End Game

by Samantha Wayland

He was settled back against her pillows and she wondered if he, like she, had taken to sleeping on that side because Garrick preferred the other. His bare chest was pale in the light of the bedside lamp, the dark sheets piled at his waist a pleasant contrast. She told herself that was the fascinating part, the colors, and not the hard ridges of his abdomen, the huge shoulders and nervous, constantly moving hands.

  He smoothed the sheet repeatedly, hiking the comforter here and there while he made himself at home in her bed. He looked like he belonged there.

  She shook her head and backed out of the room. “I’ll be right back.”

  She raided the kitchen, collecting the snacks, water, and critical first aid supply she’d stashed there that morning.

  Returning to the bedroom, she brought him all that, plus the TV remote, and piled it on the bedside table. His cell phone was already there next to her favorite picture of Garrick. She thought about offering him a copy, remembering that he didn’t have any pictures in his apartment, but held her tongue.

  They were officially well into strange territory, barreling toward fucking bizarre and on to hideously awkward. She’d save that offer for another time.

  “I’m glad you changed your mind. I think you’ll be more comfortable in here,” she said. She snagged her skirt from the foot of the bed and tugged it on, working the zipper over her hip.

  “Is the bag of frozen peas for what I think it’s for?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Yes. Shove them in your shorts and you’ll feel better.”

  He eyed the bag dubiously. “I know you’re right, but I feel bad about molesting your vegetables.”

  “Don’t worry, I bought those for you. I won’t be serving them for dinner next week.” She paused, an image forming in her mind. “Though, maybe the next time Garrick is being a pain in the ass, I can feed them to him.”

  Rhian laughed. “Please let me be here when you do.”

  Savannah chuckled, ignoring the twinge of sadness. She probably wouldn’t be having Rhian over for dinner once Garrick was in Boston. Instead, they’d likely go back to their separate corners.

  That sucked.

  “I’ll be back in a couple hours,” she promised. “I have my cell phone and will come right home if you need me.”

  He smiled. “Stop hovering. I’ll be fine on my own.”

  Perhaps he would be, but she planned to leave him with a babysitter anyway.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Garrick’s Skype chimed right on time and he was ready, sitting in front of the computer, prepared to spend the evening with Rhian.

  He smiled when the camera kicked in. Savannah smiled back and sat down on the edge of the bed beside Rhian who was, based on the comforter covering his bare chest, already tucked in for the night.

  It took Garrick a few seconds to figure out what was strange about what he was seeing.

  Rhian is in our bed.

  Wow, why was that so fucking hot? Garrick forced the stray thought aside. It was easy to do when he got a closer look at Rhian’s face. He was obviously wiped out.

  Savannah was also studying Rhian. Garrick could guess she was thinking about staying in.

  “Have fun tonight,” he said, pulling her attention back to him.

  “You’re in charge of keeping an eye on him while I’m gone.”

  Garrick smirked. “My pleasure.”

  She arched a brow. “Try to behave.” When his grin widened, she snorted. “I think you’ll find he’s not in the mood for games. I wouldn’t be if I’d had a needle in my doodads.”

  Garrick and Rhian cringed in unison.

  “Gee, thanks, Sav,” Rhian muttered.

  Garrick laughed when Rhian shot him a pleading look. He could no more save him from Savannah than he’d been able to save himself. And in either case, he didn’t want to.

  “Oh, Rhian,” Sav said, as if something had just occurred to her. “I forgot to mention we’re headed to Connecticut tomorrow. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Uh, what’s in Connecticut?”

  “My family.”

  Garrick studied Rhian’s reaction, while Rhian stared at Savannah like she was a madwoman.

  “Your family?”

  “Yeah, it’s our annual end-of-hockey-season gathering. We never get to see each other over the winter, so we make it a point to catch up this time of year, depending on post-season schedules.”

  Garrick had already had to decline this invitation. He was glad Rhian was going to go instead. Savannah’s big, loving family would probably be a revelation for Rhian.

