Chapter 5. Together

Kaden stood in the hallway, his usual polish intact but slightly unraveled by the snowstorm. Damp flakes clung to his hair, his cheeks were flushed from the cold, and his coat had the faint sheen of melted snow. He looked almost nervous—still beautiful, but different somehow, softer, less guarded. Louis could only stare.

“Hey,” Kaden said, his voice quiet, almost sheepish.

“Kaden?” The name slipped out, soft with surprise. It felt like the only thing Louis could manage, and maybe it sounded a little stupid, but he didn’t care. To say he was surprised would have been an understatement.

“Is this a bad time?” Kaden asked, his gaze flickering with the slightest trace of panic like he’d just realized he might be intruding.

“No—no,” Louis said quickly, stepping aside to let him in. “I was just making dinner. Come in, please.”

Kaden stepped into the apartment, holding out a bottle of wine. He shifted his weight awkwardly like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself. “I brought wine,” he said, his voice quiet, before his gaze darted to the glass already in Louis’s hand. “But I see you’ve got some.”

“Thanks—there’s never enough wine,” Louis said, a little too quickly, taking the bottle from Kaden. His fingers brushed against Kaden’s for a second, and he felt absurdly self-conscious. God, why did he feel like a nervous schoolboy? “How did you know where I live?” he asked, trying to steer his thoughts back to solid ground as he closed the door behind him.

“Uh…” Kaden hesitated, looking sheepish before admitting, “I paid someone.”

Louis snorted, a crooked smile spreading across his face. “I hope it wasn’t anyone from my team.”

Kaden let out a laugh, quick and soft. “Nah, it was my private detective,” he said, flashing Louis a teasing grin.

Louis blinked at him, incredulous. “You’re joking.”

Kaden shrugged, but his grin lingered as he pulled off his coat. Underneath, he wore a thick beige dress shirt that looked like it had been made for him, crisp and elegant. He looked like he’d come straight from some high-society gala, not ambushed his rival on Christmas Eve.

Louis took the coat from him to hang it by the door, but the moment he lifted it, the scent of Kaden’s cologne filled the entryway. It was clean and expensive, familiar from years of proximity on the ice, but here it was intimate—dizzying in a way that made Louis’s pulse quicken.

As Kaden bent to remove his shoes, Louis cleared his throat, desperate to ground himself. “Want some wine?” he asked, his voice a little too casual.

Kaden nodded, and Louis led him into the kitchen. The smell of duck sizzling in the oven filled the air, mixing with the steam rising from a saucepan of hot cranberry sauce on the stovetop. Kaden’s eyes swept over the counter—the salad and mashed potatoes neatly arranged. His expression flickered with hesitation, his gaze lingering for a moment before he blinked.

“Wait,” he said, his voice careful. “Are you expecting someone?”

A faint blush crept up Kaden’s neck as his eyes darted back to Louis, almost panicked, like he’d just realized he might be interrupting.

“No,” Louis said quickly, shaking his head. “I was just planning an evening for myself.”

“Oh,” Kaden said, relaxing slightly, though a frown quickly followed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No, it’s fine,” Louis interrupted. “I’m glad you stopped by.”

He felt his face heat up at the admission, and when Kaden actually smiled back, Louis’s chest tightened. God, he was so normal now—so unguarded. Whatever had happened last night had done something to him. The mask was gone, and this version of Kaden, raw and real, made Louis’s insides buzz with a strange mix of nerves and excitement.

The silence grew thick again, awkward and heavy. Louis cleared his throat. “Do you eat duck?” he asked, just to break it.

“I eat everything,” Kaden said quickly, grabbing onto the small talk like a lifeline. “But I feel bad—I’m kind of crashing your dinner.”

“You’re not,” Louis said with a shrug. “I made way too much.”

He grabbed another glass, filled it with wine, and handed it to Kaden. Kaden took it but didn’t drink right away, staring at the glass for a moment, his fingers idly tracing the rim.

“I probably shouldn’t drink,” he said finally, his voice quieter. A faint flush crept back up his neck as he glanced at Louis. “After last night…”

Louis froze, the words hitting harder than he expected. He’d figured they’d talk about it eventually, but not so soon.

