#between two fic

[whockeywhore]

Anything 5 feat. Auston Matthews and Freddie Andersen

She looked unreal, a vision with her eyes squeezed shut and her hair splayed out on the pillow. 

I brushed a strand out of her face and bent down so she could taste herself on my lips. Her chest was heaving as she worked to catch her breath and I set a hand on her stomach as I sat down next to her. 

“How do you want us?” 

“I’m in charge?” Her eyes lit up as she smiled and glanced at Freddie on the edge of the bed. I nodded and moved to roll one of her nipples between my thumb and forefinger. She shivered at the touch and chewed on her bottom lip, brow furrowing in thought. It was a moment before she sat up and patted the spot where she’d been. “Freddie.” 

He stood and undid his belt, fumbling with the button on his pants until it gave. They dropped and left him in nothing but a pair of briefs. Shane crawled over to him and wrapped her hand around his cock, gently rubbing it through the thin fabric. Freddie’s head fell forward and she leaned in to flick her tongue over him. 

He swore under his breath as she pulled back, nodding to the spot on the bed where she wanted him. The mattress shifted as he dropped down and I watched her straddle him, her hips rolling back and forth and back and forth. 

“S-Shane, sweetheart.” 

“Yeah?” 

“You gotta stop. I’m not gonna last.” She stilled and turned to me, the smile on her face bright enough to light up the room. 

“You ready baby?” 

I had been ready, absolutely desperate for her, since I’d left for the road trip. The thought of her at home, denying herself the relief she craved so badly while stretched and filled... it had nearly killed me.

And here she was with her ass spread open to me. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I took her face in my hands and brought her to look at me, running my thumb over her cheekbones and down her nose before tracing her bottom lip. She pulled one of them into her mouth and sucked gently, eyes fluttering shut as she moaned. 

“Baby-” I was painfully aware of Freddie’s concerns and grateful when she stopped, not before swiping her tongue over her lips. It sent a wave of arousal over me and I swallowed hard. “Condoms?” 

“Of course.” She reached into the nightstand and handed one to each of us, sitting back on her heels as we sheathed ourselves. The room seemed to dim as she sank onto Freddie with a groan. Her hands sat on his abdomen but her eyes were on me again and I moved behind her. 

“How does he feel?” 

“So good.” She was still for a moment before raising up and dropping back down. I held her against me as she built a rhythm and just listened to the sounds she made, to the grunt as Freddie lifted his hips to drill into her. She jerked in my arms and reached back to grab me. “Auston?” 

“Hmm?” I was lost just watching her but she pressed her ass against me, arching to kiss my lips once before she tipped forward. I leaned in to press a kiss to her back and poised the tip of my cock where she wanted me. “Tell me baby, tell me what you want.” 

“I-I want you to fuck my ass.” 

“How bad?” 

“So bad!” Her head was resting on Freddie’s chest and he and I shared a look as her voice cracked. “Please, Auston? Fucking fill me!” 

He lifted her chin and pulled her into a kiss as I pressed my hips forward, just enough to elicit a moan from both of us. She pushed against me and I held onto her hips, giving her every bit of control she wanted. The feel of her as I slipped in had me fighting to keep my sanity and she continued, I was halfway buried when Freddie moved again. 

The string of expletives she let out was muffled against his lips but I felt every bit of her reaction in how she tightened around me. She lifted her head as I pulled back a bit before thrusting forwards, even deeper than last time. He pulled out as I buried myself and met my eyes again over her shoulder, offering a silent nod. We operated in tandem, him filling her as soon as I drew my hips back and vice versa, building a rhythm that had Shane panting. 

I held onto her hips and drove into her, stilling as he continued to fuck her. The gentle rocking was enough to push me closer to an orgasm but he stopped after a few minutes. 

“Aus, take my spot.” He pulled out of her and stood, motioning for me to take the place he’d left. I took the chance to pull her close for a kiss. Her tongue danced over mine lazily and I reached down to swipe my thumb over her clit, back and forth until she shuddered and closed her thighs around my wrist. I sat back to look at her and grinned. 