  Rhian looked terrified.

  “It will be great, Rhian,” Garrick said, forestalling Rhian’s denial. “You haven’t been to the Berkshires before, have you?”

  “Uh…no.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Savannah said while she checked her watch. “I have to run or I’ll be late.” She smiled at Garrick, who tried not to laugh at Rhian’s mouth still hanging open. “Don’t keep him up late, okay? He needs sleep.”

  Rhian shut his mouth at last. “Thanks, Mom.”

  She ignored him. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” Garrick said. And he did. Sweet baby Jesus, did he ever.

  She passed the iPad to Rhian and then bent to kiss his cheek. He not only tolerated it, he tilted his face up to her lips.

  Garrick grinned. These two were becoming quite a pair.

  He told his dick—again—that there was nothing to get excited about.

  Savannah left and Rhian settled back against the pillows. “She’s been amazing.”

  “She is amazing. I’m glad she’s there for you.”

  “I think she’s more here for you, but yeah. She’s a godsend.”

  Garrick knew she wasn’t doing this for him. She’d been honest with him about that. He didn’t say as much to Rhian, though. It was up to Savannah to disclose her reasons, when and if she wished.

  Instead, he focused on what he knew would be an issue for Rhian. “Please go to Connecticut with her.” He hated the idea of Rhian spending the weekend alone.

  Rhian sighed, resigned. “Do I have a choice? I can’t imagine what torture she’d come up with if I tried not to.”

  Garrick chuckled. “You don’t want to know. Now, tell me, how are you feeling?”

  “Not bad, actually. A little sore. Nothing serious, though.”

  “Good.”

  Rhian bit his lip. “Listen, there is something I want to tell you,” he began.

  Garrick tried not to look nervous. “Yeah?”

  “I told Savannah some stuff. Some things I want to tell you...”

  Ten minutes later, Garrick sat silent, reeling.

  “I’m not sure why I told Savannah first. Or at all.”

  Garrick did. “She has that effect on me, too. I’d tell her anything. Half the time I figure I might as well, since she can see right through me.”

  “Well, you are the worst liar I’ve ever met.”

  “Thanks,” Garrick returned dryly. “But it’s more than that.”

  “Yeah, I know. I hope you’re not upset. I know I’m a little closed-mouthed sometimes.”

  Sometimes? “It’s okay. Really.” And it was.

  Savannah and Rhian were a lot alike. They both had this thing Garrick could never quite find the right word for. A quiet strength and dignity that drew him to them both. It was hardly surprising Rhian responded to that and trusted her.

  It gave Garrick hope. Rhian needed more people in his life. He had no family. He only had Garrick. And now Savannah.

  At least until Garrick came to Boston and fucked it all up again.

  So much for hope.

  Garrick ran his fingers through his hair and tried to find a more lighthearted subject, only then remembering he had news of his own to share. “Shit! I almost forgot to tell you. The league called today, and the deal is finalized. The Ice Cats are officially ours.”

  Rhian whooped, congratulating him. It was one more step toward Boston.

 
; The conversation settled into the usual talk of teams, the sport and the day-to-day stuff of their lives. They lingered on the call, neither wanting to hang up.

  Rhian was remarkably relaxed, probably from exhaustion, his usual guardedness nowhere to be found. Garrick didn’t take advantage, but he treasured what Rhian told him, the easy way he let little things about his day, his feelings, slip.

  Oddly, he found himself wishing Savannah was there to see it, too.

  Savannah stepped into the comforting warmth and buzz of Valentine’s. Once her eyes to adjusted to the soft lighting, she found Grace sitting with her boyfriend Philip in an intimate, curved banquette in the back corner.

  She kissed Grace hello and slid into the booth across from the couple, smiling at the picture they made curled up together. They appeared right at home, the staff calling them by name when they stopped by to take food and drink orders.

  They caught up over drinks and appetizers. She and Grace always had things to tell each other, and Philip was easy to talk to. He radiated a quiet confidence and power that was extremely attractive—not that he needed any help in that department.

