“I ate here a lot when I lived in the area,” he said as he held the door open for them. “Their lamb tibs is incredible.”
Etienne looked really good in his game day suit, the cut emphasizing the width of his shoulders and narrow waist, the silky fabric clinging to his muscled legs and outlining them tantalizingly. For all that he’d sounded irritated over text, the smile he gave Adam was sweet and private, just for him as they stepped into the restaurant and the proprietor hurried toward them.
She recognized Adam, greeting him with a hug and concern over his bruises. Adam laughed it off, clasping her hands, and assured her he’d be fighting fit again in no time.
Settled at a table in the back, Etienne sitting beside Adam in a warm line from shoulder to hip to knee and Adam’s parents across from them, Adam cleared his throat and picked up a menu.
“So what are we in the mood for?”
Etienne’s knee nudged his but his face was nothing but calmly curious as he perused his own menu. “The tibs does sound good.”
They placed their order and Colette fixed Etienne with a smile.
“That was a really good game. I had no idea how talented you were!”
Etienne ducked his head, the flush crawling up his throat visible even in the darkened room. “Thank you for saying so.”
William leaned forward. “Where’d you learn puck-handling like that?”
“My father, ah… he taught me hand-eye coordination from an early age. I actually played lacrosse in high school and in the summers, but I liked being on the ice more, so….” Etienne shrugged.
“Where’s your family now?” Colette asked.
“Gone,” Etienne said bluntly. He winced as soon as he’d said it. “Sorry. Uh… yeah, they’re not… around anymore. My mom took off early, my dad is—” He shot Adam a slightly panicked look.
“Mom, did you have plans for tomorrow?” Adam interrupted smoothly.
Colette took the offered out. “Yes, I thought we’d spend it sightseeing. I want to go to the aquarium, your father wants to go to the ROM.”
“Cool, let me know when you’re done,” Adam said.
“Oh no, you’re coming with us,” Colette said.
Adam stiffened. “You’re not serious.”
Colette gave him a cool look. “I think you owe us a day of your time before we leave, don’t you?” Her eyes softened. “We’ll take it easy, since I know you’re still injured. But we want to see you, honey.”
But Etienne has a game tomorrow, Adam wanted to protest. I promised him I’d be there. Etienne’s hand under the table caught and squeezed his warningly before Adam could say the words, and he swallowed them down with an effort.
“Sure,” he managed. “Only fair, you’re right.”
“Etienne, how did you and Adam meet?” Colette asked.
Adam did his best to stay relaxed. Etienne could handle this.
“The day Adam signed with the Wolverines, my teammates shanghaied me to a bar not far from our rink,” Etienne said. His voice sounded just like usual, deep and smooth, but Adam suppressed a shiver at the memory. “They said I didn’t know how to have fun, so I got an impromptu lesson. Which mostly involved alcohol, obviously.”
“Obviously,” Colette said, lips twitching.
“Anyway, Adam was there, and he knows the captain of our team, so we all ended up sitting together. Adam and I hit it off and we’ve been talking ever since.”
“And how—” Colette broke off as William jabbed her in the side with his elbow, sending him a wounded look.
Adam glanced at Etienne, who looked just as baffled.
“What’s your plan for the future, Etienne?” William asked. “Do you have a specific team in mind you want to play for?”
“For now, I’d like to play for the Wolverines,” Etienne said. “But in the future, I’m open to anything. There are a few teams I’d be honored to sign with. What about you, what do you do?”
“I do some coaching,” William said. Adam managed to keep his face straight with an effort. “And Colette here is a surgeon. She makes the money.”
Colette rolled her eyes. “If I’m the money-maker, how come you don’t wash more dishes?”
Adam relaxed again, the conversation shifted to safer ground.
The rest of the meal passed smoothly, Etienne answering more questions from Adam’s parents while Adam tried not to watch Etienne’s long fingers as he tore off pieces of the injera flatbread to roll the tibs in.
Etienne maintained the conversation easily, but Adam could see the lines of exhaustion setting in around his eyes and finally he’d had enough.
“Tenny, you really should go rest for your game tomorrow. Thank you for coming out with us.”
Etienne nodded, wiping his hands. He gave Colette and William a smile.
“Thank you for having me, I had a good time.”
“I’ll call you a car,” Adam said, but Etienne shook his head.
“I’ll take the subway,” Etienne said. “There’s a stop just down the street.”
He stood and the others followed suit.
“I’ll settle the bill,” William said. “Adam, you can walk Etienne out while I do that. Etienne, good luck tomorrow.”
Adam followed Etienne outside and to the corner. Mindful of the public setting, he kept his hands in his pockets and a circumspect two feet between them.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
Etienne slanted a smile at him. “I did have a good time.”
“Does that mean you’re not going to take it out on my ass?”
Etienne caught his breath sharply. “Do you want me to?”
Adam shrugged, pretending nonchalance, but couldn’t quite hide the smile.
“Brat,” Etienne muttered, his lips twitching. “Text me tomorrow?”
“I’ll complain nonstop,” Adam assured him.
“And let me know when you’re free because I seem to recall promising you something tomorrow night.”
It was Adam’s turn to catch his breath. “Okay,” he managed. “Really wanna kiss you.”
Etienne’s eyes darkened. “See you tomorrow, Cary.”
11
Etienne woke up to texts from Adam.
Mom wants to go out for breakfast, save me.
Then a picture of Colette and William smiling for the camera.
Mom just asked if I was seeing anyone. I told her there was someone special but I wasn’t ready to talk about it.
Etienne’s chest bloomed with warmth. Someone special. He had no idea how to respond. Rolling upright, he scrubbed a hand through his hair.
How goes the parental torture?
We’re heading for the aquarium, was Adam’s reply. This would be way better if you were here.
Etienne smiled dopily at his phone. Keep me posted and send me pictures of the octopuses.
Got a thing for cephalopods? Adam asked.
Yeah, they remind me of you, you clingy bastard.
:D
Etienne laughed and got up to start his day.
The game that afternoon was a sweep. The Thunder won 4-0, with Logan giving them their first shutout of the season.