“Do you trust me?” Nate asked.
Ramsey shot him a look. “I thought a foundational part of your argument was that you were intelligent—that we’rebothintelligent.”
“It is.”
“Then don’t ask me if I trust you. YouknowI trust you. You know I’ve never, that I’ve never evenwantedto be with someone before. Just you.” Ramsey rolled his eyes, probably at himself.
“I know. And you trust me,” Nate said patiently. This was going about as he’d expected it would. Maybe a little better, even.
Ramsey nodded, and it seemed like he was on the brink of agreeing. So maybe alotbetter.
“Is it always going to be easy? I don’t think so, but you’re worth it, to me.”
Ramsey raised an eyebrow. “Just like that? I’m worth probably a longer commute for you. I’m worth dealing with long-distance bullshit. You know we play a lot more than one game a week.”
Maybe he didn’t want to believe it was true, but Nate was going to make sure of it.
“I know,” Nate said steadily.
Ramsey laughed, hysterical around the edges. “Shit. I don’t—” He broke off, rubbing his face. “I didn’t evenimaginethis was an option.”
God, Nate loved him so much. Even when he, the smartest person he knew, was being stupid.
“Guess you aren’t that brilliant after all,” Nate teased.
Ramsey squawked in outrage, but that sound dissolved easily into relieved laughter. “God, you’re right of course. I don’t want to play for Toronto. I love Mal and Elliott, but I don’t want to play here. I want to play for the team that . . .” He took a deep breath. “The one that wants me. The one that never gave up on me, even though it would’ve been easier to do it. But then youknow that. You knew it the whole time.” Ramsey laughed again, unsteadily.
“I did,” Nate said. He leaned in, cupping the side of Ramsey’s beloved face. It was nice, of course, that it looked likethat, but it wasn’t necessary. It was only necessary it be attached to the man Ramsey was. “I’ve known for awhile that you were it for me. In the scheme of things, this isn’t even the most difficult obstacle we’ve overcome.”
Ramsey smiled at him. A small private amused smile. The kind that Nate had begun to realize he saved just for him. “That was probably my entire self believing wholeheartedly I’d never want anyone. Orneedanyone.”
“Probably,” Nate conceded.
“You know me, probably better than anyone else, so you’ll get what a big deal this is but . . .” Ramsey laughed again, lighter and carefree now. “But,God, I was so fucking wrong.”
“I know,” Nate said and leaned in, sealing the end of their debate with a kiss.
A second later, Ramsey pulled back. “Wait,” he said, “before you dothatthing with your tongue in my mouth, I gotta call Barty back. Tell him to forget the whole thing.”
“How long has it been?” Nate wondered.
“How long haswhatbeen?”
“Since you hung up with your agent.” Nate was pretty sure it had been less than five minutes but he was still curious.
“Like a couple of minutes?” When Nate didn’t respond, Ramsey rolled his eyes and checked his phone. “Four and some change. That good?”
“It’s fucking amazing,” Nate said and leaned in, kissing him again, long and lush.
“Wait,wait.” Ramsey pulled back an inch. “Did youbetyou could make me change my mind in under five minutes?”
Nate considered the question. “Is it betting if you’re betting with yourself?”
Ramsey stared at him, and for a single moment, Nate wasn’t sure what reaction he was seeing. Then Ramsey melted, sinking into him, mouth hot and sure on his. “God,” Ramsey murmured against his mouth, “you’re so fucking perfect for me.”
He reached down, digging his fingers into Nate’s waist and pulling him in the direction of the bedroom. “Sexnow.”
Nate laughed. “What about Barty?”