Freddie knelt at the edge of the bed and watched, gently tugging at his cock while her orgasm built. Her nails dug into my wrist but I was unrelenting, determined to see her come again tonight. 

It was quiet, different than anything I had ever gotten from her, but her breath caught and her head fell forward. A bead of sweat rolled between her breasts and I leaned forward to catch it with my tongue before bringing my lips to her ear. 

“Come on, Shane. Come for me.” 

Every bit of blood in my body rushed to my lap as it hit her, nothing but a quiet gasp and her white knuckles to give it away. Her thighs were shaking and her chest was heaving as she collapsed onto her side.

“That was...” Freddie let his thought trail off and I nodded in complete understanding.

There was something about watching Shane in action. She was enigmatic and enticing and, no matter how many times I got to witness it, I wanted more. I sat back against the headboard, content to stay in this moment forever, but he had other ideas and bent down to leave a line of kisses down her chest. He found himself between her legs and looked up as he buried his face in her pussy, eyes closing as he tasted her again. She reached for me with one hand and the other knotted in his hair, whimpering when he pulled away. 

“Not yet, sweetheart.” He kissed her one more time before nodding to me, specifically to my cock where it sat in my hand. I pumped it a few times, slowly to keep from ruining the night before it’d truly begun. 

He lifted her and I lined myself up as he set her on my lap. She sank down slowly and spread her legs, leaning back against me. I took one of her breasts in my hand and squeezed it gently. Freddie reclaimed his spot between her legs and shot me a wink as he positioned himself to slip into her again. 

[whockeywhore]

Anything 2 feat. Auston Matthews

smut under the cut 

All of my muscles were screaming the next morning, the tips of my toes to the very top of my head feeling fuzzy and achy. It was the kind of sore I hadn’t realized I’d craved and Auston set his hand on my side as I stretched out next to him. 

“How do you feel?” 

“Amazing.” 

“Good.” He nuzzled against me and traced errant lines over my skin. “Because I want you to do it while I’m gone.” 

“Pardon?” 

He got out of bed and grabbed the box he’d brought home yesterday, sitting next to me before he opened. Four more plugs sat nestled in a neat line, each one a little bit bigger than the last. I reached out and touched the empty spot where my friend from last night had sat and remembered how tight it felt. He seemed to read my mind because he lifted the next size up and pressed it into my palm. 

“Just feel it, think about it. You don’t have to go to the biggest one but this one is roughly my size.” I weighed it in my hand and rolled it over, nodding after a moment. “I figured it may help for when we... you know.” 

“When you fuck me in the ass?” He swore quietly and I chewed on my lip for a minute. “Does this one vibrate too?” 

“They all do. And there’s one more thing... I don’t want you to come.” 

“Dammit Auston,” I moved to sit up on my knees and he leaned in, wrapping his arms around me. “Do you have to go to California?” 

“Three days baby. We’ve done worse.” 

“Yeah but you haven’t left me like this.” 

“Like what?” 

“So... pent up. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep that in my ass all day without getting off.” I guided his hand to my folds and sank onto his fingers. “You feel that? That’s just from thinking about it.” 

He kept his eyes on mine as I reached out to palm his hard-on through his boxers, eyelids fluttering shut when I slipped under his waistband. His skin was soft and pulled taut over his erection. 

“Do you think you can handle leaving me here, knowing how wet I am?” He swallowed hard and I continued. “I don’t think I can make it three hours without touching myself, much less three days.” 

His cock twitched in my hand and I pushed him to lie flat on his back, straddling him before rolling my body over his. My bare skin against his cotton boxers felt divine and I savored the friction. He wrapped an arm around me and held me close, using his free hand to line himself up and drive into me. I cried out and he bit down on my earlobe, stilling within me as he whispered. 

“Think of how good it’ll feel when I finally get back, Shane. Think about me bending you over and shoving my cock in your ass, fucking you until you scream my name.” 

