While Reece waited for news, he accepted whatever jobs appealed to him—any that didn’t require his face be shown because he was still struggling a bit with his expressions due to his mood, but Reece loved modeling clothes and shoes, loved using his hands—and he loved making money, anything to add to his savings.
In between jobs, Reece played basketball. It was a time when he was alone and calm and letting out all his pent up emotions in a healthy way.
But today, Draven and Ivory showed up at the park and the two of them were a perfect distraction from everything else. From the void he was trying to pretend didn’t exist.
“The fuck’s got you looking so down, Keys?” Draven asked and swiftly stole the ball out of Reece’s hand, stunning him when he dashed around Reece, dribbling with smooth movements.
“I didn’t know you liked basketball, Draven.”
“I like winning,” he said simply.
Reece shrugged and tied his bangs up with a hair tie. “Too bad you can’t beat me.”
Ivory stood aside cheering Reece and Draven on as they played one-on-one. Reece was able to forget Nick and everything else for a little while. He was able to just play, to feel the wind all around him, to work up a good and proper sweat, and have a competitive opponent whose determination to win kept Reece going harder.
Draven was better than Reece expected, though he shouldn’t have been surprised considering how athletic Draven was. Despite being fun to play, though, Reece was used to playing with professional level players.
Like Nick…
Reece won, the first to reach 21 points. Draven wasn’t happy about the loss and demanded a rematch, but he was as winded and sweaty as Reece, and Reece didn’t have another round in him, not when his ankle was already throbbing with a reminder that he should’ve wrapped it before playing.
Ivory took a selfie of them to commemorate the day and posted it on Instagram. It made Reece feel a little more alive and he hoped to get to see them more often.
He needed something, because people were starting to notice a difference in him. His fans were talking about it all over social media. Reece refused to acknowledge any of the comments and just kept doing his thing. Until another week passed and he finally got the call he’d been waiting on.
An agency in New York loved his portfolio and wanted him to fly out for an interview.
It was like fate aligned things for him because the draft was the same week of his interview. It could be a mistake to attend, but Reece wanted to support his friends even if seeing Nick so close but out of his reach would likely worsen the never-ending longing he felt. It was something he had to do.
34
Chapter 34 - Nick
“Oh damn, he looks amazing.”
Alex hummed, agreeing with Declan. “He’s a real celebrity.”
“He is,” Declan mused.
Nick knew they were talking about Reece, so he marched right over and swiped Alex’s phone out of his hand to get a look for himself. He expected some candid shots, or another magazine feature, but there were several pictures and even a video of Reece on a catwalk. He looked stunning, and yet his blue eyes lacked that bright gleam that had always been there before. He looked so serious, so fierce. And he’d cut his hair.
“Do you mind?” Alex took his phone back. “He’ll be at the draft, you know.”
Nick didn’t know, but now that he did, his heart was pounding. It would be the first time the two of them saw each other in person since Nick ended things, and Nick missed him every second. He knew with it being as hard as it was for him,he’d put Reece through hell, and as badly as Nick wanted to see him again, he didn’t think he deserved to. Didn’t know if he could handle it.
* * *
Draft day was eventful. Nick was dressed in an all black suit, looking his best, and thinking more about seeing Reece than being drafted all day. Kent was there at Nick’s table. His only family and support aside from his agent, Donovan. Kent started speaking to Nick again, but Nick knew he missed Reece and thought of him often. Nick couldn’t blame him for that since he was even worse.
The event was strict. Seating arrangements not to be broken. But Declan’s table was right next to Nick’s, and Reece was Declan’s guest. He should have been Nick’s—Nick had wanted to invite him. He wanted Reece to be at his table, but how could he even think about being selfish with Reece yet again after he left him heartbroken.
Nick was still thinking about him when Reece showed up, dressed in black slacks and a white and black designer shirt, he walked right up to Nick’s table, laying a hand on Kent’s shoulder to catch his attention. He’d already secured Nick’s but hadn’t looked at him once. Not yet. Nick didn’t look away from him, though, because it felt like the first time he’d seen Reece in years instead of weeks, and yet the memory of Reece in his bed, in his arms, was so vivid in his mind that he didn’t think he’d ever be able to let it go.
Reece still wore the same cologne he always wore, a brand he’d modeled for a few times. He smelled good. Clean. Nick’s fists clenched over his legs under the table.
Kent was out of his seat instantly, hugging Reece tight, the two exchanging words Nick couldn’t quite hear. Reece wassmiling at Kent—and after they’d spoken, he finally looked at Nick and smiled at him, too. So softly it broke Nick all over again. He stepped behind Kent to be closer and laid a hand on Nick’s shoulder, slender fingers sporting silver rings. He was wearing the earrings Nick gave him, and a thin silver chain hung around his neck, resting under his shirt. It had a loose fit but was tucked in at the waist, the top button undone to show off his collarbones.
“I’ll be cheering for you,” he said, squeezing Nick’s shoulder, and then walked to his seat.
