Clash

by Charity Parkerson

  Goddamn. Wasn’t that the truth?

  “What are you playing? I always see you on this same game but haven’t asked what it is.”

  Michael looked over at Cal’s question. Thoughts of Gavin disappeared. As Mara’s bodyguard, Cal had a lot of free time to hang around the set waiting—like Michael did every day. Michael flashed the phone he’d forgotten in his hand Cal’s way. “It’s called Cyborgs vs. Androids. You join a side, and then a team of other online players. You have to make it through levels and gather certain supplies to survive, as well as creating your own planet etc. It’s pretty mind numbing, but it gives me something to do.”

  Cal nodded. “I guess you have to find ways to entertain yourself. Since I haven’t been working for Mara long, I’m still enjoying the people watching. How long have you been doing this? Working for Mara, I mean?”

  “Four years,” Michael said, willing to talk if Cal was bored. Anything was better than thinking about his morning. Cal wasn’t much of a talker. Michael was curious about the man, but not enough to ask questions. “I’m lucky. Mara is easy to keep up with and to please. Some handlers have miserable tasks. Look at Penny over there,” Michael said, nodding toward a mousy-looking brown-haired girl on the other side of the room. “She’s Ven Sterling’s handler. The guy who’s playing opposite of Mara,” Michael explained, in case Cal didn’t know who Ven was. “That guy is constantly pulling shit to get out of being where he’s supposed to be. If you need entertainment, just watch. She spends half her day trying to find him. It’s like her life is one big game of Hide and Seek. Meanwhile, Ven has got some set worker cornered in the backlot about half a second away from landing a sexual assault charge. Well, if he wasn’t famous,” Michael added, because the man would already be in jail if women weren’t star struck by him.

  “Huh,” Cal grunted, which could’ve meant anything at all. “Why doesn’t she quit?”

  A snort escaped Michael before he could call it back. “Are you kidding me? She makes three times what Ven’s body double makes, and she can come to work looking however she wants. Anyone can put up with anything for enough money.”

  Michael’s phone chirped, alerting him to an incoming game message from one of his Cyborg team members. He gave up on his conversation with Cal and glanced at his phone.

  #1HatTrick: I have an extra cylinder of nanos and a diamond-infused exoskeleton, if you need them.

  MichaelThePA: Hey. How are you? I have more nanos than I can use right now, but thank you for the new exoskeleton.

  #1HatTrick: No problem. I’m good. How was your date last night?

  MichaelThePA: Work ran late, so I didn’t go. What did you do last night and how was your trip to Boston?

  #1HatTrick: Lasagna for one, and I didn’t close the deal.

  MichaelThePA: Yum, lasagna. My favorite. I’m sorry you didn’t win this one.

  #1HatTrick: There’s only me, so I’ll be eating it for a few days. Don’t worry over me. I always come out on top, and I have another trip Thursday to Winnipeg.

  MichaelThePA: Think of me while you do. Eat, that is...

  #1HatTrick: I will.

  Michael smiled as he read through their messages. He didn’t even know the guy. They’d developed a friendship when they’d landed on the same team, but Michael didn’t know much about him. He thought the man was some sort of corporate negotiator who traveled constantly. But, hell, Michael didn’t even know his name much less was he sure exactly what he did for a living. Michael’s smile fell. How sad was his life? Most people would kill for Michael’s job, working as a PA and handler for Mara King, one of Hollywood’s biggest actresses. He couldn’t deny he had an awesome career. Everything else was a dead zone. He never saw his family. Michael had been single for always, and free time was a joke. Mara had confided months ago that she was considering retiring. If she did, his job would stand, but he’d have more time for a life of his own. Michael had no clue what he’d do then. There was only so much Cyborgs vs. Androids he could play.

  “I need a favor,” Mara said, interrupting his depressing thoughts. What Mara meant was—she needed him to do his job, but she was too nice to say as much.

  He put his phone away. “Anything.”

  Her dark eyes shone bright with happiness—something he hadn’t seen in a while. “Noah is in town. I had dinner with Troy and him last night, and I think I left my favorite red jacket in their hotel room. Could you head over there and pick it up for me?”