“Auston-” 

“Just like that.” He reared back and slapped my ass hard, the sound echoing as my skin bloomed red. “You have no idea what that does to me.” 

“Pretty sure I do.” I wiggled on top of him and he groaned. “But seriously, three days?” 

“You got this baby. And don’t worry, I’ll leave you with something to tide you over.” He rolled us over and sank in deeper, if possible. 

I was raw and exhausted two hours later, stifling a yawn as we pulled up to the arena. Austin put the car in park and turned to me with a furrowed brow. 

“Are you gonna make it home?” 

“I may nap in the parking garage.” 

“I could’ve taken an Uber or asked Mitch for a ride.” 

I shook my head and leaned over to kiss him, unbuckling my seat belt to climb over the center console. He lifted the hem of my dress and found my ass in the dark of the car, pushing aside my thong and pressing down on the plug. My head hit his shoulder and he tugged gently, chuckling as I squirmed on top of him. I reached for the door and got out of the car, waiting for him to do the same. My nipples pebbled in the cool air and he pinched one between his fingers, grinning as I swatted his hand away.

“Anyone ever told you you’re the worst?” 

“I’m gonna miss you.” 

“How much?” 

“Maybe too much.” He pulled me into a hug and I felt just how much against my thigh. “I can’t wait to come home.” 

“Sooner you leave the sooner you come back.” He moved to grab his suitcase from the trunk and I stopped him as he turned to leave. “Aus, I need you to do me a favor. Well, two favors.” 

“Anything.” 

“First, I need you to kiss me goodbye again.” He obliged and I fell into him, sucking on his bottom lip as he pulled away. 

“What’s the second one?” 

“You have to agree to it before I tell you. You have to promise!” 

“That’s a raw deal Shane, I don’t know if I can.” I raised an eyebrow and he relented. “Fine, I’ll do it.Whatever it is.” 

“I figured since I’m waiting three days to get off, you should too.” I took his hand in mine and shook it hard. “Deal? Deal!” 

“Shane, I-” 

“You promised! C’mon Auston, it’s not fair for only one of us to be miserable.” I leaned up to kiss him again and held my lips against him. “And think of how good it’ll feel when you get back.” 

to be continued 

[whockeywhore]

Just some ‘Rig

“You’re hogging the blanket!.” 

“There’s barely any of it.” Jamie pulled the throw blanket over himself and left me bare, exposed to the cold air of the cabin. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, half-awake and wholly annoyed. His idea to go off-grid for by-week had yet to pan out and I was cranky after a long day of hiking. “Grace-”  

“I'm gonna sit by the fire for a bit.” I pulled one of his shirts on and slipped out of the room, stoking the fire before taking a spot on the couch. 

The book I’d started after dinner sat on the coffee table and I snatched it up, finding the page I’d dog-eared. I was lost in the story when the bedroom door creaked open, Jamie slinking out with the blanket over his shoulders. He motioned for me to scoot over and I obliged, waiting for him to find a comfortable spot. He set his head on my lap and looked up. 

“What are you reading?” 

“A biography on Teddy Roosevelt.” 

“Why?” 

“It was this or a romance novel.” 

His brows shot up at the mention of the romance novel and I shook my head, reaching out to stop him from getting up. He ignored my protests and grabbed the only other book off of the shelf, pulling me onto his lap as he sat down with it. I couldn’t help but laugh as he skimmed the pages, finding juicy bits to read aloud. He settled on one particularly risque paragraph and I ran my fingers through his hair as he started in. 

“’She reached for his sword, startled by the gentle throbbing she found under her fingertips. He could’ve melted glass and she prepared herself for the heat-’ this is horrifying.” 

“Keep going!” 

He read a few lines ahead and frowned, his nose crinkling as he shook his head. “No baby, this is weird shit. ‘He sheathed himself and caught every ridge of her walls-’ do you have walls?” 

“Jamie!” 

“Do you have ridges?” 

“Jamie!” My sides ached from giggling and he held me tight, wiping at the tears that gathered in his eyes from his own laughter until we settled. As soon as I met his eyes again, it started all over and I snatched the book from his hand. 

