Page 100 of Unforgettable Player

He climbs into my lap, letting me take his face in my hands and kiss him deeply, drinking him in.

He moans and starts rocking against me, our tongues entangled, heat pooling in my groin.

“Urgh, are you serious?”

Elliot pulls back with a gasp, climbing off my lap when he sees Scout standing there with an empty glass. Her lip is curled in disgust.

“That couch is gonna need fucking fumigating.”

I can’t stop myself—I burst out laughing.

“Not funny, dick,” she says, walking away toward the kitchen.

Elliot makes a cringing face. I grab him quick and kiss him before she comes back.

“Go to bed,” I say. “I’ll see you tomorrow. And the day after, and the day after that.”

23

CONNOR

Iwake up with a face full of thick, dark hair and smile.

My alarm is going off, so I rush to turn it off before I wake Elliot up, but I’m too late.

He turns over with a sleepy groan. There are pillow creases on his face and he hasn’t opened his eyes yet. I run my fingers through his hair.

“Morning, beautiful.”

He smiles and buries his face in the pillow.

“I’ve gotta go to practice.”

He nods.

When I put my arm around him to kiss his head, I greedily inhale his familiar scent and try to memorize it to keep it with me all day.

Elliot’s dad is already up and making coffee when I get to the kitchen.

“Eli still sleeping?” he asks.

“Yeah, thought I’d leave him in bed.”

Mr. Bancroft made some not-so-subtle hints last night about wearing earplugs and taking a sleeping pill, but we were still quiet. I watch his face, wondering if he heard anything anyway.

“Students,” he says, shaking his head fondly.

We have a quick chat about my plans for when school starts again in the fall. I tell him I’ve been talking to my coach and old teammates, and about Worcester staying in touch with me.

There’s a guy playing in Worcester I remember from the NCAA—he was at Yale for a few years before moving to BC and winning the Frozen Four. He was an ass if I remember correctly, but he’s been messaging me on Instagram, hyping up the team and telling me I have to play there. He has a boyfriend playing in the NHL, so I felt pretty comfortable telling him I’m bi. He’s weirdly pumped about being in the queerest team in the minor league. I thought he was being ridiculous, but the idea of representing queer guys in a tough league like that and potentially paving the way for guys in the future actually feels pretty good.

Elliot emerges from his room just before I’m leaving. I pick up my bag, smiling.

“I told you to stay in bed.”

“I wanted to see you before you leave. And Dad’s helping me with my philosophy essay.” He beams, looking so happy and beautiful I could burst.

When his dad has his back turned, washing plates in the sink, I grab Eli’s face and give him a quick, firm kiss before I go.