“I’m sorry about what happened,” Kaden said, his voice steady even as the blush lingered. His gaze met Louis’s directly, unflinching. “I feel like a douchebag.”

The sincerity in his voice left Louis momentarily speechless, the tension between them almost fragile.

“It’s fine,” Louis said, taking a sip of his wine. He shifted from one foot to the other, hesitating before asking, “How much do you remember, exactly?”

Kaden shrugged, his ears tinged red. “Uh…all of it.”

Louis let out a small laugh, more nervous than amused. “Well, there’s that, then.”

“Yeah,” Kaden muttered, his face turning scarlet. “Lou…”

“It’s fine,” Louis cut in, forcing a light tone even as his pulse quickened. “It happens.”

“No,” Kaden said firmly, finally taking a sip of his wine like he needed the courage. “I was just nervous.”

“Nervous?” Louis asked, his throat suddenly dry. “Why were you nervous?”

Kaden let out a short, dark chuckle, his eyes dropping to the floor before lifting to meet Louis’s. “Because it’s you,” he said simply.

Louis’s chest tightened at the words.

Kaden’s gaze stayed steady now, unwavering. “Because I don’t know how to act around you if I’m not being an ass.”

“You don’t,” Louis said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Need to act, that is.”

Kaden swallowed hard at that, the flush on his cheeks a sharp contrast to his usual porcelain-pale complexion. “So,” he said, clearing his throat in an attempt to shake off the intensity of the moment, “where did you learn to cook like that?”

“My aunt taught me,” Louis said, taking a long sip of his wine.

“Is she a Michelin chef?” Kaden asked, one brow quirking up.

Louis chuckled. “She’s a bus driver. But cooking’s her hobby.” God, were they really trying to make small talk like normal human beings?

Kaden frowned, tilting his head slightly. “I think I actually knew that.”

Louis blinked, his brow furrowing. “What?”

“You told me that,” Kaden said, nodding. “Like ten years ago. When we played together in juniors.”

“Oh,” Louis said, biting his lip. “Right. We actually used to know each other.”

“We do know each other,” Kaden replied, a little exasperated. “You haven’t changed that much. Except for, uh…the muscles. You’ve got more of them now.”

Louis couldn’t help it—he laughed, the sound breaking the tension and easing the tightness in his chest. It felt good, so good, to laugh like that. “You’re…different tonight,” he said, unable to hold back a smile.

“Shut up,” Kaden muttered, his own lips twitching into what could almost be called a smile as he took another sip of wine. “I’m really trying if you can’t tell.”

“Not to be an ass?” Louis teased, grinning.

Kaden snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah, that.”

“I was planning to watch Love is Blind, ” Louis said, not feeling even a hint of embarrassment at the admission. He was too ridiculously happy and lightheaded to care. It wasn’t the wine—it was the surreal feeling of this moment like he’d stumbled into some wild romantic Hallmark movie.

“I’ll watch it with you, then,” Kaden said innocently. “It’s on Netflix, right? I came here for that.”

“Yeah,” Louis said, the response automatic. It took him a beat to realize Kaden was actually flirting. He laughed, his heart thudding loudly in his ears, but he didn’t have time to respond—the timer on his phone went off, signaling the duck was ready.

“The duck,” Louis said sheepishly, his cheeks still flushed as he turned to the oven. He pulled out the perfectly golden bird, the rich aroma filling the kitchen, and busied himself with carving it. He could feel Kaden’s eyes on him, watching intently as he worked.

“Any allergies?” Louis asked over his shoulder, grabbing two plates from the cupboard.

“No,” Kaden replied, his voice sounding almost dazed.

Louis spooned cranberry sauce over the glazed duck, adding mashed potatoes and salad to each plate. The warm satisfaction of cooking something right mingled with the giddy awareness of Kaden standing just a few feet away. Louis nodded toward his wine glass, left on the counter. “Can you grab my glass? And the wine bottle?”

“Got it,” Kaden said.

With plates, glasses, and wine in hand, they headed into the living room.

The space glowed softly with Christmas lights, casting a cozy warmth as they settled the food on the coffee table. They sank onto the sofa, and Louis picked up the remote, pulling up Netflix while hyperaware of the small, unspoken distance between them.

“Netflix and chill, indeed,” Kaden said with a casual stretch, leaning back against the sofa.

