s appearance. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Nobel stepped closer, his hands going up to caress Aldrich’s scalp. “I’ve always loved your hair.” A shiver went through Aldrich as Nobel’s fingers ghosted over his head. “You have?” “Yes, I’ve also always wondered what it would be like to touch it like I am now.” “Was it everything you thought it would be?” Aldrich asked before biting back a moan. Who knew a simple touch could feel so good? “No, it’s much better than I ever dreamed.” “You’re just saying that to make me feel better. I know how horrible it looks right now.” “You’ll always be perfect to me.” Wow, it didn’t get any better than that. Aldrich tipped his head back so he could meet Nobel’s 72
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gaze. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize sooner.” “Realize what?” “That you were right in front of me, waiting for me to get my head out of my ass.” Nobel trailed his fingers down the side of Aldrich’s cheek, his fingers leaving behind a heated path. “I just kept hoping that one day you’d eventually wake up and see that I was waiting for you to notice me.” “In my defense, I wasn’t a total idiot. You just told me you were gay, so how could I know that you were attracted to me?” “If you would have bothered to look you would have noted how I was constantly checking out your ass.” “Hmm… so that’s why you always insisted on walking behind me.” Aldrich became brave and wrapped his arms around Nobel’s waist. When Nobel didn’t pull back, but instead put his own arms around Aldrich’s shoulder, a heady thrill went through Aldrich. Emboldened, he moved in closer, until their bodies were pressed together. When he felt the hard press of Nobel’s cock against him, Aldrich grinned. “Is that for me?” he asked. Since Nobel was a few inches taller Aldrich had to tilt his head up some to keep eye contact. It made his neck crick a bit, but he didn’t mind if it meant being able to stare into Nobel’s dark gaze. 73
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Nobel ran one hand down Aldrich’s back. “You know it is.” Aldrich rocked forward, making sure Nobel could feel that he was hard as well. “That’s okay, you’re not the only one who is feeling…excited.” A tremble went through Aldrich’s body as his arousal rose a couple notches. He tilted his head a bit farther back, praying to all that was holy and unholy that Nobel got the message. When Nobel slowly began to inch his face down, Aldrich couldn’t hold back a small whimper of relief. The desire to be taken by the other man burned inside him and Aldrich knew that he wouldn’t be satisfied until he fulfilled it. The instant their lips touched, the burning inside Aldrich grew to a full-out fire. Nobel tasted so warm—so alive, that Aldrich knew one taste would never be enough. Now eager for more, Aldrich parted his lips and thrust his tongue out, not caring if the move made him come off as needy or slutty. Luckily, Nobel didn’t seem to mind, he even let out a growl as he reached down and cupped Aldrich’s ass. Aldrich moaned before he slid his tongue inside Nobel’s hot mouth. Nobel responded by giving Aldrich’s ass a firm squeeze. Aldrich gasped, loving the rough handling just as much as he’d treasured the earlier gentle caresses. Nobel seemed content to let Aldrich take the 74
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lead and Aldrich relished having control. He took his time, savoring every lick, nip and bite that allowed him to learn a little more about his friend. No, not just friend. At least not anymore. For while they may not officially be lovers yet, Aldrich realized it would only be a matter of time. In fact, if he had his way it would be sooner rather than later. Tearing his lips away from Nobel, Aldrich gazed at his bed. While it was just a full-sized mattress, it would be plenty big enough for their needs. Nobel must have sensed what he was thinking because he made a slight tsking noise. “Later, after the movie,” Nobel admonished. Aldrich surprised himself by letting out a frustrated whimper. “Why do we have to wait?” “Well, for one thing, I’m not doing it with your sister just two rooms away. For another, the pizza is going to get cold.” “But we like cold pizza,” Aldrich pointed out, before pausing, his stomach rumbling in hunger. As he recalled how his skinny ass had looked in the mirror, suddenly food became much more interesting “You really got pizza?” “Yeah, it’s in the car. Plus, we better get going, so we can get a good spot before the movie begins.” While Aldrich could give a damn about parking spots or the movie, he gave a reluctant nod. Only 75
