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“I can understand that. So, here’s the deal: we ended up as roommates by chance. I needed someone to split rent with, and she needed a place to live. Her cousin is my athletic trainer and he arranged it. From the minute we met, there was an instant connection, and we began hooking up within a few weeks. I’m pretty sure I misinterpreted my attraction to her as love. I’m…kind of a whore, so I figured if we hooked up and I didn’t wanna immediately forget she existed, it must be love, right? Anyway, she never wanted to date me. Amara is incredibly smart. She knew this shit would never work, but I kept pushing, and for whatever reason, she finally agreed. It…all got real messy after that.”
Jake stared blankly at him for a few moments. “And where’s your boyfriend fit into this equation?”
“They had a flirt fest in the laundry room the day she moved in, and they wanted each other ever since. Hayes could flirt his way into anyone’s pants, clearly. He had a girlfriend at the time, though, so she wouldn’t touch him. We eventually…shit,” he paused. “We eventually had a threesome and she immediately broke up with me. We kept hooking up, but she was hooking up with him, too.”
“Jesus,” he muttered, looking away. “Is there anyone else? Do I need to get myself tested?”
“Trust me, I know this all sounds awful, but if you know anything about her, she’s…she’s been through hell. Has she told you what happened with her ex?”
“Yes, Ryan. We talk. I know a lot about her.”
“Then you know what an amazing person she is. The first day I met her? I had a major panic attack, and she got down on the floor with me and walked me through it, didn’t even hesitate. She’s caring, she’s nurturing, she’s patient, she’s…she’s…”
He snickered. “She’s banging a bunch of dudes half her age, too.”
“Two. Not a bunch,” Ryan corrected. “And she was. She isn’t anymore. I haven’t been with her since before Thanksgiving, and she and Hayes stopped as soon as you two got serious.”
Sighing and taking a sip of his beer, Jake looked away. “I don’t know, man. I don’t know if I can get past all this. Oh, and side note: how the hell did you end up with Hayes?”
“Because of her. She knew we had feelings for each other before we even did. She encouraged us to go for it, and I’m so grateful she did because as it turns out, I’m…very much in love with him.”
“You ever worry about getting traded? That happens all the time in pro sports, doesn’t it?”
“Thanks, man. Didn’t have enough to be anxious about already,” Ryan teased, earning half a smile from Jake. “We would deal with it. The good news is that the paychecks are fat, so traveling to see each other won’t be an issue, you know?” Ryan shrugged. “I’ll make it work for him. I’ll do anything I have to do for Tyler Hayes. But back to her: I know you’re gonna do what you want, but I think you should give her another chance, man.”
“You just turned 24. Hayes, what, just turned 21? So, she was banging him when he was 20? She’s 41, Ryan. That’s…fuckin’ weird.”
“You do any wild shit following your divorce?” Ryan asked, staring at him intently.
Jake laughed. “Touché.”
“People do weird shit after divorces, man. She was cheated on and she wanted attention, wanted to feel beautiful, desired. We gave that to her, and she ate it up. Don’t hold that against her. What woman doesn’t want that?”
Leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms, Jake nodded slowly. “I gotta hand it to you, Baylor. It’s obvious you really care about her, you and Hayes. It’s not like you guys just used her.”
“Against all possible odds, the three of us are incredibly close. We fight constantly, we get on each other’s nerves, and we’ve all fucked each other. But no matter what bullshit shows up, we find a way to get through it. She’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had.”
“And you plan on keeping that friendship with her?”
Ryan leaned down and in towards Jake, lowered his voice, and said, “Not keeping it? Isn’t even an option. You want her? You get me and Hayes, too.”
“You trying to be a tough guy?”
Ryan laughed, throwing his hands up. “Yeah, was it at least sort of intimidating? I mean, you could literally bench press me, so.”
“Not intimidating at all.”
“Dammit. Honestly though: everyone comes with a story. And a story isn’t just a single, straight line, right? It’s a series of ups and downs, highs and lows. Don’t judge someone’s story solely based on one or two scenes or chapters you didn’t like. It’s…” Ryan stopped, then nodded. “It’s a really good book.”
She's Gone (40)
Three days after his talk with Jake, Ryan had just returned to the apartment from the team’s road trip to Charlotte, and he couldn’t have been happier to be back home.
While there, the guys had all gone out after the game to one of the local spots, and a few of the Charlotte players were there. Hayes had gotten separated from Ryan for a bit, and when he’d finally reunited with him, he found him getting a little too cozy for his liking with one of the Charlotte defensemen out on the back patio. The other guy’s arm was around Ryan, and while to any outsider, it looked like just two drunk guys chatting it up, Hayes knew better.
He approached them from behind, tapping Ryan aggressively on the shoulder. “Just thought you should know I’m headin’ back to the hotel.” He immediately turned to walk away, with Ryan calling after him.
“Wait, Hayes. I wanted to introduce you. This is Mike Kane. I played juniors with him. Mike, this is my boyfriend I was just telling you about.” Hayes stopped and came back towards them, Ryan reaching his hand out and pulling him over to where they were sitting. “Come sit. We were literally just talking about you.”
