Two Man Advantage Read online

  “Awesome, I guess. We text a lot, about hockey and shit.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Yeah, I think Matty and I are gonna go hang out with Mom and Dad when we get back.”

  “That’s great. I think they’ll love him.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, I want them to get to know Matty since he crashed the wedding they paid for and stole me away.”

  Wren laughed. “It was the only way that could have happened, and I got to reap the benefits, so I’m pretty sure you can get another one out of them.”

  His body shook with laughter. “I don’t see myself getting married. It’s so hard for Matty to come out that I doubt he’d ever want to get married.”

  “You never know.”

  “True.”

  “He is very quiet, though. Like with Alex, he was so in your face, it made sense that you were attracted. Opposites attract. But with Matty, he’s almost stoic. Very laid-back, but he’s cool.”

  Wells smiled. “He’s great when you get to know him really well. He’s private and so damn closed off, but he’s funny and he’s smart. So damn smart, like smarter than you.”

  Wren made a face. “I have a master’s.”

  “Okay, Queen Wren, step down off your high horse, please.”

  She snorted. “I’m just saying. I’m pretty damn smart.”

  “Yeah, but so is he. Like he’s book-smart, but also street-smart. He’s always in control, and if you’ve ever watched him play hockey, he’s insane. So damn good and so damn hot. Jesus, he makes plays out of shit, and I wish I were half the player he is. That’s actually what attracted me to him at first.”

  “How so?”

  “We played his team, and they skunked us. I was trying to score, and he somehow took the puck, knocked me on my ass, took it down the ice, and scored before I even got up.” Wells paused to laugh as Wren just grinned up at him. “You know me, I don’t usually go after NHL players unless I know they shoot for my team, but I had to have him. I’ve been gotten plenty by players on the ice, Vaughn included, but something about the way Matty did it just revved my engine. I knew what hotel they were staying at, so I went over there. One thing led to another, and we were making out in a hallway.” His body broke out in gooseflesh at the memory. “I love him, Wren. I love him so damn much.”

  “He’s wonderful when he talks and jokes. Hopefully, he’ll warm up to us some more.”

  “He will. Just give him time.”

  “That’s not a problem,” she said. “I already love him because you do.”

  Fighting back the grin that wanted to escape, Wells wrapped his arm around her neck, pulling her into the crook of his elbow. “You know, I loved Jensen before you did, so I feel it’s unfair that I can’t say something sweet like that.”

  She snickered. “Well, I mean there is a lot about me that you can be sweet about.”

  He paused, thinking that through before looking at her. “What?” Glaring, she smacked his chest. Wheezing out a laugh, he squeezed her tight. “I’m joking.”

  “Sure you are.”

  “I am!” he said, kissing her temple. “You’re my favorite sister ever.”

  “I’m your only sister.”

  “Which makes you the best.”

  Rolling her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I guess this is true.”

  “I mean, it’s nothing to be mad at.”

  “Again, this is true.”

  “I’m so glad we agree on this.”

  “I think it’s a first.”

  “And probably the last.”

  “Probably,” she agreed, and when he kissed her once more on the temple, he wasn’t sure how he got so lucky in life, but he was thankful he was.

  He had it all.

  The family.

  The dream job.

  The love.

  And nothing could touch that.

  When she started to laugh beside him, Wells looked down at her, his brow raised. “What?”

  She shrugged. “Did you ever see our lives playing out like this?”

  He thought that through for a moment. His sister, pregnant and married? Yeah, no, that was never in her cards. But then Jensen was the missing card she needed. He was great and completed Wren. Just like Matty completed Wells. Did he think he’d ever fall for a twenty-three-year-old closet case? No. But now, he couldn’t see their lives any differently.

  It was good, and it would be perfect once Matty was able to come out fully.

  He found himself chuckling. “Never.”

  “It’s a good life, though,” she mused, more to herself, but Wells nodded. “A full life. I’m happy.”

  “Me too.”

  She glanced up at him. “Are you still worrying about that stuff with Matty? How it will all play out?”

  Wells looked away, swallowing hard. Looking out at the ocean, he turned them so they both faced it as their feet sank into the sand, the water kissing their ankles. “Do I still think about it? Yes, but I wouldn’t say I’m worried. I’m confident in us, me and him, but I wonder if he is as secure in us.”

  “Why do you wonder that?”

  He brought his lower lip between his teeth, biting down as he searched for the words he needed. “I watched him with his sister. He was a mess. But when he came out, he did it in this beautifully strong fashion. Though, as soon as Avery brought up their dad, Matty clammed up. His jaw was tight, and he broke out in a sweat. He’s scared of his dad, which is understandable, but his fear is something I don’t know how to fix.”

  “You’re not supposed to fix it, though. He is,” she said in her therapist’s voice. That calm and soothing manner she probably learned when she was getting that “master’s.” “You can’t fight his battles for him, Wells. You can only be the first mate to his captain. Guide him, support him, but this is his ship, he’s gotta keep it afloat.”

  Scrunching up his face, he looked down at her. “What’s up with all these analogies?”

  She gave him a guilty grin. “I read this article and—”

  “Say no more,” he laughed, shaking his head. She had always been reading, while he had always been moving, playing, and causing trouble. He’d calmed down a lot, but even in his wiser years and knowing she was right, he wanted so much to help Matty. To be more than Wren’s example of a first mate.

  “I know you,” she said then, bringing his attention back to her. “I know you want to fix him, you want to fix everyone, but you can’t. Really, you just can’t.”

  He looked away from her with a sigh, not liking her words at all, even though he knew damn well she was right. “I know.”

  She nodded, leaning into him. “It’s hard.”

  “It is.”

  “But it will work out, Wells. I know it will.”

  “I damn well hope so because I love that quiet son of a bitch.”

  She laughed. “And he loves you, truly,” she added, squeezing his center. “But this is going to be an uphill battle of epic proportions.”

  “Again with the analogies.”

  She gave a strained grin. “Sorry?”

  He laughed, holding her tighter to him. “It’s fine. I hear you.”

  She exhaled hard as he laid his head on hers, watching the waves, feeling them as they crashed against his legs. He was peaceful, totally relaxed, but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he was thinking about Matty, along with everything Wren had said.

  “But I still stand by the fact that I believe you two will be okay.”

  He prayed she was right.

  Seventeen

  Stretching in the bed, Matty extended the motion from his fingertips to his toes. It was a great stretch, but shit, what time was it? With his eyes still shut, he reached for his phone on the nightstand, bringing it to his face, blinking to see it was close to six a.m. Why in the hell was he awake? This was a vacation. He needed to fucking sleep, especially with how much all these people talked. Wells’s family was nice—Matty liked them just fine—but damn, they t