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because he knew that once they got there, he’d have Nobel all to himself. He let out a wicked grin as he ran a palm over Nobel’s ass. “It’s always been a fantasy of mine to get frisky at the drive-in.” Nobel cocked a brow. “Seriously? Well, we’ll have to see what we can do about making that fantasy a reality.” Aldrich further surprised himself by letting out a throaty laugh. “If we’re going to leave, then we better get going. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is that I’m going to tear off your clothes and beg you to fuck me.” Nobel stepped away, but reached out and grabbed Aldrich’s hand. “Okay, let’s move. I don’t want to miss the trailers at the beginning of the movie.” One of Nobel’s favorite things about going to movies had been watching the trailers for future releases. It warmed Aldrich to see that habit hadn’t changed. They rushed outside, pausing a second to say goodbye to Tina. She gave their interlocked hands a pointed look, but didn’t remark on it. Although, there was no missing the smirk on her face. When they went out to the driveway, Aldrich was surprised to see a bright yellow Tracker waiting for them. “What happened to your car?” 76
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“I borrowed this from Zimon. I figured we could put the seats down and sit in the back to be more comfortable while we watched the movie.” If Aldrich had his way, they wouldn’t be watching much of the movie at all. While he knew it would be a risk to be making out with Nobel in a public place, for the first time ever Aldrich didn’t care. He’d been hiding out in the closet for years and all it’d gotten him was a broken heart and a healthy dose of loneliness. Well no more. Now that he finally had somebody who truly cared about him, Aldrich wasn’t going to hide who he was anymore. He was going to stretch his wings and finally live his life the way he wanted and to hell with whoever didn’t like it. He gave Nobel’s hand a squeeze. “What are we waiting for? Let’s get this thing going.” He only hoped that Nobel realized it was more than the date he was talking about.
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Chapter Seven
A
s Nobel drove up to the old drive-in a strong sense of homecoming hit him. While it’d been years since he’d been to the place, everything remained the same, almost as if time had frozen it in place just for him. The drive-in wasn’t much to look at, just three dirty lots that were riddled with weeds and rock, a run-down concession stand and three faded screens. It still made him glad that he’d suggested coming there. “I can’t believe it’s still open,” Aldrich breathed, his gaze seeming to drink in the landscape. “Why, because of the economy or because it’s almost winter?” “Both.” “Well, it’s survived the economy because it’s cheaper to come here than the regular theater and they now stay in operation until well into the fall. The only difference is once summer ends, they 78
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only operate on weekends.” A tiny smile kicked up the corners of Aldrich’s lips as he continued to stare at the drive-in. “I guess that makes sense. I wonder if we’ll see any of our old friends here tonight?” Nobel drove through the entrance and waited in the long line of cars at the ticket booth. “Why? Are you worried about what they’ll think if they see us together? If so, you shouldn’t. They’ll just think that we’re hanging out like normal and I promise to keep my hands to myself.” It would suck though. Both, because Nobel had quickly become addicted to touching Aldrich and because he wasn’t ashamed of their new relationship. Still, he wouldn’t force Aldrich to go public until the other man was ready. “You better not keep your hands to yourself,” Aldrich growled playfully, before he paused, a frown appearing on his face. “That is, unless you want to.” Nobel reached out and grabbed Aldrich’s hand, looping their fingers together. “I’m done hiding who I am. Besides, I’m damn proud to have you as mine.” A slight blush covered Aldrich’s face. “I’m proud to belong to you.” Not giving a damn who saw, Nobel leaned in and planted a hard kiss on Aldrich’s lips. After letting out a gasp of surprise, Aldrich softened, his 79
