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Gods Need Sleep, Too
Logan
The summer might as well have been forever ago. It’s only been three weeks, but with how busy I’ve been since arriving in New York, it might as well have been last year.
Rhett gamed the system—as he does—by getting an apartment in the same building as Jack. He gave me a key, which Mercy quickly confiscated since he wasn’t thrilled about Rhett’s latest home-buying decision. Yeah, Mercy. He was able to come with us—Stanley too—and help us set up the apartment as well as spend some time with Jack before he had to head off to Kelowna for work.
He checked out my dorm room for me, too, and insisted that he make small repairs like fixing the handles on the dresser drawers and greasing the squeaky door. They made me take a trip with them to Target to get bedding that was mine as well as some other college essentials. Rhett gifted me a Macbook, claiming that it too was a college essential.
“We’re not going to be that gross, are we?” I asked on the day we were saying goodbye to Merc and Stanley as I watched Jack and Merc cry until snot flooded out of their nostrils. Blech. It even mixed together as they kissed, but they kept right on kissing as if it wasn’t the most disgusting thing in the world.
“No.” His eyes were red.
“Don’t you dare make me cry, Elkington.”
“You’re going to cry as soon as your brother hugs you anyway.”
He was right. At least I got to stay in New York with my guy, but I knew I’d fucking miss Merc like a limb.
“Why are you so choked up?” I asked.
“You’re going to be upset about your brother. I’m picturing it.”
That was fucking endearing, but, oh God, we might be as gross as Merc and Jack.
“C’mere, Lo,” Merc had said, sniffling. His arms were free since he hadn’t been able to pry Stanley away from Jack yet.
“Meyer and Wescott, next summer,” he reminded me so that I knew I wouldn’t be forgotten.
The promise of a commitment like that in the future did the trick. I didn’t worry like I thought I would. “Meyer and Wescott.”
Though I wouldn’t mind being just Meyer.
Then Jack and Rhett left for training camp. I know they won’t be gone long, but it’s turning into the longest week of my life. I’ve already snuck the key from Jack’s bedside table, risking whatever sex toys I knew would be in there, to steal it. He thought those would keep me out. All I needed was a latex glove and a set of metal tongs.
Like the pathetic fool I am, I’ve been sleeping in Rhett’s bed over the weekend so I could be surrounded by the smell of him. I do my homework on his sofa and make myself Rhett-o-nators with his expensive ingredients and commercial-grade blender.
I’m still at his apartment when my phone rings with a video call. Fuck it. He’ll love that I’m here.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey … are you in my apartment?”
“Yep. I fucking miss you, okay? Don’t tell Jack.”
“Jack is here, too,” Jack says from behind Rhett. “But if you turn this guy’s frown upside down, I won’t tell Merc.”
He mimics zipping his lips, locking them, and throwing away the key. Then he waves and points, signaling that he’ll give us privacy before he moves out of frame.
“I miss you, too,” Rhett says.
He’ll never admit it, but he’s exhausted. I can tell. “They working you hard, gorilla?”
“You always know.” He gives a weak smile. “Yeah, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I know. You’re a tough hockey gorilla.”
He rolls his eyes as he walks toward his bedroom. They rented a house outside the city with a few of their teammates, close to where training camp is being held. He flops onto his bed and closes his eyes. “Tell me a story. I want to hear your voice, but everything hurts, and I don’t think I can move my mouth long enough for pleasant conversation.”
