Ryler Happens （35）

The Bridgeport Islanders' bus looked as though someone had dug up a bunch of corpses, dressed them up in suits, and propped them up in its seats. With the exception of Rizz and a handful of other guys who hadn't come, everyone was either half-dead or still drunk from Hayes's birthday bash.

Ryan had ended up driving the Raptor to the arena, as he was the least banged up out of the trio. When he'd got down to the fourth floor, Osi answered. "Is not good here. So much vomit, all night long. Is like hospital ward."

Hayes had shuffled over to the door wearing sunglasses, holding his travel bag in one hand and a garbage bag in the other. "I'm never gonna stop pukin', Rook. I think I'm dyin'."

"You'll live. You can sleep on the bus ride."

They pulled into the arena and parked in the underground lot. Ryan grabbed Hayes's bag from him and set it down, as he immediately leaned his back against the truck upon getting out. "Rook," he whimpered. "I'm gonna die."

Ryan examined his friend, who looked like he'd gotten dressed while blindfolded with one hand tied behind his back. "No you're not. Come here," he said, as he grabbed the bottom of Hayes's dress shirt and tucked it slowly and neatly into his pants, moving his hands up his chest to fix all the buttons, which he'd fastened in the wrong holes. "You're such a mess right now." He patted his shoulders, grabbed both of their bags, and led him by the arm to the bus.

They made their way to the back, passing by several guys who were already slumped over against the windows or onto each other and snoring. Taking the next to last row, Ryan grabbed the window seat, leaned his back against the glass, and bent one leg up on the cushion. He motioned for Hayes to sit between his legs, laying with his back pressed against Ryan's chest, his head resting on his shoulder, and both of his knees bent with his feet up on the cushion. Ryan draped his arms across the front of Hayes's body.

"Get some rest. It's a good three-hour ride," Ryan told him. "Let me know if you're gonna puke, OK?"

"I love you, man," Hayes mumbled, closing his eyes and settling in.

"Damn. You're still at the ‘I love you, man' level of fucked up? Ooh, it's gonna be a long day," Ryan joked, running his fingertips slowly across Hayes's chest, but then stopping when he realized where he was and what he was doing.

"Where'd you disappear to last night, anyway? You go home with one of those birds who was molestin' you on the dance floor? Shit was like a fuckin' porno, man."

Ryan laughed. "Nah, I wish. Mar and I…we had a misunderstanding. We hashed it out. We're all good now."

"You and that woman are constantly fightin', man. What the fuck you beefin' about now?"

"Actually, it was about…you."

"Me?" he asked, trying to sit up, but Ryan gently pushed him back down. "It was my birthday. Fuck did I do?"

"Speaking of pornos, do you remember making out with her in the middle of the dance floor?"

"Did we make out? Shit. You know how many people actually thought she was my mother? Did we make out in front of everyone?"

"In front of everyone. For like, five minutes straight."

"Wow. Nope, don't remember that."

Ryan sighed. "I followed her home and we kinda got into it. We almost had sex again, but I stopped it. It was a long night."

"Christ, Rook. You two need to stop bangin' already. Every time you do it's like you open a hidden portal to another undiscovered dimension of Hell. Don't worry, I laid into her last week about it, too. It's not healthy. You two just need to stay friends and leave it at that."

"I think we may have gotten to that point last night. I don't know. It's…hard with her."

"She tell you about her new man?"

"Yeah. Listen, I don't really wanna talk about that. Why don't you get some rest?" Ryan brought a hand up to Hayes's head and ran his fingers through his hair, Hayes moaning slightly at his touch.

He grabbed Ryan's other hand and held it, proceeding to pass out cold for the remainder of the bus ride.

And Ryan could not have been happier.

???

If the bus ride wasn't bad enough, practice was a shit show of epic proportions. Between the number of guys who had to stop and throw up and the fact that no one could move, it was a miracle Hastings didn't trade the entire team right then and there.

"Hayes? Why the fuck would you plan this shit the night before a game? Do you have any brain cells in your fuckin' head, kid?"