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tongue darting out to stroke the inside of Nobel’s mouth. A car honked behind them and Nobel pulled back, embarrassed to see that the cars in front of them had moved forward and he was now holding up the line. “Oops.” Aldrich grinned. “I guess that’s what we get for letting ourselves become distracted.” After a few moments they reached the front of the line, after paying for their admission, Nobel pulled in front of the screen that was slotted to show the horror movies. He backed into the space so the rear of the Tracker faced the screen and set his radio to the proper station for them to receive the audio for the movies. He then helped Aldrich to the back of the Tracker. Nobel had lowered the back seats, so they had plenty of room to stretch out. They made themselves comfortable, their backs resting against the front seats. There was a cooler full of pop, along with a pizza, plus various other snacks. Aldrich’s eyes grew wide as he looked at all the food. “Damn, you brought enough to feed an entire frat house.” “I’m just trying to fatten you up,” Nobel teased. As soon as he saw the flicker of hurt pass over Aldrich’s face, Nobel wanted those words back. Letting out a soft curse, Nobel said, “I’m sorry.” Aldrich shrugged. “It’s okay, I know I’m way 80
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too thin.” Nobel reached out and pulled Aldrich into a tight embrace. “Only because you’ve been healing. That still doesn’t mean that I don’t think you’re perfect.” “Keep saying that. After enough times I may actually begin to believe it.” Aldrich snuggled into Nobel’s chest. If Nobel had his way he’d be saying that to Aldrich every day for the rest of their lives. But since he didn’t want to rush things, Nobel kept that to himself. He knew that sooner or later, all the things he’d be holding back would come out though. He only hoped that when they did, Aldrich would be ready to hear them. “Let’s start with the pizza,” Nobel suggested gruffly as they broke apart. He grabbed the box and opened it, the tangy scents of oregano, cheese and pepperoni filling the air. Aldrich leaned in and inhaled deeply. “Damn, that smells good.” Since he’d forgotten to bring plates, Nobel reached in, grabbed a slice and held it up to Aldrich’s lips. “Here then, take a bite.” Aldrich parted his sinfully beautiful lips and sank his even teeth into the pizza. As he chewed, he closed his eyes and he let out a satisfied moan. “Good?” Nobel couldn’t resist teasing. Still keeping his eyes closed, Aldrich nodded. 81
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“You have no idea what a treat it is to finally get some real pizza.” A bit of sauce clung to the corner of Aldrich’s mouth. Unable to resist, Nobel leaned in a slowly licked it clean. “You’re right. It tastes fantastic.” Aldrich opened his eyes. “I guess you probably missed it, too. I can’t imagine they had a lot of good pizza in Afghanistan.” “Not as good as back home. That’s for sure.” Nobel held the slice back up to Aldrich’s lips. Aldrich took another bite and chewed for a few moments before asking, “What was it like there?” Nobel froze, a healthy dose of panic building up inside him as he recalled some of the more horrifying things he’d witnessed during his deployment. His anxiety must have shown on his face because Aldrich put a comforting hand on his arm and said, “You don’t have share any of the bad stuff. At least not until you’re ready. Just tell me what it looked like there. I’ve never been to another country, aside from Canada and that really doesn’t count since we live in Michigan.” Nobel studied Aldrich’s earnest expression and decided to relent. “Okay, I’ll share some things with you. I just may not be ready to get into the real gritty stuff. At least, not yet.” “I understand. And if you ever are ready to share the bad stuff, I’ll be here to listen to that too,” Aldrich replied, his gaze soft with 82
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understanding. “I’ll only talk as long as you keep eating,” Nobel negotiated. “Deal.” Aldrich parted his lips for another bit. While Aldrich chewed, Nobel began. “It’s a lot different there. For one thing, it’s mostly rural and a lot of the roads aren’t paved like they are here. Instead they’re dirt.” “I heard it’s really dusty there,” Aldrich said after he swallowed. Nobel held the pizza up to Aldrich’s lips. “It is. I spent most of the time in Afghanistan hacking my lungs up, because I got pneumonia. We would get so covered in the dirt that you could see the outlines on our faces when we took off our eyepro at night.” “Were you at least able to take showers?” “Most times, yes, but the facilities weren’t anything like back home. Things could be pretty basic at times. While we normally had running water, the construction of the showers was very minimal.” Aldrich took another bite before saying, “That must have been very hard for you. You’ve always been such a clean freak.” “I adjusted.” Nobel reached into the cooler and grabbed a can of soda. Cracking it open, he handed it to Aldrich. “How did the locals treat you?” Aldrich 83
