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The rookie stopped to wait for Bennett but didn’t turn around. When they were side by side, Mac said, “Hey, Cap. What’s up?”
Bennett noticed that Mac was ordering a car on his phone. Perfect. “Put that away. I’ll take you.”
“That’s okay. I’ve got it.”
“Don’t be stupid. You don’t need to order a car. I’m happy to give you a lift.”
“I’m probably out of your way. It’s not a big—”
Jesus, this kid. Bennett placed a hand on Mac’s shoulder to shut him up. “I’m giving you a ride. Captain’s orders.”
Mac didn’t argue. He put his phone away and followed Bennett to the parking lot where all the cars were waiting. Bennett opened the trunk of his Range Rover and they both put their bags inside. Then he went to the driver’s side and settled in, while he waited for Mac to do the same. “Give me your address.”
The rookie murmured an address that was over in King West, and Bennett quickly put it into his GPS.
“Where’s your car?” he asked as they slid onto the street.
“I didn’t drive it to the airport. Welly gave me a lift.”
“Everything okay with you two? I noticed you weren’t sitting next to each other on the plane. And I hear you crashed in Patty’s room.”
Mac lifted a shoulder. “Everything’s fine. Just wanted some space, is all.”
Space, sure. Bennett didn’t believe it for a second. “Come on, Mac. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing is going on. Guy’s just an asshole.”
“Look, Mac. If there’s a problem on the team, it’s my job to fix it. Let me sit down with the two of you and we’ll talk about this. See if we can’t solve whatever happened—”
“Don’t bother. Honest, Cap, there’s no need. And we won’t let it affect the ice, I swear.”
So maybe this wasn’t anything deep. Guys argued and got tired of each other. It happened every year. “Okay. But if you want to talk, I’m here.”
Mac sat quietly for a long beat. “Thanks, Bennett.”
“Anytime, rook.” Bennett turned up the volume on the car stereo, which was playing the only hockey podcast he could tolerate.
“Don’t you listen to music to relax?” Mac asked after a few blocks. “I can’t believe you aren’t tired of hockey.”
“I never get tired of hockey.”
“Bro, that sounds miserable. Your girlfriend needs to visit more often.”
Was it miserable? Bennett didn’t think so. It was just a habit at this point. Ever since he first put on skates, he pushed himself to be better, to study and learn. Train harder. For almost his entire life he’d dedicated himself to this sport and sacrificed everything else. It was all he knew.
They didn’t speak much after that. Bennett put on random music he didn’t know just to fill the car with sound. After he dropped McPherson off, he drove to his building, dreading the emptiness. Normally, he didn’t mind being alone after a road trip, but he kept thinking about the penthouse, about Nico’s strong hands. Bennett was obsessed with the unpredictability, the rush he got from sex with Nico, who was rough and demanding, careful and tender. Bennett wanted more of it. More wrapping around each other after mind-blowing orgasms, more slow caresses as the sweat dried on their skin. More laughing and teasing between kisses.
He wanted more.
Bennett hadn’t allowed feelings before, not once. There hadn’t been a boyfriend, or even a long-term fling, and Nico Marzano was a terrible choice for it. They couldn’t have a future. Marzano’s world was equally homophobic and being queer wasn’t an option for him. So Bennett was only setting himself up for heartbreak.
But fuck, it would be nice to have someone to come home to. Someone to hold onto and laugh with. To share dinners with and fall asleep together. Watch terrible movies together. And he wanted to do it with Nico.
I am the monster men fear, bello.
But Bennett didn’t fear him. Maybe that was stupid, but he felt safe with Nico, safer than he had in a long time.
Yes, definitely stupid.