  “Of course. Just text me the address of where I need to go.”

  Mara nodded. “Sure thing. Also, we’re done for the day here, so once you’ve got it, you’re free to go home. You can bring the jacket by tomorrow when you come in. No need for a special trip.”

  “Sounds good,” Michael said, already heading for the door. He cast a quick glance Cal’s way, ensuring he would take care of Mara from here on out. He already knew the man would, but it was Michael’s job to make sure Mara got handed off to the next person in charge of her well-being. Michael took that job seriously.

  Despite the fact that he had nothing to do, Michael looked forward to getting home earlier than usual. It wasn’t often he could strip down to his boxer briefs and do absolutely nothing but relax. Unfortunately, at the hotel, Noah’s husband Troy rerouted him to the municipal rink where Noah was out practicing with some local players.

  “Sorry, man,” Troy said for the third time. “Noah planned to take it by her house after practice, so it’s in his truck.”

  “It’s fine,” Michael reassured him. “She’s not staying at her place right now, so I’ll run by there and pick it up. Just let Noah know I’m on my way.”

  While holding in an irritated sigh, Michael waved over his shoulder as he headed for the elevator. Fuck. The local public rink was on the other side of town and it was rush hour traffic. Michael stared straight ahead and tried not to think as he inched down the highway. No matter how hard he fought against it, Gavin’s image kept floating through his mind. He hadn’t changed much in looks. Had he changed in personality? Michael doubted it. He didn’t want to be bitter, but fuck. Gavin had built him up and torn him down too many times. The sick, defeated feeling Gavin left him with years ago had never gone away. Each time he thought of the man, he remembered how it felt to watch him with someone else. There were other memories too. Things he couldn’t shake. The New Orleans heat beat down on the pavement, causing a haze in the distance. Michael stared at the waves of light floating through the air and let the memory of the first time they’d kissed take hold.

  “Your house is the strangest one I’ve ever been in. There’s never any adults here, and the fridge is always empty.” It was true; both Michael’s parents were high-dollar lawyers and partners in the same practice. They were never home.

  “But there’s always money on the fridge, so we don’t starve, and we have the best parties,” Marshall said, snatching a fifty off the refrigerator door. “Want to run to the store with me to pick up snacks?”

  Gavin grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and twisted off the cap. “Nah. I think I’m gonna be lazy for a few.”

  “You’re always lazy,” Marshall said, attempting to put Gavin in a headlock.

  Michael listened to the whole thing while leaning over the kitchen counter, trying to finish his calculus homework.

  After much scuffling, Marshall ruffled Gavin’s hair and headed for the door. “I’ll be back in a few.”

  Gavin tossed the plastic cap from his bottle at Marshall’s back. “I’ll be here.”

  The back door closed and silence fell in the kitchen. It was uncomfortable. Five minutes passed. Gavin didn’t leave. Michael focused harder on his work.

  Gavin leaned over his shoulder. “What are you working on?”

  “I’m not in the mood for your bullying bullshit today,” Michael said, using his driest tone.

  “What are you in the mood for?”

  At Gavin’s tone, Michael straightened and turned. Damned if Gavin didn
’t sound turned on. That was fucked up and couldn’t be real. He had to see for himself. The instant he turned, Gavin’s body collided with his. Michael was too shocked to move away. Gavin’s erection dug into Michael’s side. His gorgeous amber gaze stared down at Michael with hunger.

  “Um, what’s going on?” Michael’s brain couldn’t come to terms with what his eyes were seeing.

  “This,” Gavin said, dropping his head and touching his lips to Michael’s.

  Michael didn’t react immediately. His first thought was to push Gavin away. This had to be a joke, except it didn’t feel the least bit funny or fake. Then, Gavin sucked Michael’s bottom lip between his teeth. Lust slammed into Michael, nearly doubling him over in its intensity. As if sensing his weakness, Gavin attacked. His hard body went flush against Michael. Their tongues brushed.

