“You mean your imagination,” Nate retorted.
“I don’t need one,” Ramsey claimed. “Reality’s always better than anything I can think up.”
Nate knew that wasn’t true. He was blustering. It was obvious that Ramsey, as annoying and obnoxious as he was,didmiss playing hockey. He didn’t want to be hanging around Toronto, crashing on Wes’ couch, and harassing Nate.
But of course, he was still pretending otherwise, because he couldn’t go five seconds without dissembling or even outright lying about something. Even if it was something as obvious as his frustration with his injury status.
“Don’t be stupid,” Nate said.
The guy thought he had everyone convinced all the time that he was happy and charming and their new best friend. Nate saw through it, and so knew it was all a fucking act. Why would he even bother? Ramsey didn’tknowany of these people so it was a waste of energy to pretend.
Nate’s only conclusion was that he liked fucking around with people. That Ramseylikedpulling the wool over their eyes. Liked controlling them and their reactions to him.
And that, more than anything else, was what led Nate right back to the original conclusion he’d made the second time they’d met: Ramsey was a manipulative asshole.
Nate wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of lumping him in with all these other poor schmucks who salivated over him wherever he went. It didn’t matter how hot he was.
“Someone isn’t very happy about their big win,” Ramsey said lightly. “Someone is evengrumpy. I wonder why.”
“Not a mystery. It’s because you’re always around.” Nate finished his rum and tapped the edge of the glass so the bartender would pour him another round. “You piss me off.”
Ramsey had the nerve to bat his eyes. “You just wish I’d sleep with you again and you’re frustrated that I won’t.”
“I never evensuggestedwe sleep together again,” Nate said flatly.
Elbowing him in the side, not too gently, Ramsey just shot Nate the smile that had no doubt won him legions of admirers wherever he went.
“Stop it,” he said. “You’re gonna dent my ego.”
Ramsey was already leading half of Nate’s football team around by the dick, even the dudes who’d never imagined they’d be into another guy. What did he need more for? What did he even needNatefor? The whole fucking harem was right there, available for easy plucking.
Ramsey didn’t even want him. He was clearly just annoyed that Nate wouldn’t fall in line and salivate at his mere existence, right next to everyone else.
“I don’t know if that’s even possible. Your ego seems pretty bulletproof to me.”
“You’ve got no idea.” Ramsey paused. “But I bet you wish you did.” He grinned wilder now. That look on Ramsey’s gorgeous face was purely lethal. Nate’s pulse throbbed, and he wanted, more than anything else, to be as unaffected as he claimed to be. After all, Ramsey looked like he didn’t give a shit even if Nate hated him. It made Nate want to hate him more.
It made Nate want to actually hate himat all.
“Is there a reason you’re over here still, trying to convince me that I still want you?” Nate asked flatly.
Something shifted behind Ramsey’s eyes. A flash of truth. Maybe not honesty, but at least the act rearranging itself.
In June, Nate had wanted to see behind the act. Thought he had, for a hot moment. Then in August, he hadn’t been sure if Ramsey was anythingbutthe act.
He didn’t want to have to reorient his understanding of the guy again.
Instead he picked up his glass. “Exactly,” Nate said. “I thought so.”
It was easy enough to go find Lane. To convince him and Trevor to head to one of the rooms, the one with a pool table—a game that Ramsey had admitted he couldn’t play and so he’d be in no danger of joining them.
But the whole game he was distracted. Scratching when he didn’t usually do that shit. Missing an obvious-ish shot that normally he’d have jumped all over.
“You alright?” Lane asked casually as he picked up his beer, finishing it after their second game. He’d already sent Trevor on an errand to the bar to get them another round, and if Nate had been paying any attention, he’d have realized that wasn’t just convenience but something else.
“Fine,” Nate said shortly. He hadn’t been thinking about Ramsey’s easy but bone-deep admission about how his balance wasn’t good enough. Hehadn’t.
He didn’t want to consider what was going on behind those pale blue eyes. He didn’t want to feel sorry for the guy. He didn’t want to think about himat all.