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accepted the can and took a drink. “Some really hated us, but there were others who are glad we’re there. The kids really like us, mostly because of the candy we hand out.” Aldrich used his finger to trace a slow path down Nobel’s cheek. “I wish you never had to go there.” “Don’t be. It helped make me who I am today.” “Why didn’t you ever answer any of the emails I sent you?” Aldrich asked in a slightly wounded tone. Regret and a heavy dose of guilt sliced through Nobel. “Because I was a damn coward. By then I’d realized what it was I was attracted to you and it scared the shit out of me. I was also worried about how you’d react if you found out my true feelings. I didn’t want you to end up hating me for being gay. Plus, DADT was still strong then and I was so afraid of the Army discovering my sexuality. I thought the best way to protect my secret was to pretend it didn’t exist at all. Idiot that I was, I thought the only way I could do that was to end our friendship.” Aldrich nibbled on his bottom lip. “I could never hate you. Granted, I had the tendency to overreact to things back then, but I wouldn’t have ever turned on you.” “Overreact?” Nobel echoed, incredulously. “I still remember the Thanksgiving when you threw 84
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the turkey at your father.” “Well, he shouldn’t have disrespected my mother,” Aldrich huffed. “All he did was tell her she overcooked the bird a bit.” “And it upset her so much that she cried.” Nobel rolled his eyes. “Your mother cries at everything. I’ve seen her break down during a Hallmark commercial.” Aldrich gave him a swat on the arm. “Okay, so maybe I used to get a bit melodramatic at times. That still doesn’t mean you should’ve cut me off like that.” “You’re right. I guess I just didn’t think that a professional hockey player like you would still care about a grunt like me.” “I could be the President of the United States and I would still care for you,” Aldrich declared. Nobel leaned in for a brief kiss. “I really am sorry. Will you ever be able to forgive me?” Giving a grin that could only be called wicked, Aldrich ran a hand over his own groin. “Oh, I can think of at least one way you can make it up to me.” Relief flooded Nobel along with a fair amount of lust. “What? You want me to do it right here.” After darting a quick look around, Aldrich nodded. “It’s dark out, so nobody will be able to see inside the Tracker.” 85
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Nobel eyed up the windows himself, noting that nobody was parked next to them and it was pretty dark outside. While he could still see Aldrich, due to the dim glow coming from the screen, Aldrich doubted anybody looking into the Tracker could make out what was going on inside. Mind made up, Nobel set the box off to the side, then got up on his knees. Aldrich’s eyes grew wide. “You’re really going to do this?” “Hell yeah, I’ve been waiting to taste your cock for so long that I’m not about to pass up a good opportunity like this.” Nobel reached down and slowly popped the button on Aldrich’s jeans, before carefully lowering the zipper. Aldrich didn’t offer up any further protest, if anything he spread his legs farther apart to give Nobel more room to work. “Oh, look at this,” Nobel cooed as he pulled out Aldrich’s erection. Damn, but Aldrich did have the perfect cock. Not too big, but not too little either, it curved up perfectly. A small pearl of pre-cum lingered at the top and Nobel licked it off, a hum of approval rumbling from his throat. “You taste so damn good. I think I’m going to get addicted.” Aldrich laughed. “I can just see it now. You’d end up on that Intervention show. My name is Nobel 86
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and I’m addicted to Aldrich cum.” Since Nobel didn’t have a cleaver retort to that comment, he decided to shut Aldrich up in other ways. Parting his lips, he took Aldrich all the way to the base in one swoop. Aldrich let out a shout of pleasure as his hands shot out to grab onto Nobel’s hair. “Holy hell. Don’t you have a gag reflex?” Aldrich gasped as he thrust his hips up. Since Nobel couldn’t very well answer that with a full mouth, he settled for sucking in as he pulled back, not stopping until the tip of Aldrich’s cock almost slipped out. Nobel then swallowed Aldrich again, this time sucking in so hard that his cheeks sunk in. “Yeah, definitely no gag reflex. We can add that to your list of pros,” Aldrich panted. A spurt of pre-cum shot into Nobel’s mouth. That small taste made him want more, so he began to work Aldrich’s cock in earnest. Nobel didn’t even care that he was fulfilling their prediction of him becoming an addict, all that mattered was that he got a full sample. In the meantime, Nobel’s own cock was hard and needy. He ignored it. Later on would be soon enough to attend to his own needs. Aldrich finally declared, “I’m going to come.” Nobel dug his fingers into Aldrich’s thighs, to give his permission. Aldrich thrust up once, before 87
