12. Kade

Chapter twelve

Kade

A s I entered Whistleport's town square, the savory scent of grilled hot dogs mingled with the intensely sweet smell of cotton candy. The Fourth of July festival was in full swing as the sun dipped low on the horizon. I looked up to see red, white, and blue streamers dancing in the breeze. They'd held up well overnight.

The high school band played patriotic music on the bandstand at the center of the square. Friendly chatter from gathered friends and family added to the sounds of celebration.

I scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar mop of dark brown hair. Ziggy was turning into an addiction. When we were apart, I counted the hours and minutes until we'd see each other again.

A nervous tingle swept through my system as I wondered what would happen if someone noticed how eager I was to find him. What if they saw right through our attempts to hide the truth?

Seconds later, I found him. He tossed a dart at a balloon, and it burst on impact. His sister, Emma, was at his side. She said something, and he threw his head back, laughing, exposing a vein in his strong neck. I swallowed hard as I imagined my lips kissing him right there.

While I strolled over to join them, I did my best to eliminate any goofy grins. I wanted to appear casual but knew I'd probably fail miserably. When I was only steps away, I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and reached up to rake my fingers through my hair.

"Hey." My attempt at calm came out agitated and intense.

Ziggy turned, and his eyes suddenly sparkled. "Kade! You made it." His attempt at mellow, warm, and friendly worked much better than my approach.

"How could I miss the 4th of July in my summer escape spot?" I desperately wanted to reach out and wrap him in a massive hug while smothering his face with my lips and tongue, but a crowd of strangers surrounded us.

Emma smirked and glanced from one of us to the other. "Well, I'm gonna go find Dad. Later, losers." As she sauntered off, I figured she was a good kid sister to have.

Ziggy stepped up close to whisper in my ear, "I'm glad you're here." His breath was warm against my neck, making the tiny hairs stand on end. The familiar scent of his shower soap, citrus, was intoxicating.

He led the way as we wandered through the festival grounds, occasionally "accidentally" brushing our hands together. The smell of fried dough stopped him in his tracks at a funnel cake stand.

Ziggy held up two fingers. "Two, please." He pulled out his wallet.

I started to protest, but he was already shaking his head before I could get any words out. "It's my treat. Consider it a thank you for all the work you're putting into my hometown."

"Damn, these are delicious," I declared as I stuffed a sugary nugget into my mouth, with powdered sugar sticking to my fingers.

"Haven't you ever had a funnel cake before?"

"No." I sighed. "This isn't exactly the kind of event my parents would frequent."

Before we could discuss what all I'd missed, a familiar voice called out over the crowd.

"Boys!" Rory waved and wove through the crowd, bringing Brooks along behind him. I admired their comfort as a gay couple blending in with their Whistleport neighbors. For a moment, I daydreamed about Ziggy and me following in their footsteps.

With my mouth full of sugary dough, I nodded, and Ziggy spoke for us. "Hey, guys. Everything turned out great."

Brooks grinned. He casually slung his arm around Rory's shoulders. "Well, the two of you did a fantastic job. Who knew two rivals would work so well as a team?"

Ziggy and I exchanged a glance. Was there any chance Brooks and Rory saw through us?

"Yeah, who knew?" Ziggy popped a bite of funnel cake into his mouth.

Rory added his two cents. "You're doing well with the juniors so far, too. I hope this summer won't dull your edge on the ice."

"As if," chuckled Brooks. "I think it's great for kids to see this kind of cooperation. Are you enjoying working with the young ones?"

I did my best to keep my voice steady. "It's been great. Ziggy already had some experience, so he's been showing me the ropes."

He nudged me with his elbow, and I laughed, perhaps a little too loud. "Don't underestimate your talent, Kade. The kids love you. I'm worried you're converting too many UMaine fans."

We all laughed, but I couldn't help noticing Rory's piercing gaze. He appeared to be reading us like a book.

His words made me nervous. "You know, watching the two of you reminds me of when Brooks and I skated together in our younger days. Who knows when the next great partnership will emerge?"

Brooks nodded in agreement and squeezed Rory's shoulder. "I think it's true. Who would have guessed that an aging NHL player bailing out of his career and a poetry-loving English teacher would make such a great team?"

"Bailing out?" Rory sighed. "You left to take care of your dad. What a selfless act. Now, you're like a fine wine. You only get better with age."

As they playfully teased each other, I found the easy affection between Brooks and Rory inspiring. Someday, maybe Ziggy and I could get there.

Brooks turned his attention back to us. "Any big plans for the rest of the summer besides whipping the juniors into shape?"

I opened my mouth, but Ziggy beat me to it. "The usual. Training never ends, and I work evenings at Tidal Grounds. Maybe we can take a day trip to Portland before the summer ends."

"We?" Rory raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, well, uh, Kade mentioned that he's curious about the Sea Dogs. Baseball could be a fun change of pace."

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, the Sea Dogs. Maybe that's a path for me if hockey doesn't pan out."

Brooks laughed. "Don't let us keep you from the rest of your evening. I'm sure young bucks like the two of you have better things to do than jawing around with old-timers."

As they turned to leave, Rory tossed one last comment in our direction. "Guys, Whistleport might be small, but it's got a big heart. Don't underestimate your neighbors… while you're figuring things out."

After that mysterious comment, they disappeared back into the crowd. I stared at Ziggy, feeling a little stunned and confused.

I started to speak. "Do you think…?" And then my voice faded.

Ziggy shrugged. "I don't know, but would it be the end of the world if they did?"

A vulnerable edge to his voice made me want to pull him close regardless of the consequences. Instead, I settled for touching him lightly on the arm.

Ziggy turned away from the heart of the crowd. "Come on. Let's find a good spot for the fireworks. The sun is almost down. They should start soon."

