“Instead of pouring one out for Emily, we’ll drink her share, since she and Max are exploring Toronto. And probably some other things,” I say.
James points a finger at me. “Hey, Max is my teammate. Don’t make things weird.”
Ethan snorts. “Hmm, yeah. Youneverget weird with your teammates.”
“I still can’t believe you two are teammates and dating,” I say. “That’s got to be a first.”
Chuckling, Ethan takes a sip of his drink. “Yeah, I haven’t heard of any other teammate couples, at least in men’s baseball.”
“What about you?” James asks, pivoting. “Anything new in the dude department?”
I take a sip of seltzer before replying. “Actually, yeah. I started dating a guy about two months ago. His name is Erik.”
James’s face brightens. “That’s great! I’m so happy for you.” Then he notices my expression, and he tilts his head. “Is… everything okay between you guys?”
“Yeah, I really like him, but he’s in Sweden. Like, he lives there.”
“Oh.” James’s fingers clasp around his beer, sending beads of condensation dripping down onto the table. “Can I ask how you two, uh, happened?”
I take a sip of my beer. “He was playing in the AHL here?—”
James raises his eyebrows. “Hockey, eh?”
“Don’t go there,” I say, half-seriously glaring back at him. “Long story short, he moved to Sweden, we tried to stay friends, we sexted each other, kept doing that, then Ivisitedhim?—”
“You visited Sweden? That’s so sweet,” says Ethan.
“Oh yeah. That’s when we made things official.”
Sighing, James fiddles with his napkin. “I hate to be the one to ask—you guys live across the world from each other. What’s the plan?”
The twinge in my stomach is inconvenient, but I power through it. “I’m trying to move there now.”
That makes James and Ethan freeze mid-sip.
“Wow.” James drags the one syllable out. “That’s a big decision.”
“Yup. He’s worth it, though. I’m tired of everyone I know leaving.”
Shit. Is that too on the nose?
Apparently not. The shots are already getting to James, and he leans toward me. “Hey, Luke, sometimes you just gotta go for things. I mean, Sweden is a long way to go for some tail?—”
“Dude, come on.”
James remains undeterred. “—but you aren’t the kind of guy to fuck around like that. You said it yourself, you really fucking like him, and if moving to be with Erik is what you have to do, then so fucking be it.”
“That’s exactly what I needed to hear. Even with all the f-bombs.”
James barks out a laugh. “Yeah, well that’s on my mind even more now, since I got with Ethan and his sweet as?—”
Ethan claps a hand over James’s mouth, much to our amusement.
“Who the hell let you be attracted to men? You’re a menace,” I say, and James shrugs.
“That would be my fault,” Ethan mutters before clearing his throat and changing the subject. “Anyway, Luke, you need to tell me all of James’s embarrassing stories from high school. I’mdyingto hear all the juicy details.”
“Oh, god, please no.” James puts his face in his hands, but it’s clear he’s grinning.