“Her bosom heaved, burdened by lust and desire and the need for climax.’ Don’t you hate being burdened by the need for climax?”

“Happens every time.” He pulled the collar of his t-shirt out and looked underneath, looking back up with a knowing nod. “Yep, lust and desire. No wonder that hike was so rough.” 

We sat in a moment of peace before he looked up at me, twirling my ponytail around his finger. “You’re miserable out here.” 

“I’m not miserable, I-” 

“You hate it.” 

“I’m not an outdoors person, Moose. Calling you Moose is the closest I get to nature. If I could get into my car in a garage and only get out of it once I’m safely inside another garage, I would.” 

“I’m sorry Gracie.” 

“Please don’t apologize baby. It’s me. I grew up in the city.” He dropped his head onto my shoulder and I scratched his back. “This isn’t bad though. I swear, it’s not that bad.”

“We can go home tomorrow.” 

I picked up the romance novel again and read a few lines, suddenly aware of the heat from the fire and his hand on my thigh. He moved to get up and I stopped him, shifting so we were face to face. 

“Let’s stay for a few more days. I think I thought of a way to pass the time.” He raised an eyebrow and I turned my attention back to the book. “Interested in ‘sheathing your sword’?” 

He didn’t say a word, just lifted me up and started towards the bedroom. I wrapped my legs around his waist and moved to toss the book back on the couch. He stopped and turned to grab it, swatting it against my behind with a laugh.

[whockeywhore]

Between Two Masterlist

Prologue

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 4.5

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part 14

Part 15

Part 15.5

Part 16

Part 16.5

Part 16.5.2

Part 17.1

Part 17.2

Part 17.3

[whockeywhore]

Between Two 18

I sat up at the sound of glass breaking and reached out for Jamie. His side of the bed was cool and empty and I called out for him. He appeared in the doorway a moment later, a dark patch of sweat blooming under the collar of his shirt. 

“Baby, that vase with the naked ladies, were you gonna bring that back to the Burgh or donate it?” 

“Donate.” 

“Sweet.” He turned to leave and I heard him yell down the hall. “It’s all good guys, she didn’t want to keep it.” 

I slipped out of bed and pulled a pair of leggings on, tiptoeing into the hall. 

“Well look who’s finally up!” 

“And right after all the heavy lifting is done. Typical Grace.” 

Braden and Alex shared a laugh between themselves before heading down the stairs, each carrying the end of a coffee table. I watched them go and turned into the kitchen to find Jake and Michael wrapping plates in old newspaper. Nicke was sitting at the head of the table with his nose buried in one. 

“When was the last time the Kings won the cup?” 

“2014.” 

“You need to throw stuff away more Grace. Are you familiar with the teachings of Marie Kondo?” 

“Cal never liked to toss anything. I’m pretty sure he still has my prom dress somewhere in here.” 

“Yeah, Jake tried it on. Very provocative for a high school prom.” 

I leaned back against the counter and watched the scene unfold, pouring myself a cup of coffee and taking a big sip before I spoke. 

“What are you guys doing here?” 

Jake held up a covered plate before tossing it into an open box. “Helping you pack.” 

“But-” 

“Tom called us. He said you were packing up your dad’s place and needed some help.” 

Nicke dropped his paper and nodded. “He promised dinner. And beer.” 

I nodded and left the room, bounding downstairs to find Jamie. He was kneeling next to a giant oak desk in the den and had a strip of measuring tape lining the edge, his brow furrowed in confusion. 

“How the hell did Cal get this in here?” 

“He built it when we moved in.” He let out a long groan and stood, rubbing his lower back gingerly. “You guys have gotten a lot of work done. When did they get here?” 

“Around seven.” My watch read eleven-thirty and a bit of guilt crept over me. “You were sacked out.” 

"You should have woken me up. I feel bad, I haven’t done anything.” 

“But you’re so cute when you’re sleeping- aside from the snoring. If you wanna help, you can start by taking this apart.” He tapped the desktop with a screwdriver and I nodded. 