Louis rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “You’re really smooth tonight, too.”

Kaden blushed—again, for what had to be the tenth time that evening. “Sorry,” he said with a laugh, his ears tinged pink again. “That’s the wine talking.”

Louis couldn’t help noticing how different Kaden was like this—relaxed, genuine, without any sharp edges or carefully crafted persona. They put on Love is Blind and started eating their food.

“This is amazing,” Kaden murmured through a mouthful of duck, a bit of cranberry sauce glistening on his lips. “It’s so good.”

“Thanks,” Louis said, his gaze catching on that drop of sauce on Kaden’s lips, mesmerized. He swallowed hard, trying to focus on his own plate, but he couldn’t bring himself to eat much. His nerves buzzed with Kaden sitting so close, so instead, he sipped his wine and tried to keep his hands steady.

Their laughter came easily as they watched the show, Kaden tossing out snarky comments about every couple on the screen.

“Listen, she’s 100% disappointed he looks like that,” Kaden snorted near the end of the first episode.

“Yeah,” Louis laughed, warmth flooding him that had little to do with the alcohol.

“This show pretends to be so inclusive with its whole premise,” Kaden went on, waving his fork for emphasis, “but in reality, it’s not. They don’t put truly ugly people on here, so of course their ‘experiment,’” he added air quotes with his fingers, “works. And even then, not all the time. I’m sure once the mundanity of their lives comes crashing down, they’ll break up in a month or so.”

Louis laughed again, turning to glance at him. Kaden looked so at ease, his face soft in the glow of the Christmas lights, and for a moment, Louis just watched him, feeling something shift in his chest.

Louis set his wine glass down and leaned forward slightly, the movement drawing Kaden’s attention. Kaden looked up, his brows lifting in surprise as their eyes met. Louis stilled, holding his breath, waiting to see what Kaden would do.

And then Kaden leaned in, closing the distance.

When their lips met, it was nothing like before. There was no alcohol-fueled desperation, no fear, no sharp-edged taunts. Just softness. Honesty.

The kiss held everything they hadn’t been able to say—the careful defenses stripped away. Kaden parted his lips, inviting Louis deeper, and when their tongues met, an electric jolt shot through Louis, leaving him breathless. Kaden moaned softly, his breath hitching, and the sound sent a wave of heat pooling in Louis’s stomach.

Louis shifted onto his knees, guiding Kaden to slide back along the sofa until his head was near the armrest. Kaden stretched his legs out beneath him, his hands gripping Louis’s waist.

Their kiss deepened, growing hotter and more insistent. Louis’s hand trailed down Kaden’s chest, his fingers brushing over the firm lines of muscle beneath the fabric. When his hand moved lower, finding the waistband of Kaden’s pants, his fingers fumbled with the button. But just as he started to undo it, Kaden stilled beneath him.

Louis broke the kiss, pulling back just enough to look down at him. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough and unsteady.

“Yes,” Kaden said quickly, his cheeks flushed, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His hands stayed on Louis’s waist, holding him close like he was afraid he’d move away. “I just…I need to tell you something.”

“What?” Louis asked, his head still spinning, his chest heaving from the kiss. “If it’s about last night—”

“It’s not,” Kaden cut in, shaking his head. His eyes met Louis’s, uncertain but intent.

“I’m fucking in love with you, Zenith,” Kaden said, his voice trembling. “I’ve been in love with you for years. Way before you kissed me. But I was just afraid…”

Louis froze, his heart thundering in his chest. The confession hit him like a blow, leaving him momentarily stunned. “Fuck, Kaden,” he murmured, the words slipping out before he could even think.

“I’m sorry,” Kaden began, his voice faltering, but Louis cut him off with another kiss, deeper this time, giving no room for hesitation.

“What do you want?” Louis murmured against his lips, his voice low and rough.

“You,” Kaden whispered, his breath catching.

Louis’s lips found Kaden’s jawline, trailing slow, deliberate kisses along it and down to his neck. Kaden shuddered beneath him, a soft gasp escaping when Louis nipped lightly at the sensitive skin, leaving him trembling.

“I want everything,” Kaden whispered, his hands sliding to Louis’s hips and pulling him close, pressing their bodies together. Louis could feel Kaden’s arousal through his pants, and as he shifted his hips, he ground his matching erection against Kaden’s. They both groaned at the contact, the sound raw and needy.