"Sir, no sir," Hayes groaned, lying down on the bench, having just yakked into a nearby trash can in the tunnel.

"Well, guess what? I'm not scratching your sorry ass. You're gonna get out here, play like shit, let anyone scouting from the big club see you play like shit, and maybe you'll learn your lesson. None of you are getting scratched. So suck it up, idiots. There's literally no point in this practice. Go back to the hotel, take naps, and attempt to get your shit together for tonight. Jesus tap dancing Christ!" he yelled, kicking a Gatorade bottle and taking out an entire rack of twigs on the way back to the locker room. "Pick that shit up, Hayes!" he yelled from inside the tunnel, and it echoed throughout the arena.

Hayes crawled over to where the sticks were, starting to pick them up one by one and load them back onto the rack.

Ryan came over to help him. "I'm pretty sure we're just gonna find him dead in his office someday. That man's blood pressure has to be through the roof. This team is a fucking mess, man."

"How the fuck am I supposed to play tonight? I can barely move."

"You'll figure it out. We'll go back to the hotel and you can sleep for a bit more, maybe take a hot shower."

They headed back into the locker room and Hayes plopped down onto the bench in front of his stall. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes when he felt someone beginning to untie his skates and take them off.

"Don't say I never did anything for you," Ryan teased, a look of sheer disgust washing over his face as Hayes looked down at him. "Yo, your feet need an exorcism, man. My God."

"Yeah, they're brutal." He leaned back again, but Ryan grabbed his hands and pulled him forward.

"Nope. Let's get the rest of your gear off."

"Can't I just wear it back to the hotel?" he whined. "It's literally across the street."

"No, Hayes. You cannot leave the hockey arena drunk, wearing all your stank-ass gear back to the hotel. Can you imagine those social media posts? Come on now, get up."

"Ugh!" Hayes stood up, stumbled, and attempted to pull his jersey up over his head. Ryan had gotten down to just his hip and shoulder pads in the time it'd taken Hayes to finally get the jersey off. Shaking his head, Ryan took off the rest of his gear and pulled on his sweatpants.

"Come here." He grabbed Hayes and helped him remove the rest of his gear while he slumped over like a dead fish. It took about 10 minutes, but he managed to get all of it off and get him dressed, too.

"Get some rest, boys," Rizz ordered, coming through the locker room. "You guys looked like total shit out there."

And rest they did.

But it didn't help much.

That night's 7:05 p.m. game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was, as expected, a complete blowout. Most of the guys had sobered up, Hayes included, but were exhausted from being so hungover all day. Many of them weren't able to even make it through their 45-second shifts, and the number of penalties they'd taken, including offsides and icing, made the game go on forever. Regulation had ended at an unheard-of 10:10 p.m., with most of the fans having bounced early, knowing that at 7-3, there was zero chance of a Bridgeport comeback.

Hastings hadn't even bothered to address them afterward; he just left for the hotel, leaving Rizz to deal with the team.

"Boys, that was the worst game any team has ever played in the history of professional hockey. I'm embarrassed to call myself a part of this team tonight. And, for the record." He got right in Hayes's face. "This shit does not happen the night before a game, ever again. Are we fucking clear?"

"Yes, Cap."

"And none of you better even think about going anywhere but to your hotel rooms to go to sleep." With that, he stormed off to the showers.

"I think I might just shower back at the hotel," Hayes told Ryan. "I just wanna get the fuck outta here, man."

"That's fine. I'll meet you back at the room then. I'm way too gross to even think about putting my suit back on right now." He wrapped a towel around his waist, having taken off all his gear.

"I don't even fuckin' care. See you over there."

Heading into the shower, Ryan closed his eyes, leaned his head back, and let the water run over him for a good five minutes while he tried to calm the anxiety he felt beginning to creep up. Not only had he just skated in the shittiest hockey game ever played, but he was about to head back to a hotel room with Hayes, and he couldn't decide whether or not he should go for it.

