Chapter Fourteen

Practice was as terrible as Dan had guessed it would be.

The coach wasn’t happy with their loss and was making them work for their next match, now having to play up to the Canadian team. Dan panicked that it wouldn’t be enough, that no matter what they did, they would end up crashing out of the Olympics. He needed a medal, had to win it, not just because it got him great sex—even if that would help—but he wanted it for himself.

Dan was pulling his t-shirt over his head when someone in the room whistled. It took him a moment to realize it was Rafael, and his eyes were back on his jaw.

“Someone likes to use you as a chew toy.”

“Shut up,” Dan said good-naturedly, ignoring the panic beating his chest. He needed to keep his cool if he was going to convince them it was nothing.

“You picked up again?” Ian said with interest, peering over to look at the bruises.

“So?”

“Picked up the same person,” Rafael said, dragging out the last word like it was important.

“Maybe I just like getting bitten in the same place,” Dan said, shoving at his shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Swan chimed in from across the room. “Don’t remember you ever picking up in BC.”

Dan shrugged, nonchalant even with the oh, God they know thoughts currently running through his head. “That you know of.”

Swan’s eyes widened. “The days you didn’t come back to the hotel room—?”

Dan just grinned, let them make their own conclusions. Ian laughed loudly, throwing an arm over Dan’s neck in a headlock and yelling about how his brother had game. Rafael wasn’t as enthusiastic, and when Dan turned back to his cubicle, trying to straighten out his hair, he was frowning. Dan tried not to let it bother him.

Let Rafael bring it up if he wanted to, Dan had enough of revealing his secrets to people who didn’t care whether he wanted them to know.

By the time practice was over, and they had been stretched to their limits, coach’s words ringing in their ears about playing better, proving that they were worth a medal, Dan had nothing else to do with his day. Texting Bobby that he was done with practice, they kept up a steady conversation throughout the day, Dan going out with the team. It would help keep Rafael off his back—or from following him. Not that Dan thought he was creepy enough to do that, but paranoia had a strange way of making crazy things seem normal.

Everyone seemed happy enough to have Dan along for the ride and he indulged in a little too much alcohol. It tended to loosen his tongue, and for a guy with too many secrets, it could be a death sentence. Thankfully Ian was seated at one elbow, Alaric the other, and while Dan didn’t trust either of them, they weren’t keen on listening to him blab either and kept plying him with cola and water until he’d sobered up a little.

“I really want a medal,” Dan said, scowling down into his drink.

“Well,” Alaric said, diplomatically. “If you get chewed on like that when you don’t win a medal, makes me wonder how enthusiastic she’ll be when you do.”

“Very,” Dan said, enunciating the word. He ignored the description, replacing it with he in his head. “Promised me a fucking.”

Ian’s eyebrows shot into his hair and Alaric coughed politely.

“As in,” Dan said slowly, waving a hand. “I could do the fucking.”

Ian snorted into his glass, mouth quirking even as he drank. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Helena probably fucks you,” Dan said, shoving at Ian’s shoulder.

A few guys laughed at that, and though Ian flushed, he shrugged one shoulder. “I’d take it.”

Those were not thoughts he wanted to have about his brother, so he made a face and turned back to his drinks. He had half a glass of water, and took a few sips, eyes running over the rest of the guys. A few had scored, either dancing or chatting someone up at the bar. Rafael was still at the table, going over plays with Swan if the way they were utilizing the mugs and glasses was anything to go by.

“Are we ever gonna meet her?” Ian asked.

It took Dan a minute to realize that he was supposed to answer. “That depends.”

“On what?”

Dan paused, trying to think of a plausible lie, shrugging quickly. “Whether or not you deserve to meet them.”

If Ian noticed that he didn’t say she, he didn’t mention it. He scowled instead, jabbing Dan in the hip. “I am wonderful.”

Even Alaric snorted at that.

By the time Dan left the bar, sliding into a cab with Rafael and Ian, he was still pleasantly buzzed. Fumbling for his phone, he shot off a text to Bobby, asking if he was going to be at Dan’s next game, aware that if they didn’t win the group final, they wouldn’t advance to the quarterfinals.

Bobby: I think I have free time.

Bobby: ;)

Dan rested his head against the window, not really looking at anything outside the window, too busy thinking about the way Bobby had looked at him the night before, the press of his lips to Dan’s. It probably wasn’t healthy to be so obsessed. He wanted to ask Ian if his first time had been as distracting, but that was not a conversation he wanted to have with any of his siblings, much less Ian.

“Oi,” Ian said, pinching Dan’s arm.

“Fuck off.” Dan elbowed him sharply.

“I was gonna say,” Ian said, dragging out the consonant. “That you’ve been happier since what’s her face gave you that.”

Dan rolled his eyes as Ian wiggled a finger at his jaw. “Have I?”

“Yes,” Ian said seriously, leaning in close. He stank of alcohol and sweat, but Dan didn’t push him away. Over time their relationship had started to strain, especially given their mother’s propensity for playing them against each other. Dan was trying to fight his mother’s hold over them, not cement it, so he allowed Ian to throw an arm over his shoulders, seatbelt digging into his shoulder. “You should keep doing whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Thank you for that wisdom, sage.” Dan snorted, shoving at Ian’s forehead until he moved away. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Ian turned to give Rafael shit, but he was cut off by a hand in his face.

“I’m not getting laid to make your life easier, Matthews, fuck off.”

Dan laughed at the look of disappointment on Ian’s face, and when Rafael’s lips twitched up as well, he felt relief flood his chest. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d been around Rafael until now. Maybe that was what had Rafael looking at him weirdly.

“Whatever. Pretty soon we’ll have a medal and then we’ll all be getting as much sex as we want.”

“I’ll tell Helena you said that,” Dan said dryly, and as Rafael laughed over Ian’s fervent protests, Dan felt lighter than he had for days.