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he shouted Nobel’s name so loud the sound echoed in the closed confines of the vehicle. Nobel pulled back just enough, so he could truly taste Aldrich. He was barely in time, hot semen splashed over his tongue, before it slid down to coat his throat. Nobel swallowed, eager to get every last drop. He even licked Aldrich clean afterward, not wanting anything to go to waste. It wasn’t until Aldrich had gone limp, that Nobel let him go and tucked his cock back into his pants. Giving his lips one last lick, Nobel crawled up Aldrich until their faces were inches apart. Aldrich gave him a goofy grin. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you just missed all the trailers.” Nobel gave him a slow, heated kiss that made both of them breathless. “It was worth it.” Aldrich reached between them and gave Nobel’s erection a gentle squeeze. “How about I take care of this for you?” “Later, when we’re back at my place.” Nobel paused, all of a sudden feeling a bit unsure of himself. “That is if you still want to stay. I don’t want to push you or anything.” “Nothing could keep me away tonight. I can’t wait to wake up in your arms,” Aldrich said before he tilted his face up for another kiss. “If I have my way, it’ll just be the first of many 88
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mornings.” As soon as that slipped out, Nobel tensed, worried that he’d gone too fast. Then Aldrich gave him another smile, this one so bright and happy that it did funny things to Nobel’s heart. “I think I could get used to that idea,” Aldrich said. Nobel let out a sigh of relief, happiness filling him. He could scarcely believe his luck. After all those years of longing for Aldrich, they were finally going to be together. In every way possible.
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Chapter Eight
E
ven though Aldrich wanted to leave the movie right after the intense blow job, Nobel insisted on staying for both movies. Even worse, Nobel continued to torment Aldrich with a never-ending supply of caresses and kisses. By the time they left and made the drive to Nobel’s apartment, Aldrich felt ready to burst from all the pent-up desire. He still made a point of looking around after Nobel shut the front door behind them. While Aldrich wanted to jump Nobel and ride him like a pony, he wasn’t keen to perform for an audience. “Where’s Zimon?” Aldrich asked as he toed off his shoes. He kicked off the last one and lost his balance, listing to the right. Before he could make a total ass out of himself, Nobel rushed forward and grabbed him by the arm. Usually his clumsiness would have made Aldrich feel angry and humiliated, but as he gazed up at Nobel, he felt 90
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neither of those things. Instead for the first time ever, he didn’t see his disabilities as a curse. Sure they still sucked, but he also knew that he wasn’t facing them alone anymore. That Nobel would always be there to catch him, both physically and figuratively. “Zimon usually stays out pretty late on weekends,” Nobel replied gruffly. They stood there for several moments, caught in each other’s gaze. It dawned on Aldrich that he could very well be on his way to falling in love with Nobel. That perhaps he had been all along and had now just woke the hell up and realized it. “Make love to me,” he pleaded, his voice just a raspy whisper. “I feel like I’ve waited all my life to hear you ask that,” Nobel replied in a like tone. Nobel still had a hold on Aldrich’s arm and he gave tug. Aldrich tripped, this time falling into Nobel. As he found himself pulling a face plant into nearly two hundred pounds of sexiness, a fresh wave of desire slammed into him. “You smell so good,” Aldrich observed as he nuzzled into Nobel. “So do you. You taste even better.” Nobel captured Aldrich’s mouth in a heated kiss. At the same time he started to walk them toward what Aldrich assumed was the bedroom. Their movements were slow and awkward, 91