“Aye-aye captain. And I don’t snore.” 

“Liar!” 

I swatted at him as he leaned down to kiss me, pressing his lips to my forehead for a few seconds. He caught my hand and shook his head before leaving me to my job. The desk was impossibly heavy and I ran my fingers over the divots in it, noting the notches Cal had carved into the edge during phone calls. It was a bad habit developed after I’d gotten him a pocket knife for Christmas one year. I’d caught him whittling away during one of his conference calls a few days later. 

“You know you look just like your mother when you do that.” 

“Do what?” 

“Cross your arms and tap your toe like that. You have her eyes.” He motioned for me to come stand next to him and I did, studying the paperwork on his desk. He’d doodled a crude horse on the side and I couldn’t help but laugh. “What? What’s so funny?” 

“You can’t draw, daddy.” 

“Now you sound just like her!” 

“You alright?” Tom was leaning against the door frame watching me and I nodded, dropping my head to wipe my eyes. 

“Yeah, just thinking.” 

“About what?” 

“My dad.” Tom pulled an armchair across the room and dropped into it, leaning forward on his elbows. “You know he built this desk.” 

“Really?” 

“Mhmm. A few weeks after my mom passed, I came home to a huge pile of wood on the front porch. Had to climb through a window just to get in. Worked on it nonstop for a month, round the clock. Our neighbors called the cops twice because he was using a table saw at midnight.”

“Sounds like Cal.” 

“He was so proud of it,” I reached out and pushed it a bit, nodding to the short leg on my side, “Never would admit it wobbled.” 

“He was a good guy, Grace. A great guy.” 

“He carved their initials into it.” I tugged the center drawer out and felt blindly for the heart he’d drawn, closing my eyes as I found the CD+MJ. Calvin Dillard and Marie Johannsen.

“Grace-” He came around the desk and knelt down, pulling me into a tight hug as my emotions got the best of me. The weight of the weekend, going through my father’s whole life and deciding what was worth keeping from the house I’d grown up in, sat heavy on my shoulders and I collapsed against him with a sob. 

Tom stroked my back gently and I curled into his lap. “I don’t wanna leave, Tom. I don’t want to move to Pittsburgh.” 

“You do, Gracie. I know you do.” 

“I don’t. I want to stay here and I want everything to go back to the way it was a-and I... I want my dad back. I miss him so much.” 

“I miss him too. But look, look at me for a minute.” He lifted my chin until I met his eyes. “You can’t bring him back Gracie. Staying here won’t bring him back. You have a life waiting for you in Pittsburgh.”

I sniffed and he reached for a tissue from the desk, letting me wipe my nose before he pressed on. 

“You’ve got your wedding and your new job. You’ve got Jamie. Everything is waiting up there for you and keeping this house, staying in Washington, isn’t going to change that.” 

He let me fall apart for a few minutes and I balled my hands into fists in his t-shirt, angry and sad and drowning in nostalgia. I pulled myself back together and sat up, retying my ponytail and wiping my face.  

“I got mascara on your shirt.”

“Don’t worry about it. I borrowed it from Braden this morning after he picked me up last night. I spent your cab money on beer.” 

“That’s my boy.” 

He wrapped an arm around me and I fell against him, taking a minute to savor the feeling of being wrapped in his arms again. My eyes burned with more tears and I realized what made all of this sting so badly. In the past few years, through all the trips I’d taken and games I’d gone to, he’d become home to me. Tom was the constant I had clung to after my dad’s diagnosis. He’d come to appointments and gone to visit Cal with me, even on his own sometimes. 

Every time things had gotten bad, every shitty prognosis or rough night, Tom had been there. For me.

“I’m gonna miss you. So much.” 

His voice was heavy with emotion as he agreed. “We’ll see each other. At games, on holidays. We’ll spend by-week together come January.” 

I bit back the urge to argue that it wouldn’t be the same and opted for taking his hand in mine and squeezing it. He returned the gesture before clearing his throat and standing up. He held out a hand to help me to my feet and I took it, falling into him again as soon as we were upright. 

