Chapter 20 - Nick
There was a very strong part of Nick that didn’t want to see Reece off. Goodbyes were shit and he was already pissed off that the weekend passed too quickly. Reece had only just gotten there, and he was already leaving.
Nick went though, because Reece barely released his hand for longer than a few seconds, and Nick knew he was savoring what little time they had left. Nick wanted that too, even if he hated it. Even if this whole situation had him on edge. He missed Reece before he was even gone.
“Time to get home and check on Kenny now,” Reece sighed once his flight was called. He’d already been hugged by everyone else who’d taken their precious time saying their goodbyes, but now Reece was embracing Nick, arms tight around his waist. “Gonna think about all the fun we had,” he said, with a pout but no tears. “Andyou,better call him.”
“Yeah, yeah, alright, damn.” Nick draped his arms around Reece’s shoulders loosely, his right hand cradling the top of the blond’s head. “I’ll call his ass today.”
“Thanks, Nicky,” Reece said, nuzzling Nick’s chest with his nose before tipping his head back to look up into Nick’s eyes. “Thanks for letting me play with you, too… And for all the orgasms.”
Nick snorted and patted his head. “Yeah, you’re welcome…” Then his eyes drifted down, taking in Reece’s soft pink lips and licking his own. He knew he was fucked by just how badly he wanted to kiss those lips, but Nick didn’t let himself think about it.
He just had to let Reece go, watch him leave, and hope that his kitten had a safe journey back home. The last two weeks of training camp were going to be hell.
* * *
“C’mon, Nick, Reece hasn’t even been gone a day and you’re already moping around?”
“Who thefuckare you talking to like that, Declan? You wanna fight me?” Nick glared at him, one hand gripping a basketball and pointing it directly at Declan. “Don’t you try to fuckin’ read me.”
“Don’t try to read him, Declan. He’s sad.”
“I am not sad, Alex, damn you. Fuck all the way off. Both of you.”
“You are and it’s okay. It’s unfortunate that he had to leave us already, but it’s best for you to put all your energy and focus into what’s left of the training camp so you’ll be able to play your best when the mock ups start.”
“I always play my fuckin’ best, Shorty.”
Nick wasn’t even looking at him, but he felt Alex level him with a look that was so cold it made him shiver.
“I mean it, Nicholas. Be your best.”
“Whatever.”
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Chapter 21 - Reece
Getting on the plane was easier than Reece expected it to be. He didn’t look back at Nick or the rest of his friends when he walked away, and there was still a smile on his face when he settled in his seat.
It only hit him once he was in the air, staring out the window and reflecting on the amazing weekend he had in L.A.
Nick seemed so happy to see him, to be with him. And Reece had certainly been happy… So happy that he couldn’t help worrying now that he was leaving—now that he was alone again—if he’d really somehow managed to fall even harder for Nick.
He wondered if it was even possible, and if it could get even worse from there.
But Reece didn’t want to worry. Not now. Because he was having too much fun. He’d never been happier. Nick wasn’t his boyfriend, Nick would never behis,and yet that’s not how itseemed at all when they were together. It was confusing and made Reece feel so torn.
From the beginning, though, all he wanted was to ride the wave for as long as he could, so he intended to continue doing so. There was no way he was walking away from Nick just to save himself a little heartache. It was already too late for that anyway. Besides, it didn’t seem as if Nick had any intention of letting Reece go anytime soon either.
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Chapter 22 - Nick
“There’s no need to jab those numbers so aggressively,” Alex said to Nick as they sat outside by one of the courts, having a quick snack.
Nick ignored him, pissed that he hadn’t heard from Reece all morning. Even his text after landing was short—