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especially when Nobel paused to kick off his own shoes, but Aldrich didn’t mind. Not so long as they continued to move closer to their shared goal. It took a few extra minutes, but they eventually got to the bedroom. Unlike Aldrich, Nobel actually picked up after himself. The floor was clear of dirty clothes and the queen size bed was made. Hell, it looked as if Nobel even actually dusted his furniture. Then Aldrich spotted a framed photo on top of the dresser and his heart froze. It was of him and Nobel. They were both in their late teens and dressed in full hockey gear. Aldrich was smiling at the camera, but Nobel’s gaze was directed at Aldrich. Even given the sideways angle, the adoration on his face was so evident that Aldrich didn’t know how in hell he’d missed it. “Oh, my God,” he muttered, tears building up in his eyes. “It’s not just a crush or simple attraction. You love me, don’t you?” For a moment he didn’t think Nobel was going to answer. The man pressed his lips together as he looked away. In the end, he gave a curt nod. “Yes, I love you. I just hope that doesn’t scare you away.” “Why would it frighten me?” “I know it probably seems too quick. Hell, you didn’t even know I was gay until a day ago.” With shaking hands, Aldrich reached up and 92
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cupped Nobel’s face. “That day you carried me home on your back. Looking back, I think that’s when I fell in love with you. I just didn’t realize it until today.” An expression of raw vulnerability crossed Nobel’s face. To see somebody who was usually so strong act so unguarded, made Aldrich tremble with emotion. Needing to comfort the man who meant so much to him, Aldrich stood on tiptoe so he could press a gentle, loving kiss onto Nobel’s lips. “I love you,” Aldrich repeated, because he knew Nobel needed to hear it again. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” He knew he’d gotten through when Nobel once more put his arms around Aldrich. “Can you say that one more time? I didn’t quite get it the first time.” Aldrich laughed. He couldn’t remember when he’d been so happy. Not even the day the Wings called him up could compare to the joy he currently felt. “I love you, you dummy. Now are you going to tell me that you love me back, or do I have to throw one of my famous temper tantrums?” “I love you, Aldrich. In fact, I’ve loved you for so long I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel that way about you.” Running his palms up Nobel’s chest, Aldrich all 93
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but purred out, “Now I really mean it when I say I want you to make love to me.” They slowly peeled each other’s clothes off. While there was a sense of urgency, at the same time neither seemed to want to rush things. When Nobel removed the last of Aldrich’s clothing, he couldn’t help but feel painfully conscious of how thin he was. When Aldrich brought his hands up to cover himself, Nobel reached out and stopped him. “Don’t. You look so beautiful and I’ve waited so long to see you. I want to savor this moment.” “Even though I’m broken?” Aldrich asked. “You were never anything less than perfect to me.” Nobel laid Aldrich on the bed and slowly began to rain kisses down his body, making sure to leave no area untouched. When he reached Aldrich’s cock Nobel gave it several slow lazy licks. Aldrich moaned even as he protested, “It’s supposed to be your turn.” “We have the rest of our lives for you to suck me off. So lie back and enjoy this,” Nobel ordered in a commanding tone that sent shivers of desire down Aldrich’s spine. “Okay, if you insist.” This time, Nobel only gave Aldrich’s cock a few licks before he ordered, “Lift your hips up for me.” 94
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When Aldrich obeyed, Nobel slid a pillow under his ass. Nobel gave Aldrich’s cock one more kiss, before reaching into the night stand drawer and pulling out a bottle of lube. When Nobel slicked his fingers and began to slowly stretch Aldrich, a wave of irritation went through Aldrich. While he knew that Nobel was only trying to gentle, Aldrich wanted his cock now, damn it. “I’m not exactly a virgin here, so you don’t need to treat me like I’m made from glass,” Aldrich groused. Nobel curled his fingers just right so he brushed against Aldrich’s sweet spot. When Aldrich let out a gasp of pleasure, Nobel flashed a wicked grin. “I don’t care if you’re not a virgin. I’m still not going to rush things and hurt you.” Aldrich opened his mouth to protest again, only to let out a moan when Nobel hit the spot again. Since, he knew it would be rude to argue, and Aldrich had always been taught to be polite, he just kept his yap shut and enjoyed the special treatment. He even relaxed and began to ride Nobel’s fingers. Just as Aldrich felt himself on the brink of coming, Nobel pulled his fingers out and grabbed a condom. Mouth suddenly dry, Aldrich watched as his lover slid the protection over his cock. After adding some extra lube, Nobel looked at him. 95