“Hey guys, we were thinking about heading out for some lunch. Are you-” Braden stopped as he saw us and I turned my head to look as he stepped into the den. “What’s going on?” 

“Just hashing some shit out.” 

“So we’re... all good?” We both nodded and he came closer, wrapping his arms around the two of us with a sigh of relief. “Thank god. I hate it when you two fight.” 

I weaseled my way out of his grasp when I began sweating and he laughed. 

“What were you saying about lunch?” 

“We were going to order some pizza. Just about done upstairs.” 

“Why don’t we go out? There’s nothing in the fridge and no place to sit anyway. There’s a great parlor a few blocks away.” 

He nodded and mumbled about going to tell everyone else, leaving Tom and I alone once again. 

“So you and I are good?” 

“You tell me.” I wiped at the mascara stains on his shirt and frowned. “You should soak this before it sets.” 

“Gracie Lou, if you want to see me shirtless, all you have to do is ask.” He pulled the t-shirt off and tossed it in my direction. “You know I’ve got love for you.” 

He ran his fingers over his abs and gave me a wink. “You like what you see?” 

"Shut up, Tom.” I started towards the laundry room with a smile on my face. “I can’t believe I missed you.” 

[whockeywhore]

Between Two 19

Jamie shifted to one side as I dropped down next to him, wrapping his arm around my waist to keep me close as the hammock swung back and forth. It settled after a minute and I closed my eyes, content to listen to his heartbeat alongside the sounds of nature around us. 

“You remember when we came to check this venue out?” 

“I walked into a spider web.” 

“You were so mad.” His chest shook with a laugh and I couldn’t help but smile, thinking back to our first anniversary as a couple. He’d surprised me with a weekend trip to a Bed and Breakfast off the beaten path and I’d shuddered, dreading three days without cell reception. “You hated it.” 

I couldn’t argue because I had. I’d hated every minute of it. But Jamie was so excited to hike the trails around it and picnic under the stars and I fell even more in love with him as we asleep in this hammock. 

“And now we’re back.” His voice was quiet, heavy with exhaustion after a day of setting up for the wedding and a long rehearsal dinner. “And we’re getting married tomorrow.” 

“I can’t wait.” I felt happy beyond words, lying there wrapped up in him and surrounded by our closest friends and family, They had filled our evening with memories I wanted to capture forever. I hated to admit it, hated to even acknowledge it, but something was missing. 

“You’re leaving?” 

“Yeah.” He didn’t offer an excuse as he stood and started towards the door. I got up and followed him, catching up as he hit the street. 

“Wait, where are you going?” 

“I’ve just- I’ve gotta go.” 

“Tom-” 

“What do you want me to do Grace? I’m sorry, I can’t just sit there and- the wedding talk, it’s too much.” 

It was the elephant in the room, or on the patio where we’d been eating, and my stomach dropped when Jake had brought it up. There was no ill will behind it but Tom’s face had fallen as soon as it came about. 

“Then we won’t talk about it.”

“No, you should.” 

“We don’t have to, Tom. I’d rather you stay than... I want you here.” The smile he gave me was heavy with sympathy and I asked a question I didn’t want an answer to. “You’ll be there, right?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“It’s in five months, Tom.” I pointed my finger between us, “We have five months to figure this shit out.”

“And I’m trying to but- I don’t know.” 

“What’s not to know?” 

He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels, neither one of us saying a word for what felt like an eternity. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip and watched him as I waited for an answer, repeating myself twice before he spoke. My voice broke the second time and I swallowed hard. 

“Are you saying you just... what are you saying?” 

“I’m saying I’ll try. Is that okay?” I shook my head and he snapped, stepping closer and dropping his voice to a near whisper. “What do you want from me, Grace? I don’t want to be there when you marry another man, especially one you lied to me about for three years.” 

“We talked about this! I apologized.” 

“That’s not gonna change how I feel about this. All of this is- it’s... I’m sorry.” 

