Two Man Advantage Read online

  But Matty had pushed Wells away.

  Would Wells even want him back?

  Swallowing hard, he tried to push the door open just as he heard Wells’s baby sister, Wren, talking. He closed his eyes, and he wondered if he should just leave. Matty’s career was just now taking off, and he was playing for the fantastic Rangers. He was in a good place, but he knew he was empty without Wells. He didn’t have a purpose off the ice, and he was beyond lost without his man. Wells was his best friend, his confidant, and damn it, he loved the guy.

  But could he really ruin this wedding?

  He didn’t have a choice.

  As he pushed open the doors, only a few people noticed as the minister went on, “Okay, wonderful. No objection to this beautiful union—”

  Even with his heart in his throat, he managed to get out, “Actually, there is.”

  His voice was deep. Unsure. He felt the need for flight, but when his eyes landed on Wells, there was nowhere Matty could go unless that man was beside him. Within seconds, a hush fell over the crowd as Wells’s head whipped toward him. Lord, he was beautiful. He looked like a million bucks, his suit tailored just to him, his face clean-shaven and mesmerizing. His eyes shone that brilliant green that starred in all of Matty’s dreams. As Wells’s lips parted, eyes blazing into his, Matty could do nothing more than gasp, “Wells.”

  He couldn’t believe it. He had missed him so damn much, everything about him. Matty almost ran down the aisle to him, but he knew he didn’t have a right. No, he had to convince this man to take him back. “I’m sorry, I am. And I don’t mean to do this, but I can’t let you marry him.”

  “Oh, snap,” Matty heard Vaughn say, but neither of them could look anywhere but into each other’s eyes. Letting go of Alex’s hands, Wells parted his mouth a bit, shaking Matty’s confidence as he gazed into his former lover’s eyes, begging him to hear him out. Wanting to do this was one thing, but with everyone gawking at him and Wells looking at him like he had grown a head out of his ass, Matty wasn’t so sure of himself anymore. Hell, was he ever? Matty knew the answer, and even so, he just rushed into this.

  Because Matty loved him.

  He needed Wells more than he needed his next breath.

  But before he could proclaim that, hoping it would be enough to get back the man he loved, Alex yelled, “What? What are you doing?”

  Matty wasn’t sure what to say, or even if it would be enough, but he had to try. He had to. “I know I did you wrong. I’m young, I’m stupid, but, Wells, I love you. I love you so much, and I can’t do this. I can’t do life without you. Please. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but don’t marry him.”

  A whisper moved through the crowd, yet Matty couldn’t move. He was stunned in place, his eyes burning into Wells’s. Pleading with him. God, he wanted Wells to meet him halfway, to wrap his arms around him and for Matty to know he had won.

  But he didn’t deserve that.

  “No, we love each other. Get out of here! Someone remove him.” Alex was panicking.

  Shaking his head, Matty wished someone would just try to remove him. He wasn’t ready to leave, not until Wells told him to go. Man, he hoped that didn’t happen.

  Clearing his throat, he said very low, apprehension creeping into his voice, “I was wrong, I was so wrong. I let you go because I was a coward, and I swear to you, no more of that. I want to be with you, in and out of the closet. I want to love you because you came out of my dreams and made them real, Wells. You are everything I want and everything I need. I beg of you, don’t marry him. Give me another chance, please.”

  Wells wasn’t moving nor was he speaking. He was just staring into Matty’s eyes as hushed whispers continued to move around the room. Matty wasn’t sure what that meant.

  Did Wells not love him anymore?

  A stabbing pain hit him in the middle of his chest as he continued to hold Wells’s gaze. He wasn’t looking anywhere else but at Matty, with a torn and unsure look on his beautiful face. From where Matty was standing, he could see the scar on Wells’s lip, the one Matty had left there after the first time they’d played hockey together. Matty loved kissing that spot, and damn it, he was going to do it again.

  “You left him. He doesn’t love you! He loves me! Get out of here, you homewrecker! You can’t have him!”

  Matty would kiss that spot again, just as soon as this fucker was out of the picture.

  Matty refused to listen to Alex’s words. He could see it in Wells’s eyes. He still loved Matty. Matty knew he did. A love like theirs didn’t just go away. It was like a fire consuming both of them; he just hoped Alex wasn’t the rainstorm that would take it away. Matty couldn’t even grasp that idea. It hadn’t happened, he knew it hadn’t. Closing the distance between them, he came to the stair below Wells, his head tipping back as he looked up into those beautiful green eyes. His heart was beating so hard he was sure the whole room could hear it.

  “I love you, Wells. You know I do,” he whispered, his eyes insistent. Wells just stared at him, a pained expression on his face.

  “He doesn’t love you,” Alex yelled before looking up at Wells. “Wells, tell him. Jesus, are you mute?”

  But still, Wells said nothing, his eyes boring into Matty’s. Matty took a step forward, causing Wells to step back slightly. Yet, their bodies were so close that if one of them moved even in the slightest, they’d be touching. And then God help everyone, because they’d get a show.

  It had been a very long time without Wells’s kisses, and Matty was due.

  “Wells!” Alex yelled, but Matty didn’t move. He didn’t care about this guy, this rebound asshole. All he cared about was Wells.

  “Please tell me you still love me. Because no matter what I did, I couldn’t stop loving you,” Matty whispered. Then he could finally see it.

  The fear in Wells’s eyes.

  He was scared.

  Scared of Matty, and he couldn’t blame him.

  “Wells! Damn it! What are you doing?”

  Tears welled up in Matty’s eyes as he swallowed hard, his hands shaking with the need to touch the one man who meant everything to him. With his voice in almost a whisper, he promised, “I swear I’ll never hurt you again. I’m sorry. But you are mine, baby, remember? You told me that. That I was yours, and I am.”

  Wells’s eyes started to fill with tears, and Matty came undone. He wanted to touch him, but he wouldn’t do it without his permission. Without his affirmation of love.

  Damn it. He knew Wells still loved him.

  Didn’t he?

  He wasn’t sure what was going on beside him, and Matty heard Jensen say something, but then Alex was yelling once more.

  “Do what? You better be kicking him out! This is insane. Why are you just standing there? You don’t love him, do you? What kind of best friends are you? This dude hurt him. Kick him out!”

  Matty wasn’t sure what Wells saw in this dude, but he was beginning to hate him even more even as Vaughn yelled, “We’re the kind of best friends who want the best for our brother. Let him think!”

  Alex went to argue, but then a deep and commanding voice filled the room, “Son, that’s enough. You need to say something.”

  It was Wells’s father.

  Wells’s eyes widened as he tore them from Matty to his father. He was conflicted; it was all over his face, and it was killing Matty. Had he really hurt this guy that much? He was a fucking cunt. How dare he hurt someone so beautiful, so perfect. Man, he’d really fucked him over.

  But then Wells looked back at him. Wells’s eyes focused on Matty’s as he swallowed hard, a lone tear rolling down his chiseled face. “Your family?”

  Just two words.

  Two words that held the weight of the world.

  Commotion broke out, but Matty nodded firmly, hoping Wells could see he meant every single word that was about to leave his mouth. “I’m telling them. Even if you don’t want me, I’m telling them. I promise. I just want you by my side when I do i