He couldn't deny it anymore; there was something there between them, though he didn't really understand what it was. He'd hooked up with other guys before, but he'd never really been attracted to one the way he was to Hayes, even having jerked off to him several times over the past few weeks. Ryan tried to remember when he first felt it and decided it may have been the night they first talked on the bus ride home from Lehigh Valley when Hayes had fallen asleep with his head on his shoulder.

Thinking back to all the issues he had with Amara and Hayes, he realized that, despite what he'd told himself, the jealousy he'd felt hadn't been solely about Amara. He rinsed the soap off his body, wondering if it was even possible to have feelings for two people at the same time, which he deemed a valid concern, considering Ryan Baylor hardly ever felt anything for anyone.

He finished showering, dried off, got dressed, and gathered up his belongings from his stall.

"Baylor!" Rizz yelled, just as he was heading out the door. "Hang on."

Great. Here we go.

"What's up, Cap?"

"You carried this shit show tonight. I wanted you to hear it. Your feet are finally moving, man. It's incredible. Team played like ass tonight, but you held it down." He held out his hand, and Ryan shook it.

"Wow. Thanks, man. I appreciate that."

"Do me a favor? When you get back to your room, bitchslap Hayes for me. I love him, but kid's a total dumbass sometimes."

"Will do," he said, making his way out of the locker room, to the arena's exit, and ultimately across the street to the hotel.

When he'd gotten up to their room, he went to put the key card in the door and froze. Soon, he found himself pacing back and forth outside the door, in much the same way he had before losing his virginity to his rival's hot mom in juniors.

There's nothing to be worried about. Just go in there, act normal, and if something happens, it happens, he reasoned with his thoughts.

"Fuck you doin', Baylor?" a voice said, startling him. He jumped and saw Seggy coming down the hall with a bucket of ice.

"I, uh, I just forgot my key card…oh wait, there it is," he replied awkwardly, fumbling in his pocket as it dropped onto the floor.

Seggy just looked at him and shook his head as he walked by. "You're an odd fuckin' duck, Baylor. You know that?"

"That's the word on the street," he said, picking up the key card, biting the bullet, taking a few deep breaths, and opening the door.

The fuck?

He looked around and realized Hayes wasn't even there. "Where the hell did he go?" Ryan said aloud, emptying his pockets and beginning to take off his suit. He'd gotten down to his boxers and began rooting around in his overnight bag for a pair of shorts when he heard the door beep and then open. Hayes came in, giggling like a little girl and carrying a plate with several slices of pizza heaped onto it.

"I definitely just took like, what was left of Dalesy's pizza while he went to go…well, hey there. Didn't know it was gonna be this kinda party," Hayes joked, catching a glimpse of Ryan standing there in his underwear. He tossed the plate down onto the table in front of Ryan, picked up a slice, and shoved it in his mouth. "I literally just knocked on doors until I found food. I had to eat somethin'. I'm fuckin' starving. Take what you want."

"Nah, I'm good. Not really hungry."

Hayes shot him a dejected look and stopped chewing. "Do you know," he began, his mouth full, "what kinda hoops I had to jump through to get that shit for you?"

Ryan rolled his eyes and smiled. "Fine," he said, grabbing a piece, biting it, and putting it back down. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Hayes finished the slice he was eating, scarfed down another one, and flopped backwards onto one of the beds. "I will be so glad when this night is over." He pulled off his T-shirt and laid there in his sweatpants, as Ryan threw on a pair of shorts over his boxers. Hayes gave the thumbs-down. "Boo! I was enjoying the view. Just don't cover up those sexy ass abs."

"Oh, I was just about to get dressed and suggest we head down to the bar, do some Jaegerbombs. No?"

Hayes sat up, put his hand over his mouth, and shook his head slowly. "Dude, don't even joke. Don't. Even. Joke."

"Sorry," Ryan said, as he had a seat on the other bed. "So what do you think practice is gonna look like on Monday?"

"I don't even wanna think about it, man. We're in so much trouble. I'm guessin' suicide drills until someone vomits. And I love how I'm gettin' all the blame. I didn't hold a gun to anyone's head and make them get fucked up."