He turned on his heel and left me in front of the restaurant. I took a minute to compose myself before taking my seat at the table again, grateful that a change in subject had occurred while I was gone. Jamie took my hand in his and squeezed gently, leaning over to ask me if all was well. 

“Yeah, I just had to get his address for the invitation.” 

The chime of a clock in the dining room jarred me out of my thoughts and Jamie shifted beside me, pressing a kiss to my temple as we waited for the ringing to stop. 

“It’s officially tomorrow.” I moved to stand and he groaned, holding tight to my hand. “You’re not supposed to see me on our wedding day. It’s bad luck!” 

“I’ll keep my eyes closed.” I relaxed a bit and he pulled me back against him, promising to let me go after a few more minutes. He cleared his throat after a minute and nudged me. “Have you heard anything?” 

“I don’t think he’s coming.” 

“I’m sorry baby.” He kissed me again and I rolled over to lay my head back on his chest. “Is there anything I can do?” 

“Marry me today?” 

“I’ll have to check my schedule but I think I can squeeze you in.” 

Wind rocked the hammock back and forth and my eyelids grew heavy, sleep pulling me down fast. Jamie started snoring quietly and I smiled as the realization that I’d be hearing that for the rest of my life hit me. Wrapped in his warmth and more in love than I’d ever been, I closed my eyes for the last night before the best day of my life. 

[whockeywhore]

Between Two 17.3

He picked at the label on his beer as I took a sip of mine. Both of us sat in a tense silence until What’s New Pussycat started blaring from the jukebox in the corner. I eyed the lanky boy who picked it and watched he and his friends laugh as they returned to their table. 

“You remember when we went to New York to see John Mulaney? We got snowed in, stuck in that hotel for two days.” 

I blushed at the memory and nodded. “That was an... interesting weekend.” 

“It was.” 

“You sang this song the entire ride home. I was ready to kill you by the time we got to Maryland. You remember that kid that bit it on the ramp at the aquarium?” 

He snorted a laugh and I couldn’t help but join in, the memory too ridiculous as it came back. A loud, obnoxious kid who’d been terrorizing everyone in the shark exhibit by running around and screaming at the top of his lungs had tripped over his own shoelace and flown down the ramp. Tom and I watched from a bench a few feet away and I had buried my face in the crook of his neck to hide my hysterics. Tom had dug his nails into my side and covered his mouth as we stood, slipping out so we could lose it without anyone seeing. 

“That kid was a dick.” 

“He was. He really was.” 

“What do you think he’s doing right now?” 

“Probably playing for the Leafs.” He chuckled again and I relaxed a bit, leaning back in the booth, watching him for a moment. “How are you? Honestly.” 

“Honestly, I’m pretty shitty. My best friend isn’t talking to me and I- I really can’t blame her.” He leaned forward on his elbows and looked down. “And I fucked up, I know that. I know there’s nothing I can do to take it back but-” 

“Why did you do it, Tom?” 

“Because you lied to me Grace.” He spat my first name and the room suddenly seemed colder. “Because you lied and you cut me out of a huge part of your life. You hurt me.” 

“I didn’t want to.” 

“Then why did you?” 

Our pleasant conversation had turned sour and I felt like I had ticking bomb in my hands, our relationship- or what was left of it- mere seconds away from blowing up if I didn’t clip the right wire. I took a long, deep breath and chose my words carefully. 

“Tom, you and I... our relationship was complicated. There was something about it, about us that just didn’t make sense.” 

“I thought it made perfect sense.” 

“Because you got your cake and ate it too. You got to date whoever you wanted to, fuck who you wanted to, and you still got me.” He started to argue but I held up a hand to stop him. “Any guy I brought around, even after we broke up, you scared him away. You staked your claim and it wasn’t fair.” 

“Those guys weren’t right for you.” 

“That wasn’t your decision to make. I wasn’t yours.” 

He finished his beer and raised a hand to signal to the bartender for a new one. I raised my own to ask for another and we sat quietly until they arrived. The young waitress set a hand on my shoulder and smiled. “Your burgers should be done soon.” 