“Fuck me,” Kaden breathed, his voice low and desperate as he thrust his hips up. His movements were urgent, his pupils blown wide with desire.

Louis felt the rush of heat to his core, his pulse hammering as their lips met again in a heated, frantic kiss. His hands moved down, undoing the button of Kaden’s pants, his fingers trembling slightly.

Before he could pull them off, Kaden reached into one of his pockets, fumbling for something. Louis pulled back just enough to see what he was doing and nearly laughed out loud when Kaden held up a small bottle of lube and a pack of condoms.

Of course. Kaden Faulter always came prepared. For all his vulnerability tonight, he was still a cocky bastard who knew exactly what he wanted—and had no intention of leaving without it.

Louis finally pulled Kaden’s pants down, followed by his underwear, leaving him bare—and visibly aroused. Kaden’s cock bobbed between them, flushed and hard. Louis froze for a second, unable to look away, his breath catching at the sight.

Kaden, however, didn’t pause. His hands were already on Louis’s shirt, tugging it over his head before reaching for his jeans. Louis helped him, quickly kicking off his jeans then shoving his boxers down. His fingers moved to the buttons of Kaden’s shirt, undoing them one by one.

But before he could get far, Kaden suddenly stilled, his gaze dropping to Louis’s cock. His lips parted as he let out a soft curse, his eyes fixed on the sight of Louis: big, fully hard, and visibly aching for contact.

A few seconds later, they were both completely naked, their breaths heavy as they took each other in. Louis paused, his eyes locking on Kaden’s, searching for confirmation. He needed to be sure.

Kaden didn’t say a word—he didn’t need to. He reached for Louis’s hand, holding it steady as he squeezed a generous amount of lube onto Louis’s fingers. The message was clear.

Louis didn’t hesitate. As Kaden opened his legs and braced him on both sides, Louis leaned forward and began to prepare him. He started slowly, sliding one finger in and watching Kaden’s reaction. Kaden bit his lip, his head tipping back, eyes fluttering shut as he adjusted to the touch.

Louis worked him for a moment, moving carefully, before adding a second finger. This time, Kaden’s reaction was immediate—a loud, desperate moan that filled the room. His hips jerked slightly, seeking more.

“Fuck me, Lou,” Kaden breathed, his voice pleading. “Please. I need you.”

Louis didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed the condom from the pack, rolling it on quickly before slicking his cock with lube. The sight of Kaden beneath him, panting and ready, made his chest tighten with both desire and something deeper.

Louis pulled his fingers out and lined his cock with Kaden’s entrance, their eyes dropping to where their bodies were about to connect. He pushed in slowly, feeling the tight stretch around him as Kaden gasped, his head falling back again with a moan of pleasure.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” Louis said, his voice thick with need, his hands trembling slightly against Kaden’s hips. “Tell me if you need me to stop.”

Kaden met his gaze, his pupils blown wide, his voice a breathless rasp. “Don’t stop,” he said, his urgency almost panicked.

Louis pushed a little further, inch by inch, trying to keep his control as he watched Kaden’s reaction. Kaden’s cock throbbed between them, flushed and leaking, as his body adjusted. Louis gripped Kaden’s hips tighter, guiding himself deeper as they both let out a moan at the overwhelming stretch.

“Fuck,” Louis cursed, his breath catching as he finally thrust all the way in and paused. They stayed like that for a moment, just breathing, their bodies slick and fully connected. Kaden’s chest rose and fell rapidly, and when his eyes met Louis’s, there was an almost pleading look there—a silent signal.

It was all Louis needed. He pulled back slowly, almost entirely, before thrusting back in, drawing a loud moan from both of them. The sensation was dizzying, a perfect mix of heat and pressure that sent jolts of pleasure through his entire body.

Louis found a rhythm, his cock sliding in and out more easily now as Kaden’s body slickened with lube. His thrusts became faster, each one more desperate than the last, as they moved together in perfect sync.

“Harder,” Kaden moaned, his hands reaching up to wrap around Louis’s neck, pulling him closer. “Fuck me…harder.”

Louis couldn’t help but laugh softly at the request, his own arousal surging at the sheer desperation in Kaden’s voice. God, he wanted nothing more.