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“Are you ready for this?” Aldrich nodded so eagerly it was a miracle he didn’t get whiplash. Then, just for added measure, in case Nobel hadn’t gotten the message, Aldrich hooked his hands under his knees and pulled them up, so he was more open for Nobel to take. Nobel’s eyes flared with desire as he ran a hand over Aldrich’s ass. “Damn, that’s so fucking hot.” “If it turns you on that much, then do something about it,” Aldrich snarked. That earned him a tiny slap. “Be good.” Aldrich smirked. “Now what fun would that be?” Nobel lined up the tip of his cock against Aldrich’s hole and surged inside before replying, “Not much fun at all.” Letting out a long gasp, Aldrich dug his fingers into his own flesh. While it burned like hell, despite all the stretching, it still felt damn good. Aldrich took several deep breaths while his body grew adjusted. Nobel, ever the gentleman, froze and gave Aldrich the time he needed. It wasn’t until Aldrich gave a tiny nod that Nobel began to move. While Aldrich felt for sure he was in for the mattress pounding of his life, Nobel surprised him once more. Instead, he set a gentle rhythm. At the same time he gazed down with such a tender expression, Aldrich felt his throat clog with emotion. 96
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The love, fear and wonder were so evident in Nobel’s eyes that Aldrich nearly felt overwhelmed. Call him sappy, but it almost felt as if this had been the moment he’d waited all his life for. “Say it. I need to hear it again,” Nobel demanded. “I love you.” No sooner had those words left Aldrich’s mouth, he came. Thick ropes of cum covered his stomach as he let out a string of moans. After just a few more thrusts, Nobel joined him, his dick pulsating as it filled the condom. After the pleasure had slowly ebbed from their bodies, Nobel collapsed on top of Aldrich. It made it so they now both had cum all over them, but neither seemed inclined to complain. Nobel even began to lightly stroke Aldrich’s hair. The touch so soothing that it almost lulled Aldrich to sleep. “It was Grant, wasn’t it? He’s the one who broke your heart?” Nobel finally asked. Aldrich briefly closed his eyes, still humiliated that he’d been so easily duped. “How did you figure that out?” “I knew you idolized the guy, so it didn’t take much for me to puzzle it out.” Regret sliced through Aldrich as he now realized how much it must have hurt Nobel to watch him salivating over another guy. 97
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“I was such an idiot,” Aldrich breathed. “I let him use me like some kind of puppet. All those summers where I worked for basically nothing. The way I volunteered for some of his other clinics. I did it all in hopes of making him like me. What’s worse, he knew it all along and used it to his advantage.” “When did you first sleep together?” “This past summer. He’d flirted with me over the years, to string me along, but he didn’t go so far as to fuck me until this July. Even then it was only twice. Both times were in my pit of a room he gave me to bunk in. He’d come up, screw me and then leave before I even had a chance to clean up. The only thing he ever said before he took off was for me to keep my mouth shut or else he would fire me and never speak to me again. I was so needy I actually promised to keep his secret.” Aldrich let out a growl of anger. “God, how could I have been so gullible?” Nobel pressed a kiss to Aldrich’s temple. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. He was older and used your inexperience against you.” “I’m not that young. I’m twenty-two, for God’s sake. Old enough to know when I’m being played.” Nobel gave him a reassuring squeeze. “You forget I knew Grant, too, since I went to a few of his camps before I graduated. I watched how that 98
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guy used people’s emotions against them. He was a master at it. You didn’t stand a chance. Besides, you should feel bad for him.” Aldrich blinked in confusion. “I must have something stuck in my ears, because I did not just hear you say that I should feel bad for him.” “You should, because in the end he’s the one who lost the most.” Nobel sat up and gazed down at Aldrich. “What exactly did he lose?” “You. I can’t think of a bigger prize than having your love.” All the hurt left Aldrich as he stared up at his friend…or rather, lover. “Thank you.” “For what?” “Once again you came to my rescue—in more ways than one.” Nobel gave him a crooked smile. “I’ll always be there for you.” “And I’ll be there for you, too. Now that you have my attention, I’m never going to look anywhere else but at you.” “That’s a promise I’m going to keep you to.”