  Soon, Michael would have to deal with the fact that Gavin Weeks was kissing him. Right now, all he wanted was for Gavin not to stop. Holy hell. It was explosive.

  “Goddamn, I knew you’d be amazing,” Gavin said as he changed angles.

  Gavin said he knew as if he’d been thinking about this. Michael snapped. “Wait,” he said, shoving at Gavin’s chest. “Just wait.” Gavin’s eyes were heavy with lust. His lips were swollen from their kisses. Michael had never been more confused or turned on in his life. “I don’t understand,” Michael said, because he had nothing else.

  “We’ve got maybe fifteen minutes before Marshall gets back. Do you want to talk about this now, or I can text you later?”

  “I want to talk about this now,” Michael said, because he was no fool. There had to be more to this than he currently understood, and he wouldn’t risk Gavin refusing to answer him later.

  “Okay. I want you.”

  Michael blinked. It was almost funny. Gavin made the claim loud and clear as if there wasn’t a doubt inside him. This wasn’t some random thing, or a joke. Gavin wanted him. “Text me later,” Michael said, pulling Gavin back in for another kiss. This was nuts, but damn. Gavin was sexy as hell. Only an idiot would turn him down.

  The honking of a horn behind him pulled Michael from his thoughts. He eased forward the five feet the driver behind him was angry over. It took everything inside him not to flip the guy off. As irritating as it was to have someone blow their horn at him that person wasn’t who Michael was pissed off at. He was angry with himself. It had been six fucking years. He should be over this shit. It seemed stupid not to be. He would do better. If he saw Gavin again, Michael wouldn’t let the man get under his skin. No one man was worth the hole in Michael’s chest.

  “No fucking way,” Gavin said under his breath when he caught sight of Michael in the parking lot of the municipal rink. Twice in one day was more than a coincidence. It was a fucking miracle. “Michael,” he shouted before the man could get away. The way Michael’s shoulders immediately tensed and then fell at the sound of Gavin’s voice made Gavin chuckle. It sounded evil even to his ears. He half expected Michael to make a run for it to keep from talking to him again. To Gavin’s surprise, he turned, looking slightly put out.

  “Are you stalking me?”

  He was, but that was a different story. “I’m leaving practice.” Michael’s expression never changed, and it occurred to him that Michael didn’t know him any longer. “I play for the Blue Fires.” Still, Michael’s expression didn’t change. “It’s a minor-league hockey team,” he clarified.

  “I’m aware,” Michael said without a hint of emotion and leaving Gavin wondering which part he’d known.

  “You ran away earlier.” Gavin didn’t know why he went there. He didn’t like dancing around.

  “I told you I had a schedule to keep.” Michael’s expression and voice never wavered from cool indifference.

  Gavin shifted his workout bag to the other hand, giving his right arm a break. “And now?”

  “Now I’m headed home. Have a good night.”

  Before Michael could run away again, Gavin grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Have coffee with me.”

  Michael’s gaze dropped to where Gavin held him before he slowly lifted his chin and met Gavin’s stare. The coldness in his eyes had Gavin releasing him. “It’s seven at night.”

  “Dinner then,” Gavin offered. “Or even just a drink. Twenty minutes of your time,” Gavin tacked on, hoping Michael would give a little.

  Michael glanced around the parking lot as if he was lost. Gavin didn’t know if Michael would run or rage, but he didn’t look likely to accept Gavin’s offer.

  He finally focused on Gavin. Gavin’s stomach muscles tightened. He loved Michael’s eyes. Time hadn’t changed a thing. “Didn’t there used to be a small bar around here? They served wings and whatnot.”

  Gavin had to bite his bottom lip to keep from giving in to a triumphant smile. “Sammie’s. It’s at the edge of the North parking lot. This is the South lot. I’ll drive if that’s where you’d like to go.”

  Michael tossed a jacket inside his Mercedes. “We’re right here. You can ride with me. I mean, this is my company car, but my boss doesn’t care what I use it for as long as I show up to work.”