“On your knees,” Louis growled, his voice rough with command.

Kaden’s cock twitched visibly at the words, his body reacting instinctively to the order. Without hesitation, he shifted, his movements quick and eager, ready for whatever Louis had planned next.

As soon as Kaden turned, settling on all fours in front of Louis, naked and waiting, Louis felt a dizzying rush of arousal. The sight of him—arched, exposed, and so ready—made Louis’s breath hitch.

“Hold onto the armrest,” Louis growled, his voice rough and commanding. Kaden obeyed immediately, gripping it with both hands, his body braced.

Louis guided himself back into him, a hand pressed firmly against the small of Kaden’s back while the other gripped his shoulder for leverage. Without hesitation, Louis began to fuck him, hard and fast, each thrust deep and precise. Kaden’s moans filled the room, desperate and shameless, mingling with Louis’s groans as they both surrendered to the primal rhythm.

The sounds they made were loud, obscene, echoing in the air—Louis was certain the neighbors could hear every second of it. The thought of their noisy, unapologetic fucking drifting through the walls while others sat at Christmas dinner only spurred him on.

Kaden’s moans grew higher-pitched, edged with need, his body trembling under Louis’s relentless pace. Recognizing how close he was, Louis leaned down, reaching beneath him to grab his cock. He wrapped his calloused hand around it, stroking firmly, his thumb flicking over the sensitive tip to spread the slick precome pooling there.

Kaden let out a broken cry, his body tightening, and Louis knew he was seconds away. Louis was close too, pleasure coiling in his core, but he wanted to take them over the edge together.

In a swift motion, he pushed Kaden onto his side, dragging one of his legs up for better access. They lay on their sides, Louis thrusting into him hard and rough, his hand never faltering on Kaden’s cock.

Kaden came first, shuddering with a loud moan as hot release spilled over Louis’s hand. The sight and feel of it sent Louis spiraling; he managed a couple of quick, desperate thrusts before his body tensed, and he came inside Kaden with a guttural groan, his thrusts becoming shallow as waves of pleasure ripped through him.

Stars danced in Louis’s vision as he rode out the last pulses of his orgasm, his body trembling with aftershocks. He collapsed against Kaden, their sweaty bodies tangled, both of them spent and unmoving. They lay there, breathing hard and ragged, the heat between them slowly fading into an exhausted calm.

For a long while, they lay tangled together in the heated, slick embrace, their breaths evening out as the intensity faded. Louis only pulled away briefly to dispose of the condom before returning to Kaden, wrapping him in his arms once more.

Neither of them spoke, too drained to form words. Kaden shifted slightly, turning in Louis’s embrace to face him. He was flushed, his eyes heavy with exhaustion, but there was a soft contentment there too.

He nestled into the crook of Louis’s neck, his breath warm against Louis’s skin. Just as he was about to drift off, Kaden murmured sleepily, “I hope your leg is okay.”

Louis chuckled quietly, the sound vibrating in his chest. He’d completely forgotten about his injury. Pressing a gentle kiss to Kaden’s forehead, he whispered, “It’s fine.”

And with that, he closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Kaden’s body lull him to sleep.

***

They slept most of the night on the sofa, tangled together in the living room until the creeping cold forced them to move to the bedroom. There, they spent the rest of the night wrapped in each other, their bodies unconsciously gravitating together, as if yesterday they hadn’t been the two biggest rivals in the Hockey League.

The morning greeted Louis with sunlight streaming through the snow-covered window. He stirred, stretching lazily, but when he turned over, the bed beside him was empty. For a moment, he froze. Could last night have been a dream? His heart began to race as he sat up, scanning the room for any sign that Kaden had been there. Panic prickled at the edges of his thoughts—until Kaden walked in.

Fully dressed, his hair brushed, and frowning slightly, Kaden stepped into the room.

“Morning,” he said, his voice casual, and Louis felt an overwhelming surge of relief. But the feeling shifted quickly into concern as he noticed the hint of tension in Kaden’s eyes.

“Morning,” Louis replied, standing and dragging the duvet around himself for modesty. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Kaden said quickly, his frown disappearing as he smiled. His expression softened further, possibly amused by Louis’s disheveled state. He stepped closer, cupped Louis’s face, and kissed him deeply. The touch was grounding, sending another wave of reassurance through Louis.

