“Oh.”
“I perhaps should have been clearer about the dress code.” Fabian’s gaze swept over Ryan’s light gray suit, and his lips twisted into a teasing smile.
“I came straight from the arena. I didn’t have time to change. I know I look ridiculous.”
“Not at all.”
For a few seconds, they stood in silence, and Ryan wanted to both run away, and to reach out and touch his fingers to Fabian’s gorgeous face. Standing as close as they were, Ryan could now clearly see the artistry of his makeup; Fabian’s eyelids were painted in smoky layers of black and silver, and there was an iridescent shimmery powder on his face that highlighted his sharp cheekbones.
“Did you enjoy the show?” Fabian asked.
Fuck, Ryan. How rude are you?“Holy god. Yeah, it was unreal. You are...really good.”
Fabian pressed his lips together, then said, “Thank you.”
Ryan wanted to say more, but he couldn’t find the right words to describe how incredible Fabian’s music had been. So instead he said, “Well, I should let you get back to—”
“Come sit with us,” Fabian interrupted. “You can meet my friends. I have drink tickets. What can I get you?”
“Oh. You don’t have to—”
“Come on. You can tell me some more about how great I was.”
Ryan laughed at that. “Okay.”
Fabian led him back to the man he’d been hugging, and kissing, and touching a few minutes ago. “This is my friend, Tarek. He lives with my other friends, Vanessa, who is here...somewhere...and Marcus, who isn’t here because he’s working tonight.”
Friend. “Nice to meet you, Tarek.” Ryan extended his hand. “Ryan.”
Tarek’s face clearly expressed that he had no idea who Ryan was, but not in a rude way. “Ryan,” he repeated back as he shook his hand.
“Ryan used to live with my family,” Fabian explained. “When we were both seventeen.”
“Oh!” Understanding dawned on Tarek’s face. “You’re a hockey player!”
“Yeah.” Ryan fiddled with the button on his suit jacket, and wished for the millionth time that he’d had time to change.
“Do you still play?” Tarek asked politely.
Ryan wasn’t famous, exactly, but it was unusual for him to be speaking to anyone who didn’t know who he was. Unusual, and kind of nice, to be meeting people who had no expectations about him. “I play for the Guardians. For now, at least. I get traded a lot.”God. Shut up, Ryan.
“That must be tough,” Tarek said, and he sounded truly sympathetic. “I moved a lot as a kid. It sucks.”
Ryan nodded. “It does.” He desperately tried to think of something to ask Tarek, but was spared when a womanattackedFabian with the kind of hug that was normally reserved for game-winning goals.
“Fabian! That was so fucking good!”
Ryan couldn’t see Fabian’s reaction, because his face was covered by the woman’s voluminous, curly blond hair. She turned her head to look directly at Ryan, without letting go of Fabian. “Wasn’t that incredible?”
“Yeah,” Ryan replied. “Amazing.”
She released Fabian and turned fully to face Ryan. “Who are you?”
The question was so blunt, it startled a laugh out of him. “Uh, Ryan. Just...we used to, ah...”
“Hi, Ryan! Are you a fan of Fabian’s?”
“I, um...”