  Since there was no way he would let Michael get away again, Gavin circled the car to the passenger’s side and jumped in. He turned in his seat and set his bag in the back before buckling up. He waited until he was settled before glancing Michael’s way again. The man was doing his best not to look Gavin’s way. Gavin could see it in the way he remained tensed as if prepared to flee.

  “This is a nice company car,” Gavin said, hoping to break the tension. “I thought you’d planned to go to law school.”

  Michael put the car in drive. “I worked at my parents’ law firm for a little over a year after high school, pushing papers and answering phones while I went to college,” Michael said as he circled the large lot, heading for the North side. “It was awful. Everyone was angry and overworked. Then, one day, I met my boss when she came in to go over a contract. It was love at first sight, and she offered me a job. I quit college and went to work for her.”

  Gavin loved listening to Michael speak, so he kept pressing. “What do you do?”

  Michael hesitated, as if he didn’t want to say, before finally answering, “I’m Mara King’s personal assistant and handler.”

  “Mara King. Like, the Mara King?”

  A hint of a smile touched Michael’s lips before disappearing again. Like that, Gavin knew Michael was proud of what he did. “I figured school would always be there if I wanted to go back. Being offered this job was a once in a lifetime opportunity I couldn’t let pass. I haven’t regretted it.” He tossed a glance Gavin’s way. “What about you? I thought football was your thing. How did you end up playing hockey?”

  Gavin shrugged, even though Michael wasn’t looking at him. “I was never very good at football. It’s tough being the son of a famous quarterback turned coach. Everyone expected me to be the same, but I wasn’t even good enough to warrant a scholarship. I went on to college anyhow, thinking I needed to do something with my life. They had skate-on tryouts for the university hockey team, and I’d played a little when I was a kid, so I gave it a shot. Turns out, I’m better at this.” Since they were at the restaurant, it seemed ridiculous to stay in the car, so Gavin opened the door and kept talking. “Getting picked up by the Blue Fires has saved my dad’s pride, a bit.”

  “Your parents were always proud of everything you did,” Michael argued, proving he never knew them beyond the face they showed the public.

  “Not so much anymore,” Gavin said, hoping he could leave it at that.

  Catching up carried them through dinner until the waitress dropped their check at the table and told them to pay the cashier. Gavin never looked the woman’s way. He couldn’t take his eyes off Michael. The man’s every reaction screamed loathing. It was obvious Michael didn’t want to be there, but he didn’t leave. Gavin swallowed another large gulp of water, trying to fight back the urge to say all the things he really wanted to say.
Michael stared at his own glass, stirring the ice with his straw. There was a deep line between his brows, and Gavin broke. He set his drink aside. Gavin couldn’t take Michael’s cool indifference any longer. “Why do you still hate me? I know I fucked up, but it’s been years, and I’m trying here.”

  Michael stared at his hands as he toyed with the straw in his glass. He stayed silent for so long, Gavin wasn’t sure he’d answer. His gaze lifted to Gavin’s, and Gavin stopped breathing. He thought he hadn’t forgotten a single detail of Michael, but the impact of his intensity had been lost to him until now. He’d forgotten how it felt to be underneath Michael’s piercing green gaze.

  “I hate you for the skip in my heart each time I remember you pushing me away.” It was a punch to the gut. Michael didn’t stop. “Every time in my life I’ve wondered if I’m good enough can be traced back to you. I shouldn’t care about those things any longer, but I do. It’s not fair, but I hate that a single good thing has ever happened to you. You should question yourself. Your brain should be the same roller coaster. People should call you names and make your life hell if there was any justice in the world. But it seems you’ve continued on, living the same charmed life.”

  “My life was never charmed,” Gavin admitted. “The only time I was ever free was when I was with you, and then it was temporary—always rushed so my fantasy of being me wasn’t exposed to my reality. When I look back on the night I pushed you away, it’s more than a skip in heartbeat. It’s a knot in my stomach and fire in my throat.” Gavin shook his head, trying to shake off the memory of losing Michael. A bitter smile touched his lips. “I see I’ll never change your mind about me. Are you ready to go?”