Two-Man Advantage Read online

  “I know. I tried to gamble with him, but he’s set. He wants the money by the end of the week, or they go out Saturday.”

  It felt like he had taken a puck to the chest as he wheezed in a breath, shaking his head. “I’ll get it.”

  “Okay. Just let me know when you do. I have his account number and everything.”

  Neither of them moved. Matty’s mind was going a million miles a second, thinking of different possibilities. “Can’t I sue him? I mean, this is invasion of privacy and then extortion.”

  Brendan nodded. “We can. But the pictures will surface. So we can get the lawyers involved, but after legal fees and everything else, not only will everyone know, but we’ll be out the money.” He held Matty’s gaze, sympathy in his eyes. “But it’s up to you. I’m here for whatever you want to do.”

  Matty’s eyes clouded as he looked away. “Don’t want to run?”

  “You’re my client and my friend. I love you, Matt, and please don’t think your sexual orientation changes that. You’re still one hell of a person and a player. I don’t care who you’re sleeping with.”

  Looking up, Matty nodded. “Thanks, man.”

  “Of course, let me know when you’ll have the money, or when you do get it. I’ll let this fucker know we’re getting it together.”

  But Matty shook his head. “Don’t tell him shit. Let him wait.”

  Brendan nodded. “Sounds good.”

  They both stood, and Matty held out his hand, but Brendan ignored it, coming around the desk to take Matty in a backslapping hug. “This doesn’t change us, Matt. We’re good. I just wish I had known before.”

  Matty laughed as they parted. “I’m just private.”

  “I know, but don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”

  “Thanks,” he said once more, a brave face on. “I appreciate it.”

  “Of course.”

  But when he left the office, his brave face was gone, and panic filled every single one of his features. His limbs were shaking, he couldn’t breathe, and he was pretty fucking sure he was having a panic attack as he entered his car, gasping for breath.

  “What the absolute fuck?”

  What was he going to do?

  When he heard his phone ringing, Matty ignored it as he rolled over in his bed, clutching his pillow to his chest. He had spent all afternoon and evening trying to figure out what he could do about this. He was able to get a loan, but only for five million, and the interest was so damn high even he was scared of it. He knew he could ask his dad and he’d probably give it to him, but he’d have to give a reason.

  Well, Dad, some asshole took pictures of my boyfriend and me on the beach. Oh, by the way, I’m gay!

  Closing his eyes, he dug his face into the pillow as he groaned loudly. He knew Seth and Laurence didn’t have that kind of money. They were successful guys, but not that successful. He considered calling Avery for about two seconds before he realized he couldn’t. They were still so fresh in their relationship; he couldn’t ask that of her. No matter how much he wanted to. When his phone rang once more, he squeezed his eyes shut.

  It was Seth. For the ninth time.

  He had blown off their dinner date, didn’t even text either of them, but he just couldn’t. He was upset, he was devastated, and he just didn’t know what to do. He had no problem coming out now that he’d committed to it. Yes, he was scared, but damn it, he wanted to do it in his own fucking time! On his terms. This was so far out of his control that he couldn’t even fathom his next move. And he definitely couldn’t talk to his brothers right now.

  Damn it.

  When his phone started to ring again—this time, Laurence—he bit his lip. He was a bastard for blowing them off and not answering. He never did this, and fuck, they were going to worry. Reaching for the phone, he answered in a gruff voice, “Hey.”

  “Dude, where are you? We’ve been waiting.”

  He groaned. “Shit, I’m sorry. I fell asleep. I feel like shit. I think I got food poisoning or some shit.”

  “Well, that sucks. I guess, call me tomorrow. Maybe we can get together.”

  “Yeah, for sure,” he said in a rush. “I’m going to puke. Bye.”

  Hanging up, he fell back on the bed as he let out a heavy breath. Covering his face, he rubbed his eyes as he went over what he could do. He was still considering suing the fucker, but he really didn’t want the photos coming out. If his family knew, that was one thing, but he didn’t want the whole world to know, judging him like he knew they would. It didn’t matter how much Wells said things had changed. He was a hockey player, and it wasn’t normal. Hockey players were rough, tough, and fucking puck bunnies left and right.

  But Matty wasn’t.

  He never did.

  Shit.

  When his phone vibrated in his hand with a text, he picked it up to see that it was Wells.

  Wells: How’s it going? Have you told them yet?

  Matty: No.

  He didn’t want to tell him why, he didn’t even want to tell him anything, but he knew Wells would ask.

  Wells: Why? You guys have been there for hours. Waiting till you get home?

  Matty: I didn’t go.

  Within seconds, the phone was ringing. “What the hell do you mean, you didn’t go?

  Wells’s voice was so rough, and it felt so much like home. It calmed Matty, made him feel good, but then he remembered someone was trying to extort him out of six million dollars, and his shitty feelings rushed back. “Some shit came up, and I canceled.”

  “What the hell came up?”

  Matty understood Wells’s frustration. It looked like Matty wasn’t trying to move forward, but that wasn’t the case. The problem was he didn’t know how to tell Wells about the photos. “Don’t be pissy—”

  “Don’t be pissy? Matty, you promised you were going to tell them. You promised me you were taking the steps to get to your parents so that we can be together the way we were on the beach!”

  “I know! Fuck, dude, some shit went down—”

  “What? What went down?” Wells yelled, his voice full of aggravation. “Please tell me what is more important than telling your brothers you are with me.”

  Matty exhaled loudly, annoyance running rampant through his veins. He hated when Wells got angry with him, even when it was expected. It didn’t happen often, especially with how calm he was most of the time. “Brendan called me when I landed.”

  “Okay?” he snapped, and Matty bit back his retort that included a lot of f-words.

  Sitting up, he closed his eyes as he relayed to Wells what happened. What they were doing in the photos, how both of their faces were showing, and how the photographer wanted a lot of money. “I can’t let my family find out like this.”

  “I understand that, I do. So tell them before this guy lets it out. Wait, can’t you sue him?”

  “Yes, but then the photos come out, and I don’t want people to find out like that.”

  “Why does it matter? As long as your family knows ahead of time, why does it matter?”

  “Because it’s our business! I don’t want it out for everyone to see. It’s already going to be a fucking field day for my dad when he finds out I’m gay, but if he finds out and then this happens, shit will be even worse. I can promise you that.”

  He listened as Wells grumbled into the phone. Matty couldn’t make out what he was saying, but he could tell Wells was upset. “So you’re going to pay this guy? How much?”

  Matty didn’t want to answer him. He wanted to hide under a rock, but he knew he couldn’t do that. “Six million.”

  Wells laughed. “What the fuck? That is insane.”

  “I know,” he agreed, shaking his head. “I can get a loan, but I really don’t want to. Asking my dad is out of the question ’cause he’ll want to know why. Yeah, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “I say let them come out.”

  “I’m not ready for that.”

  Wells let out an i