I swallowed. Come to a lot of home games. Then it occurred to me he might have noticed I was here with another man, and Eric and I weren’t exactly twins. So even though it probably didn’t matter at all, I added, My brother got us great seats!
Cool! Want to hang with the team after?
My jaw went slack. Was he serious?
Another message came through: First game back in town after we’ve been on the road, we usually all go out for drinks.
Well shit. What kind of fan would I be if I turned down a chance to hang out with the Snow Bears after a game? That was my story and I was sticking to it as I wrote back, Hell yeah! But then of course I remembered that Eric had driven us in. And that he’d probably never forgive me if I hung out with the Snow Bears without him. Do you mind if my brother comes with me?
No problem. GTG—will text w/time & place during intermission.
I stared at the message, then turned to Eric. “So hey, do you want to go hang with the Snow Bears after the game?”
Eric arched an eyebrow. “Say that again?”
“The team’s going to a bar up the street after the game. Guess it’s a tradition after they’ve been on the road.” I held up the phone. “And we’re invited.”
His lips parted and he stared at me like I’d just casually suggested we’d won the lottery. “Invited? Like…”
“Like, Jase Kelly asked if I wanted to join them, and I asked if I could bring you too.”
My brother’s eyes widened. “Are you shitting me right now?”
I huffed an impatient breath, turned on my phone, and showed him the screen. He skimmed over the text, and his expression turned even more incredulous.
“Hold the fuck on here.” He put up his hands. “Because I’m seriously lost on how you just got an invite, from Jase Kelly, via goddamned text message, to join—” He shook himself. “How the hell are you getting texts from Jase Kelly?”
I suspected that came out louder than he’d intended it to, and people around us definitely heard. Self-consciously, I shoved my phone back in my pocket and lowered my voice. “From that thing he set up for Dallas. We were—”
“Dude, that was like three weeks ago. You guys have just been… You’ve just been texting ever since?”
“Basically, yeah.” I couldn’t help cracking a smile, because, yes, Jase Kelly and I had just been casually texting for the past few weeks, and no, really, how the hell was this my life?
Speaking a bit more discreetly now, Eric said, “So you guys are just texting.” He gestured at the glass. “And he looked at you like that during warm-ups.”
“He didn’t look—”
“And I’m supposed to buy that there’s nothing going on.”
“There’s nothing going on.”
“And he invited us to their after party.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know, just because I’m bi doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with a man.”
“Of course it doesn’t.” He shot me a knowing grin. “But I bet you wouldn’t say no to—”
“Dude. Shut up.”
“Am I wrong?”
I didn’t answer.
But no, he definitely wasn’t wrong.
The after party, as my brother called it, was in a sports bar a few blocks away from the arena. At first I was worried we wouldn’t get in since there was a sign indicating the place was closed for a private party, but my name was on the list, so they let us in.
On the way into the bar, Eric shot me a look, and I put up my hand.
“Don’t.” I shook my head. “Not a word.”
“What?” He showed his palms. “I didn’t say a thing!”
“Uh-huh. Your face said it all.”
“Oh come on, I didn’t—”
“Hey, you made it!” Jase Kelly appeared in front of me, and I damn near stumbled because holy fuck, that smile. I’d been stupid over his smile for a long time, but now it was directed at me.
As we shook hands, I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Yeah, I wouldn’t miss it. And, um…” I motioned at Eric. “This is my brother, Eric. Eric, Jase Kelly.”
Kelly turned to Eric and extended his hand. “Hey. Nice to meet you.”
I had never in my life seen Eric as starstruck as he was right then.
“Uh.” Eric blinked, then remembered how to shake hands. “Great to meet you too. I’m a, uh, big fan.”
Kelly’s smile turned a little lopsided, with a hint of both amusement