He paused as they both absorbed that. They hadn’t actually addressed the elephant in the room yet.
Nate hoped the past two weeks hadn’t changed Aubrey’s mind. “It’s okay that I came, right?”
“Yeah!” Aubrey said a little too loudly. Maybe he was having flashbacks to their first I-love-you; God knew Nate was. But he could relax now. “Yeah, it’s—I would have asked you, but, uh.” He blew out a breath. “I was afraid you’d say no.”
“I might have,” Nate admitted. His priorities had been confused. “But it would have been the wrong decision.”
They were still standing too far apart, but after flying God knew how many thousands of miles, Nate didn’t know how to close the last two feet. This wasn’t how he’d imagined it. The arrival he envisioned had less talking, no rain-soaked clothes, and a lot more kissing.
“I just….” Aubrey was staring at him like he’d never seen him before. Nate couldn’t tell if that was a good thing. “I can’t believe you’rehere.”
Oh—andtherewas the kiss, Aubrey’s fingers in his hair, his warmth against the damp chill of Nate’s body, his smile against Nate’s mouth. Nate put his hands on Aubrey’s hips and held on, reveling in everything he’d missed for the past weeks.
Finally Aubrey pulled away and said, “Okay, I love you, and I’m thrilled you’re here, but you’re freezing. Do you want a shower?”
“Do you want to join me?” Nate countered.
Nate thought he was pretty enthusiastic, but Aubrey still dragged him toward the bathroom.
“So,” he said afterward, when he was dressed in borrowed clothes because everything he’d brought on his trip was dirty and overly formal anyway, “I’ve been thinking.”
Aubrey was in the process of putting his sweater back on, and he struggled for a moment to get his head through the neck.
Nate tried to breathe evenly and calm the butterflies in his stomach, but it wasn’t easy. “I hate my job.”
Aubrey sat down on the bed, all traces of levity gone. “I’m listening.”
Nate exhaled slowly. “I talked to Jess and Kelly, and I made my decision. I’m going to quit. But it’s kind of complicated.”
“Legal trouble?”
Of course he’d be familiar with the issues. “Technically under contract until the playoffs are over,” Nate confirmed. “I have my agent looking into it. If I have to pay to get out of it, I will, but obviously I’d prefer not to.”
“Obviously,” Aubrey agreed, and he stood up again and went out to the living room.
Nate wasn’t finished talking. “Where are you going?”
“Getting my shoes on.” Aubrey stuck his head back in. “My cousin’s husband, Tim, is in the house with my parents, and he’s an entertainment lawyer. You want to make friends?”
Well, in that case, the rest of Nate’s news could wait. “I guess it’s time to meet the family.”
When they entered Aubrey’s parents’ living room a few minutes later, Aubrey’s family were all sitting on the sofas, ostensibly engaged in their phones and not in gossip. It reminded Nate of that scene fromPride & Prejudice, and he had to smother a smile. Aubrey’s parents were definitely not the Bennets in this scenario.
“So, this is Nate,” Aubrey said, as everyone jumped to their feet in unison. “Nate, this is my mom and dad, my cousin Rachel, and her husband, Tim.”
Aubrey’s mom actually cried, wrapping Nate up in a hug so tight he thought he might need help with extraction, but finally she pulled away, wiped her eyes, and said, “We’re so glad to have you here.”
Aubrey’s parents apparently were having lunch catered, and there was plenty of food for everyone. Nate ended up sitting with Tim in a corner of the living room, discussing options and strategies until Tim and Rachel had to leave around two to travel to his parents’ for the holiday.
By that time Nate was flagging, and Aubrey must have noticed.
“Mom, do you mind if Nate and I head back to the guest house?” He flicked his gaze over to Nate, who tried and failed to get his eyes to open past half-mast. “I think he’s going to pass out on the couch.”
“Oh!” Aubrey’s mom looked initially disappointed, then contrite, and then compassionate. “I think you’d better, actually. But bring him back tomorrow.”
Nate managed a genuine smile despite his exhaustion. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.” He glanced at Aubrey’s dad. “Even if I have to justify every goal I’ve ever scored against the Canucks. Again.”
Aubrey’s dad barked a laugh. He’d spent ten minutes giving Nate a hard time earlier. “I like you,” he said cheerfully, clapping Nate on the back. “Have a good nap.”