"Yeah, but you paid for it all, so you might as well have."

"Whatever. Everyone had a good time. At least I think they did. I don't have a clue what the fuck happened. I'm lucky I didn't wake up in a ditch. Thank God Osi's always got my back, since my two other besties pretty much left me for dead."

"Oh, you are the most dramatic motherfucker I've ever met."

"And you wouldn't have it any other way, Rook."

"So is Osi pissed you weren't rooming with him this trip? You guys always room together. Why'd it change?" Ryan fished, lying down on his side and propping himself up on one elbow, facing Hayes.

Hayes rolled over on his bed to face Ryan, propping himself up the same way. "Dunno," he shrugged, smirking. "Maybe he's sick of me and needed a break."

"Maybe."

Hayes moved, and a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. He winced, grabbing it and sitting up.

"What's wrong?" Ryan asked, sitting up as well.

"That fucking hit I took in the second. Got my shoulder good. I didn't say anything to Nick because he's a fuckin' spaz and would've pulled me, but it's killin' me."

"Your bad shoulder?"

"Yep. It's…fine. I'm fine."

"Here," Ryan said, getting up and moving over to Hayes's bed, sitting down next to him. "Lemme work it a bit. I've got Biofreeze if you want." Ryan brought both of his hands to his teammate's shoulder and began to rub lightly, Hayes leaning his head forward. "Is that good?"

"Perfect. Yo, you're spoilin' the shit outta me today, eh? Got me undressed, geared up, outta my gear, dressed again, now this?"

"What can I say? I have a soft spot for your stupid ass, Hayes." He continued rubbing his shoulder, and he felt his heart start to race. "Maybe someday you'll return the favor. Karma, right?"

Ryan continued for about a minute. "Still good?" he checked in.

"Actually, could you go a little lower?"

Ryan moved his fingers down a bit. "Like there?"

"Nah, lower."

"There?"

"Lower."

Ryan gulped, dragging his fingertips down to the middle of his back. "There?"

"Lower."

Closing his eyes, he moved his hands onto either of Hayes's hips. "There?" he asked softly.

"Gettin' closer." Hayes placed his hands on top of Ryan's and pulled them around onto his stomach. He tried to push them lower, but sensing Ryan's apprehension, he turned around to face him instead. "So, I know we're not drunk, but we are in a hotel room on the road, and I did make you an offer if you remember." He brought his hands up to Ryan's shoulders and leaned into his face, just inches from his lips. "Do you remember?"

Ryan nodded, trembling.

"You want it?"

"So fucking bad."

Hayes pushed him back onto the bed and crawled on top of him, hovering over him on one elbow and running his other hand through Ryan's hair as he bent down to kiss him. Ryan brought his hands to the back of Hayes's head, pulling him deeper into the kiss, bending his left leg, causing Hayes's hips to fall directly on top of his.

"I've…wanted this," Hayes said in between kissing him, "for a really…long…fuckin' time." He kissed his way down to Ryan's neck, biting softly and bringing his hand slowly down the front of his body, across his chest, and stopping on his abs.

"Me too," Ryan panted, keeping his hands on the back of Hayes's head.

"Put your fuckin' hands on me then."

"I can't. I'm…so nervous," he whispered, his heartbeat thumping in his ears.

"There's nothin' to be nervous about. It's just us. Here," he said, sitting up, straddling his legs, and reaching a hand to the waistband of Ryan's shorts. "Let's relax you a little, eh?"

"Fuck," Ryan moaned, as Hayes grabbed both his shorts and boxers and slid them off, Ryan lifting his hips to help him.

Hayes got up, and Ryan took notice of his massive hard-on as he pulled him to the edge of the bed and got down onto the floor between his legs. He looked up at Ryan seductively, like he was about to say the sexiest shit ever, and hit him with, "I've never sucked a dick before, FYI. So if it's garbage, my bad."

Ryan immediately began to laugh. "Head's like pizza. Even when it's bad, it's still alright."