I couldn't wait to be alone together, even if the rest of the town were nearby. We settled on a grassy mound just far enough from the town square to offer a bit of privacy.

It didn't take long for the colorful fireworks to begin. The first explosion lit the sky in red, giving Ziggy's face a warm glow. I couldn't stop staring at him while the next few shells exploded in bright colors. The light and shadows dancing across his features held my attention.

He noticed the direction of my gaze. "You're missing the show."

"No." I breathed out. "I'm not."

In a brief moment of darkness, I leaned in, and we kissed. It was electric, charged with the passion we'd held inside since I arrived in the town square. Ziggy cupped my face with his hand and stroked my cheek with his thumb.

After we shared another kiss, he started to climb to his feet. "Let's go somewhere."

I merely nodded and followed in his wake. My entire body throbbed with desire.

We slipped away from the crowd and carved a path through the shadows. Like stealthy cats in the darkness, we raced quickly across shafts of light and rested momentarily when the darkness surrounded us again. The sounds of the festival grew fainter, but the risk of discovery put every nerve on edge. When I stepped on a twig, and it snapped, I jumped. Ziggy squeezed my hand to reassure me.

"Almost there."

Soon, we arrived at the old boathouse on the edge of the harbor. It was a dark silhouette standing against a starry sky. Ziggy led the way to a hidden bench, invisible to all but the most determined prying eyes. As we sat, the distant boom of the fireworks barely drowned out our ragged breathing.

Immediately after we sat, Ziggy's right hand found its way under my shirt, his fingers tracing patterns on the skin. I shivered, and goosebumps rose across my flesh. He had hands callused from his years of handling a stick, but they didn't feel rough. He was far too gentle for that.

I tugged him closer, pressing our chests together. The warmth of his body helped calm me and steady my nerves.

Ziggy groaned. "Damn, Kade." He kissed me beneath my ear and trailed his lips down my neck. His breath was warm against my skin. "You have to know that you drive me nuts."

I laughed, feeling nearly overwhelmed. "That's all entirely true for me, too." I placed both hands on his cheeks and kissed him hard, our tongues dancing together in his mouth.

Next was a new step forward. Ziggy walked his fingers over my belt and down between my legs. He gripped my package through my jeans, and I nearly yelled out. "Shh, shh," he whispered as he rubbed the outline of my cock with his thumb.

"Fuck, you're gonna make me want to cum," I mumbled.

"No, I just want you to want it… crave it, Kade."

I wrapped both arms around his neck and nearly pushed myself into his lap. While he rubbed and stroked my cock, I feverishly kissed his face, sucking at the outline of his jaw.

With one hand, I reached up and tangled my fingers into Ziggy's hair, that extraordinary tousled mass. I gripped tightly and pulled his head back, exposing his fantastic neck. He moaned, and I bit my lip, fighting back my urge to explode.

I kissed his neck and slid my tongue from his collarbone to his ear. He tasted phenomenal, and I knew that I'd never get enough. Finally, I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the heady mix of shower soap and sweat.

He let go of my cock and ran his hand up over my abs and chest before we kissed again, both exhaling and letting ourselves fall deep into the sensation of being one. In the darkness, I could barely make out the flush on Ziggy's cheeks. The lights along the docks generated pinprick reflections in his eyes.

Ziggy's voice was rough when he spoke. "Kade, I—"

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through our haze of passion. "Now, where did those boys run off to?"

We froze. It was Dottie Perkins. My throat closed, and I couldn't breathe. A sense of panic choked me. Scrambling to our feet, we brushed our clothes down and pressed our backs against the boathouse wall. I coughed and finally sucked in a big breath.

Her footsteps crunched along the gravel path. She was close. "Ziggy? Kade? Wherever the two of you are, the fireworks are ending, and the finale's about to start."

I briefly gripped Ziggy's hand and then let go. He held a finger to his lips and smiled at me. The playful expression on his face made me want to laugh, but I held it in.

Dottie's footsteps stopped just around the corner of the boathouse. My heart pounded so fiercely that I thought she could surely hear it. After a few moments that stretched out for an eternity, she sighed. "Those boys. They're probably off getting into mischief."

When we finally heard the footsteps moving away, we both sagged against the wall with relief. My body still vibrated from the surge of adrenaline.

Ziggy whispered, "That was close." He wove his fingers together with mine.

I nodded, unable to form words, and then I looked up. The fireworks finale was underway. The sky erupted in a kaleidoscope of colors. We both stared up at the sky and watched the display as it reflected off the water in the harbor. I pushed up close and wrapped my arm around Ziggy's waist.

As the booms of the last fireworks faded, I kissed him quickly, and then it was time to return to the real world. We walked back to the square, playfully brushing our hands together again.

We stopped a block away. Ziggy spoke. "Kade, tonight was—"

"The best. It was a little bit of terrifying, too."

Ziggy nodded. "Yep, all of the above. A month ago, I never would have believed I could have a summer like this."

I chuckled. "The great Ziggy Knickerbocker never planned on fraternizing with the enemy?"

"Something like that." He playfully elbowed me in the side. "Now…" His voice faded before he completed the thought.

"Now?"

"Now, I can't imagine going back. I can't imagine not having you."

I reached out for his hand. "Oh, man, Ziggy."

A sudden burst of laughter from a group leaving the festival pulled us back into the real world. We deliberately put a few inches of space between us. Ziggy's voice sounded sad. "We should probably head back. If we aren't careful, Dottie might form a search party."

"You're right, but one thing."

"What's that?" The way Ziggy searched my eyes made my heart melt.

"Whatever this is between us, I'm committed to it. I want you to know that."

"Me, too. Damn, no question. Me, too."