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Chapter Nine
“W
hat in the hell is this thing and why is it staring at me like it wants to eat my heart for breakfast?” Zimon asked. Nobel prayed for some patience as he took the giant, stuffed Betty Boop doll from his brother’s hands and tossed it to the side. “Be nice.” Zimon cast a horrified glance over his surroundings. “I’m trying, but seriously, what kind of person lives in this kind of mess?” “My sister,” Aldrich chuckled as he came over to the couch and curled up against Nobel’s side. “Have you ever considered getting her psychologically tested ?” Zimon gave an exaggerated shudder as he eyed up the laceencrusted throw pillows. Aldrich let out a soft chuckle. “I’ve suggested it to my parents, but so far they’ve refused.” Tina came in, a tray of hot coffee balanced in her hands. “Tell Twinkie here to can it before I stuff him and mount his ass right next to my 100
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Marilyn Monroe picture.” Zimon’s mouth parted in shock. “You wouldn’t dare?” “Watch me.” She set the tray down and began to hand out the mugs. “But, since Aldrich and Nobel are together, doesn’t that make us all like family now?” Zimon protested. “Yeah, so?” Tina shrugged as she sank into a pink armchair. “So, that means you can’t threaten me.” Nobel and Aldrich exchanged amused looks. While he knew it shouldn’t have, it gave Nobel some satisfaction to see somebody putting his brother in his place. The brat needed some discipline and it looked as if Tina was more than willing to dish it out. Tina pointed her finger at Zimon. “No, it means I can teach you some manners.” “Oh really?” “Yes, really.” “And what are you going to do when I refuse to listen to you?” “I’ll make you move in here until you learn some self-control.” Zimon narrowed his eyes at her. “You do realize that I’m gay?” She let out an aggravated sigh. “Please, like I’d be interested in your skinny ass. I just think you 101
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need all three of us watching over you. While Nobel has been doing the best he can, something tells me you need twenty-four hour supervision.” Letting out a squeak of outrage, Zimon turned his gaze to Nobel. “Can you believe this crap?” “Actually, I agree with her,” Nobel said. When Zimon let loose with a long string of curse words, Nobel had to bite the inside of his cheek to hold back the laughter. It was a riot to see somebody finally one-up the smartass. Tina patted the young man’s knee. “Don’t be so upset, Zimon. It won’t be all bad. I have a surprise for you.” Zimon gave her a suspicious look. “What’s that?” “If you promise to behave yourself, I’ll take you to the flea market with me.” “Why would I want to go there?” “Because this particular one has vintage clothing.” She flashed a satisfied grin. “By that I mean, they have hundreds of vendors there who sell it.” There was no mistaking the gleam of interest in Zimon’s eyes. “Really?” “Honey, if there’s one thing I never lie about, it’s shopping.” Zimon grinned. “Well, I guess I can be good for a little while.” Tina shook her head as she rolled her eyes. 102
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“Why do I get the feeling life is never going to be boring with you hanging around?” “Because it won’t be,” Nobel said. They all shared a laugh before Aldrich nervously cleared his throat. “I have something I want to share with you all. Do you remember Ice Box Arena?” Nobel frowned. “Of course I do. It’s the rink we played in as kids. Why do you ask?” “Did you hear that it’s closed down?” “Yeah, they’ve been trying to sell it for ages, but nobody has bought it.” “Yeah, well somebody finally did,” Aldrich said. “Who?” “Me…or rather us.” Aldrich gave Nobel a timid look. “That is if you want to help me run it.” Nobel gaped for a few moments. “Are you trying to tell me that you bought an ice rink?” Aldrich shrugged. “I still had some money from the NHL and I got some investors. So, yeah. The place is now legally mine.” Nobel glanced at the others, both of whom looked just as surprised as him. “Are you crazy? With this economy, the last thing we should be doing is starting our own business.” “So, does that mean that you’re in?” Aldrich glanced up from under his lashes. Nobel reached out and pulled him into a tight 103
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embrace. “Hell yeah, I’m in.” A surreal feeling came over Nobel. Just a month ago, he had thought his life was going nowhere. Now, not only did he have Aldrich, but they were the owners of a rink. Then he recalled something Aldrich had said. “Who are the investors?” As soon as Aldrich tensed, Nobel knew he was in trouble. “My buddy, Bryce. He still plays for the Wings.” Going by his tone, Nobel knew Aldrich was holding something back. Giving Aldrich a warning squeeze he pressed, “Who else?” “The Canton brothers.” Nobel let out a moan. Devon, Chad and Trey Canton had a reputation as brawlers and smartasses. There wasn’t a hockey player or fan who didn’t cringe whenever they heard that last name. “Oh boy, things are really going to be interesting.” “You have no idea. While the Cantons may be bad, Bryce is even worse,” Aldrich admitted. Nobel shook his head. From the sounds of it, they were in for one hell of a ride. Funny thing was, he couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
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About the Author Stephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book. Contact her at: Email Address:
[email protected] Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephaniHecht FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=pr ofil&id=1109353859 MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/stephanihecht Blog: http://stephanihechtauthor.blogspot.com
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