"Reassuring," Hayes mumbled, wrapping a hand around the base of Ryan's cock. "Rook, I don't know what to do with my other hand," he said, waving it around.

"Seriously? Just…fuckin' put it somewhere," Ryan bitched, grabbing it and placing it on his abs.

"Wow, this is going well. We should start a fuckin' OnlyFans, eh?"

"Will you shut up and suck it already?"

And he did.

Hayes took him all the way into his mouth with zero hesitation, wrapping his lips around him, working his tongue and his hand all at the same time. Ryan couldn't even think about closing his eyes; they were fixed on his teammate, on his knees on a hotel room floor, sucking on his cock. He grabbed the back of Hayes's head, steadying him as he began to thrust his hips forward gently. "Turns out that big ass mouth of yours...is good for something besides talking shit after all."

Ryan knew he wouldn't last too much longer, which was probably a good thing, as he felt Hayes beginning to gas out. He stood up, took both of Hayes's hands, and put them on his ass, returning his hands to the back of his head and thrusting quick and hard. "I'm gonna cum. You swallowing me?"

Hayes nodded, and Ryan let out a loud groan as he nutted into his teammate's mouth. When he'd stopped moving his hips, Hayes pulled away, wiped his mouth, and stood up, smirking. "Betcha never thought you'd blow a load down my throat when you first met me, eh?"

"That felt so fuckin' good. Seriously. You've never done that before?"

"Nope," he said, approaching Ryan, gently pushing him back onto the bed and taking off his own pants. He crawled on top of him and kissed him, inviting Ryan to taste himself on his lips while he grabbed Ryan's hand and moved it towards his cock. Ryan barely touched it, instead moving his hands to Hayes's back and running them up and down it.

"You can touch me too, you know."

"I know. I'm just…"

"Let me fuck you, Rook," he whispered into his ear. "I wanna fuck you so bad right now."

Ryan brought his hands around to Hayes's chest and pushed him gently up and off him. "I can't do that."

Hayes sighed, rolling his eyes. "You won't touch me, you won't let me fuck you. What can I do?"

"I'm…sorry. I'm just really nervous about…all this, Hayes."

"Fine. Well," he said, getting onto his knees on the bed next to Ryan. He grabbed his cock in one hand and ran his fingers all over Ryan's abs with the other. "Guess I'll just take care of it myself." Ryan watched him as he jerked himself off while touching and staring at him. "Your fuckin' body, Rook. Fuck. It's perfect." He gave himself a few quick tugs, pressed his cock against Ryan's abs, and moaned loudly as he shot off all over his stomach.

Without a word, Hayes went to the bathroom and came back with a towel. He chucked it at Ryan, who cleaned himself up as Hayes pulled his boxers and sweatpants back on.

"Never think of this when you're drying your face with a hotel towel, do you?" Ryan joked, but Hayes didn't respond. He climbed into the other bed, pulled the covers over him, and turned his back towards Ryan. "Hayes? I'm sorry…"

"It's fine, man," he interrupted. "I'm just tired. Long day. Get the light."

Ryan turned the light off and lay there staring at the ceiling. He knew he fucked up; he wanted so badly to play with Hayes more, but he got inside his own head. For God's sake, the kid had sucked his dick and he couldn't even help him out with a hand job?

Way to go, Baylor.

He couldn't fall asleep; he just kept tossing and turning, thinking about how he'd messed up. Unable to take it anymore, he got up and stood between the beds, trying to work up the nerve to climb in next to him. He found himself pacing again, frustratedly running his fingers through his hair.

Finally, he heard, "Rook, stop bein' a twat and get in the fuckin' bed already."

Hayes lifted the covers and Ryan slid in behind him, pressing his chest against his back. He wrapped an arm around the front of him and swung his leg over Hayes's legs, with Hayes immediately resting his hand on top of it. He leaned forward and gave him a few quick kisses on the shoulder. "I like this, Hayes. I like being with you like this."

"Me too, Rook." He sighed loudly. "Will anyone else though?"