  Savannah was still trying to work up the courage to broach the subject of Garrick and Rhian when dinner arrived, held aloft by their waiter, trailed by the restaurant’s chef-owner, Mark Valentine.

  He was reaching for her hand as soon as he arrived at the table. “Savannah! How wonderful to meet you.”

  Savannah shook his hand, surprised that he seemed to know who she was.

  Mark stood by Grace while the food was placed before them, waiting until the waiter moved away before he leaned down and captured Grace’s lips in a long kiss. He brushed his hand over her cheek as he lifted his mouth away.

  Grace’s smile as she stared up at Mark made Savannah’s heart skip in her chest. Holy shit, that was love.

  Her heart stopped altogether when Mark leaned over Grace and treated Philip to the exact same kiss.

  And got the exact same smile from Philip when he was done.

  Mark stepped away from the table. “I have to go back to the kitchen,” he announced, winking at Savannah as if he hadn’t just swept her legs out from under her.

  She watched him walk away.

  Grace smirked. “I was going to find a more subtle way of telling you, but Mark thought I was taking too long.”

  Philip’s chuckle rolled across the table, tugging Savannah’s lips up into a smile.

  “What do you think?”

  How very like Grace to ask a question like that, and with Philip sitting there, no less.

  Savannah laughed. “I think it’s totally irrelevant what I think. But for what it’s worth, I’m happy for you. You should see your face when you look at them. How could I not be happy for you?”

  Grace smiled. “Thanks.”

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. I’m guessing this isn’t new.”

  “No, it’s been a while. I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. It’s not an easy thing to explain to people.”

  “Try to explain it to me,” Savannah urged.

  “We’re in love. The three of us. In one relationship. And we live together. As a single couple. Sometimes called a triad. Or a thruple, though I loathe that term.”

  Savannah cocked her head and stared at Grace. “You’re right. You’re terrible at explaining it.”

  Philip threw his head back and roared with laughter.

  Mark popped out of the kitchen and wove through the tables toward them. “Wow,” he said with a big smile for Savannah, “are you responsible for making our serious lawyer cackle like that?”

  “I was not cackling,” Philip intoned, all serious lawyer again.

  Mark rolled his eyes but kept his attention on Savannah. “I guess you took it well.”

  “I guess I did.”

  “Thanks. Grace worries. She doesn’t believe people can get past anything that’s not conventional.”

  “I get unconventional. My boyfriend is in love with another man,” Savannah blurted, surprising everyone, including herself.

  Grace and Philip stared at her, blinking. Mark looked at the kitchen door, his eyes narrowing as if doing calculations in his head. He nodded, then he sat next to Savannah, bumping her further into the booth with his hip and shoulder.

  “Make yourself at home, Mark,” Philip said dryly.

  “I do own the place,” Mark shot back before turning to Savannah. “I know we just met, but do you want to tell us about it? I’ve got at least ten minutes before my sous chef comes looking for me with a cleaver.”

  It was impossible not to like this man. “I don’t mind telling you about it, if you don’t mind listening to me whine about my problems.”

  Mark smiled. “So I wasn’t imagining the tone of voice when you said your boyfriend has a boyfriend, huh? You’re pissed?”

  Savannah glanced at Grace and Philip, who had both leaned forward. The audience was daunting, but she’d come to talk about it and had three open-minded people to hit up for advice. She’d be an idiot not to take them up on it.

  “I’m not pissed,” she began, and, in as few words as possible, told them what was going on, including the fact that she was friends with Rhian. Then she laughed. “I came here tonight to ask Grace if she really thought someone could be in love with two people at once.”

  Three grins appeared around the table.

  “Yeah, I can see that it is.” She paused, trying to figure out how to articulate her other worry.

  “And?” Grace prompted.

  “And I guess I want it to work. Garrick having us both in his life. Long term. But I can’t figure it out. The logistics suck. He’s constantly pulled in two directions and one of us is always without him.”