“Are you okay, Zenith?” Kaden asked, his lips quirking into a smirk. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Louis chuckled, still a little shaken. “I might have. For a minute, I thought I dreamt up last night.”

“You didn’t,” Kaden said with a small laugh. “When I woke up, I could definitely feel that I didn’t dream it.” His lips twisted into a teasing smirk, one eyebrow cocked meaningfully.

Louis felt heat rush to his face as the implication sank in. “Uh…sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Kaden replied, his voice full of warmth.

He looked effortlessly polished—wearing one of Louis’s white T-shirts, likely borrowed from the closet, and his own pants. He smelled expensive and clean, as usual, his hair brushed into its usual perfection.

“When did you get up?” Louis asked.

“Around nine,” Kaden said nonchalantly. “But it’s eleven now.”

“Eleven?” Louis frowned. “I slept that late?”

“Yup,” Kaden confirmed with a chuckle. “I made you breakfast.”

Louis blinked, dumbfounded. “You did?”

“I did,” Kaden said, smiling. “The coffee’s ready, too. I’ll go check on it. But please,” he added with a teasing glance, “put some clothes on before you leave the room.”

Louis smirked at the words but didn’t dwell on them, watching Kaden leave with an amused shake of his head.

Five minutes later, now dressed, Louis stepped into the living room—and froze at the unexpected voices coming from the kitchen. Not just one voice—several.

Crossing the room, he moved toward the kitchen with mounting curiosity. When he reached the doorway, he stopped in his tracks, his jaw dropping.

Standing in the room were six of his teammates: Mike, Santiago, Fareed, Jimmy, Sawyer, and Eric.

As they mingled casually around the kitchen island, cups of coffee in hand, Kaden stood by the counter, pouring two more cups—nonchalant as ever, the very picture of calm. But as soon as Louis stepped into the room, all six pairs of eyes turned toward him in unison.

“Uh…morning?” Louis muttered, his heart pounding. For a second, he wondered if this was all some bizarre fever dream brought on by the infection in his leg.

“Merry Christmas, captain,” Mike said, smiling as he set his mug down. “The boys and I decided to check on you. Hope you don’t mind.”

“You didn’t answer your phone,” Santiago added, biting back a smirk. “So we just…came over. And knocked.”

A pause hung in the air, thick with meaning, as all six teammates exchanged knowing looks before their eyes flicked toward Kaden.

Kaden, unbothered, crossed the room with the two mugs in hand. He handed one to Louis, their eyes meeting briefly as Kaden shrugged and bit his lip, a trace of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth. “Sorry, Lou,” he said casually. “I just opened the door.”

Strangely, Louis didn’t feel horrified or anxious, though, for years, he’d dreaded the idea of his team finding out about his sexual orientation. He’d expected this conversation to happen eventually, but not like this—and definitely not with Kaden Faulter in the mix. Still, instead of panic, his chest felt tight with barely contained laughter. Could these last 24 hours get any more absurdly Hallmark-esque?

“I can explain,” Louis said sheepishly, the mug warm in his hands. He glanced at Kaden, whose expression was unmistakably smug. He was clearly enjoying the team’s collective bewilderment.

“Before you start,” Mike interrupted, raising a hand, “we don’t care who you sleep with, cap.”

“Uh…thanks?” Louis replied, relief washing over him—though it came with hesitation, knowing there was more coming.

“But—” Mike continued before Sawyer cut in with a disappointed, “But really, cap? You went for the Adonis ?”

“Didn’t you hate the guy?” Fareed added, his disbelief palpable.

“Yeah, you couldn’t stand him,” Jimmy chimed in, shaking his head in incredulity.

“Oh God,” Louis muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Kaden leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough for Louis to hear as he whispered, “I’ll leave you to it.” He pressed a quick, deliberate kiss to Louis’s lips before strolling out of the kitchen and into the corridor, clearly relishing the drama.

Louis sighed, his face flushed as he turned back to his teammates. They were all staring at him—some grinning like idiots, others attempting mock-offended expressions, clearly struggling to keep straight faces. He ran a hand through his hair and muttered, “Oh God.”

THE END