He liked the sound ofnext time. “For sure. How about we check out the bookstore?”
Fabian grinned at him. “I forgot that you’re a book lover. You’ll love this place. It focuses on queer lit and political nonfic, but they have a bit of everything. And the staff is super awesome. I should take you to Vanessa’s store sometime. It’s closed now, but it’s rad.”
“Is it a bookstore too?”
“They do have books, but it’s mostly a sex shop. But, like, a very sex-positive, queer-positive one. Vanessa has been working there for years. I think people think she owns it.”
“Oh.” Ryan had spent very little time in sex shops. None, actually. The only toy he’d ever owned had been purchased online, and he’d always bought the rest of his supplies at drugstores.
“They’ve got everything. Talk to Vanessa. She’ll hook you up with whatever you need,” Fabian said casually, as if he were talking about a sporting goods store. Ryan would definitelynotbe asking Vanessa tohook him up. “Here’s the bookstore.”
They spent a half hour or so looking around the store, which seemed to double as a community space for speakers and workshops. There were posters throughout the store that listed upcoming events. Ryan liked it, and he planned to come back again sometime soon.
After that they strolled to the northern most corner of the Village, crossed the street, and walked back down toward Ryan’s apartment building. Fabian pointed out the bars, shops, and restaurants that he liked as they walked and talked. It was one of the most enjoyable evenings Ryan had ever experienced. When they reached Ryan’s building he felt an inappropriate urge to kiss Fabian good night. Or invite him up.
“So hockey is paying you okay, then?” Fabian asked wryly as he glanced up at the gleaming tower where Ryan lived.
“Pays all right,” Ryan muttered, embarrassed. In a perfect world Fabian would be making at least as much money playing music as Ryan did playing hockey.
“I liked this,” Fabian said. “I’m glad we reconnected.”
“Me too,” Ryan said. God, Fabian’s lashes were long. Makeup or no makeup, he was gorgeous.
“You know,” Fabian said, and his lips curved into the playful, seductive smile that both thrilled and terrified Ryan, “of all the hockey players who lived with us, you were my favorite.”
Ryan snorted. “I was the best of the worst, was I?”
“Oh yes. By far.”
“I liked living with your family. With...you.”
“Did you?” Fabian was so close to him, Ryan worried he would be able to hear the hammering of his heart. “When are you back in town?”
“Next Friday. I play a game on Saturday night.”
“There’s an open mic on Mondays at the Indigo Café—I pointed it out to you on our walk—and I’m planning on playing it that Monday after you’re back. I want to work out some of these new songs.”
“Are you inviting me?”
The playful smile returned. “I am casually dropping that information in the hopes that you will come. I couldn’t possiblyinviteyou to watch me fumble my way through some new material. That would be rude.”
Ryan laughed. “I’ll be there.”
“I won’t be offended if you change your mind.”
And then Fabian stretched up and kissed Ryan on the cheek. Ryan was caught so off guard by it that he just stood there stiffly, barely registering what was happening until it was over. “Good night, Ryan.”
Fabian turned and walked away so quickly that Ryan could only mumble “good night” to his retreating back as he brushed his fingers against the spot where Fabian had kissed him.
Chapter Ten
There were two interesting things about the game in Ottawa. One was that Coach Cooper had announced that Wyatt would be in nets because the Guardians’ star goalie, Anders Nilsson, needed a rest, and, frankly, Ottawa had a terrible team. Coach had, in fact, described the Ottawa team’s abilities using some very vulgar and homophobic language that Ryan was trying not to dwell on.
The other interesting thing was that this was the first time Toronto had played against Ottawa since the former Boston superstar, Ilya Rozanov, had signed with them over the summer.
The first period had barely made it to the five-minute mark when Rozanov started getting into it with Dallas Kent. Both players were known for their trash talk as much as their goal scoring ability, but neither of them was much good at finishing what they started. That was Ryan’s job.
Rozanov had just very obviously shoved Kent during a stoppage in play. The officials either hadn’t seen it, or were choosing to ignore it. Ryan skated over to where the two superstars were shouting at each other and very halfheartedly pulled Rozanov away from Kent.