  “Have you—” Mark didn’t finish the thought, folding his lips and looking at Grace with a host of questions in his eyes.

  Savannah bumped her shoulder against his. “Just ask me. I hardly think you’re going to insult or offend me at this point.”

  “Have you thought about moving him in with you?”

  “Who? Rhian?”

  “Yes. Have him move in. The three of you can live together.”

  Savannah shook her head. “He’s gay. He would have no interest in being with me.”

  “Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean you can’t live together. It seems like you get along well.”

  “And what? Garrick would switch beds every other night?”

  Mark grimaced. “Okay, it’s not a perfect plan, but at least he’d be home. You’d live with him all the time, not just some of it.” The last statement ended up sounding more like a question as Mark’s confidence in his plan started to fail. “Yeah, you’re right. The logistics do suck.”

  Savannah snorted.

  “Are you sure he’s gay?” Mark asked hopefully.

  “Pretty sure. And, to be honest, I’m not convinced everyone can love two people. I mean, clearly you three can, but maybe Rhian and I can’t. I figure for Garrick, at least, it’s partly that Rhian and I offer him two different things. Physically, at least.”

  Three blank stares met hers and she worried she’d offended them. Philip leaned over the table and put a hand over hers. “For what it’s worth, that’s not how it ends up working.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. The variety in body parts can be…” he paused to glance at Mark with a little smile, “…a joy, but ultimately, what makes my heart beat harder, what really gets me, is Mark. The equipment is just a nice bonus.”

  The smoldering look Mark sent Philip took Savannah’s breath away. Then Mark’s eyes narrowed. “I’m going to remind you about that nice bonus crap later, so you know.”

  Philip sat back and cut into his steak, obviously unconcerned. “I look forward to it.”

  Mark grinned, his cheeks turning pink. Grace and Savannah laughed.

  Savannah climbed the stairs to her apartment with a whole heck of a lot less speed and enthusiasm than usual. She was glad to be
home, but her trip to Valentine’s had given her a lot to think about.

  She opened her front door and knew Rhian was asleep. The apartment was silent, the bedroom dark. She moved quietly through the rest of the rooms, shutting off lights, then ducked into the bedroom.

  Rhian was curled up on her side of the bed. She’d expected him to be beautiful when asleep. She was shocked at how damn young he looked.

  She hadn’t realized how tightly he carried himself, how much tension pulled at his face when he was awake. She barely checked the urge to run the back of her hand over his cheek.

  Turning away, she threw off her clothes and searched her dresser for something to wear to bed. Rhian wasn’t the only one who preferred to sleep naked. She eventually found an old camisole and a pair of loose cotton shorts, dragging them on before crawling onto the bed and staring down at the man hogging her pillows.

  He didn’t move, not even a flicker of an eyelid.

  She wanted to sleep like that. Right now. And it wasn’t going to happen on the couch.

  She slipped under the covers and lay on her back. It was weird to be on this side of the bed. She could have slept here for the past months, but she’d always known where Garrick would end up.

  She wished now that she hadn’t washed Garrick’s pillowcase after his visit. She would have liked a hint of him to help calm her jumbled thoughts.

  She looked at Rhian. He was as caught up in this frustrating and confusing situation as she was. Impacted in all the same ways. That affinity was increasingly hard to ignore.

  Rolling toward him, she took comfort from his solid presence, the soothing sound of his deep, even breathing. She snuggled into the bed and allowed herself the pleasure of inhaling his scent.

  Her mind quieted and she slept.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rhian woke with Savannah plastered to his back and one of the most agonizing erections of his life.

  Savannah was curled around him exactly like Garrick loved to do. She wasn’t nearly as tall or large as Garrick—or Rhian, for that matter—so instead of enveloping him, she burrowed into his back. Her lips were pressed to the nape of his neck, her knees tucked under his thighs, and her delicate hand tickled the fine hairs on his belly.