I didn’t need to know the truth. If Alec wanted to share it, I’d be there for him. But I didn’t need him to tell me.
I looked across at Monroe, who was anxiously shifting his weight from side to side as he waited with me in the lobby, and knew he felt the same. He’d been angry and hurt, completelyblindsided by Alec and the way he’d walked into the room swinging. But Monroe wanted this, too, and no matter what form their relationship took, I was behind them one hundred percent.
The bus finally pulled up, and Monroe reached for my hand. He squeezed it tight. He bit his lip. The furrow in his brow and his wide eyes gave away just how nervous he was. I loved that Alec meant so much to him too. My beautiful man had such a big heart.
I smiled at him and squeezed his hand tight. He stepped closer, then wrapped his arms around me from behind. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and breathed slowly. When I snuggled into him, Monroe’s nerves seemed to melt. He went lax against me and pulled back after a moment to kiss my temple.
“If Alec doesn’t want to talk about his past—”
“Then we respect that,” I finished, and his lips curved up in a smile against my cheek. He turned my face and kissed me again, his tongue teasing mine with barely there touches. I sighed happily, my legs turning to jelly and my whole body aching to get close to both of them again.
“Mmm,” he hummed.
I leaned back into the bulge in his jeans that pressed against my butt. He hadn’t pushed me—in fact, Monroe had insisted that Alec be the first one inside me because of his size—but I was ready now. Well, ready enough totrytaking him inside me at least. He was so big, it was intimidating. But I wanted it. What was the saying? No pain, no gain? I just hoped it didn’t hurt too much.
The team filed into the lobby, and I waved the purple, silver, and black flag I was holding. I wanted to scream and shout, to cheer for them and have the whole lobby participate, but just the thought made my throat close up and heat flush my cheeks.
Monroe pulled back a touch and whistled before he shouted, “Go Seals!” In an instant, it was as if the whole lobby was in on it. The dozen or so people in jerseys sitting in the bar celebrating and equally commiserating cheered them too. I called out, shouting even though I was hoarse. I did better with the flag, waving it high.
Rune stopped in his tracks and laughed. My cheeks flamed. I wanted to hide, but Rune fist bumped me on the way past, and I beamed. The other boys on the team joined in with the cheers, whooping and yelling themselves. Jackie stopped and hugged me before slapping Monroe on the back, while Hewitt high fived us. They made a beeline for the bar, most of the team following, to the delight of the fans there. The boys had a day off tomorrow, and they were already celebrating.
Alec pressed his lips together in a small smile as he walked past us. But it was forced. The flag stilled as I stopped waving it.
Monroe snagged Alec’s arm, stopping him. I raced around him, stepping into his path. Alec gestured with his free hand and murmured, “The team are celebrating.”
“Stay,” I begged. “Just for a minute. Please, hear us out and then join them.”
“I want to, but I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Roe asked, and Alec closed his eyes.
He looked down at the floor for a moment before squaring his shoulders and opening his eyes. He was looking past me, refusing to meet my stare. Monroe slid his hand down Alec’s forearm until his pinkie was flirting with Alec’s.
Alec shivered.
Monroe didn’t wait for him to answer before he added, “Please, just give us a few minutes to hear what we have to say. We won’t keep you long if you want to party with the team.”
Alec dropped his gaze to mine, and the conflict I saw there was a kick in the guts. I sucked in a sharp breath. My chest squeezedtight. Why was he unsure? Was it because he actually thought he was better off without us?
I hesitated before reaching up slowly and cupping his cheek. I wanted to kiss him more than anything. I carded my fingers through the hair at his nape and tugged him down to my level to kiss him, just a soft and sweet press of our lips together. I pulled back, praying that it wasn’t the last kiss of his I’d ever have.
“You cheered for me tonight,” he commented, his voice soft and filled with awe.
“We did,” I replied.
“I know we need to talk, but I’m scared,” he confessed, leaning into my touch. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine.
“We won’t hurt you,” I promised.
His smile was sad when he said, “I didn’t think they would either.”
“We’re not them.” I stroked his face with my thumbs before running my fingertips over his cheeks. Monroe and I had both wanted privacy for this conversation, preferring for Alec’s sake not to have it where anyone could overhear us talking.
“Come upstairs with us, Alec,” I urged.
His nod was small but decisive. I led us to the lifts before he could change his mind. When the doors slid open a moment later, we stepped inside. The ride up to the twelfth floor was quiet, even though we were the only people in the cab.
Monroe swiped his card, and we crossed the threshold to his room a moment later. Alec stopped in the middle of the space and slid his hands into his pockets, waiting. Monroe faced him head-on, but it wasn’t confrontational. It was beseeching.