“Thank you dear.” I watched her leave and pointed after a moment. “That’s Jack’s granddaughter. I used to-” 

“I just wanted to protect you, Grace.” 

“Isabella, I think. Or Mariella.” 

“I loved you- I still do. And I just wanted to protect you.” 

“And I appreciate that. I really do. But I am a grown woman that can make my own decisions. And when I met Jamie and things started happening, I didn’t want you to...” 

“Ruin it? Like I always did?” 

“Don’t victimize yourself Tom. You’re better than that.” I began picking at the corner of my place mat and continued. “You and I never had time to heal after we broke up. We pushed too hard to get back to being just friends and I don’t think we ever redrew that line. You loved me and I loved you and we wanted to hold onto that, maybe so badly that we lied to ourselves a little bit. We pushed too hard to get back to where we started.” 

Mariella, according to the name tag on her apron, came over with my order and I reached for my wallet. 

“Pop says it’s on the house.” 

“Then let me cover the beers.” I pushed a twenty into her hand and she smiled, pulling me close for a hug. She eyed Tom and turned back to me, insisting I keep in touch. “Of course I will!” 

“How long are you in town?” 

“A few more days. I’m cleaning out my dad’s house.” 

“You’ll let us know if you need any help? And come back, of course.” 

“I definitely will.” She squeezed my hand and slipped away, her long black hair swinging behind her. I smiled as Jack waved at me from behind the counter and moved to pick up the bag. 

“Grace-” 

“I love you Tom. I miss you. And I’m sorry I lied and cut you out. This relationship with Jamie it... it was different from the start. I know you talked to him and I appreciate that but if we’re gonna get back to where we were then things have to change.” 

He sat stoic, eyes on the side of the booth where I’d sat a moment ago, and sipped his beer. I pulled out another twenty dollar bill and tossed it on the table, squeezing his shoulder. 

“Next one’s on me. And take a cab home.” 

“I’m sorry Grace.” 

I stopped at the corner of the booth and shook my head, feeling miles away from anywhere I wanted to be. I’d laid everything out on the table and it sat heavy on the stained wood, just out of reach of both of us. We were no closer to a resolution than when I’d gotten here and I felt emotionally raw, ready to crawl into bed and cry myself to sleep.

“So am I.”

[whockeywhore]

Between Two 17.1

“Can you hand me- yeah. No, next to that. Yes. That one! One of those!” 

“A Twizzler?” 

“Whatever it’s called, can I have another?” 

“May I have another,” I chided as I held one out to him. He rolled his eyes and leaned over, pulling the licorice from my hand with a smirk. 

“My apologies, professor.” 

“Forgiven.” I kicked my feet onto the dash and sunk down, leaning my forehead against the cool glass of the window. Rural Pennsylvania flew by and busied myself counting trees until Jamie turned the radio down. 

“Can I say something?” I nodded but kept counting, up to twenty seven before he continued. “I think you should talk to him.”

I sat up and cleared my throat, reaching out to turn the heat off. The air in the cabin of his truck had suddenly become stifling and my palms began to sweat. Jamie shot me a sideways glance and rolled down my window a bit before reaching out and setting a hand on my knee. 

“I’m not trying to upset you Grace, I just... it may be one of the last times you visit Washington for awhile and I know you don’t want to leave with any bad memories.” 

“Jamie, this weekend is going to be hard enough just cleaning out my dad’s house.” 

“And I don’t want to add onto that.” 

“So don’t.” 

He clenched his jaw and sat silent for a few minutes before speaking again. “He was your best friend. For a long time.” 

“And he stabbed me in the back. And lied about it.” 

“He technically didn’t lie-” 

“A lie by omission is still a lie!” It came out louder than expected and guilt washed over me almost instantly. I set my hand on his and squeezed hard, turning to look at him. “I’m sorry honey, I didn’t mean to yell. I’m guess it’s still... fresh.” 

“It’s been three months. Aren’t you tired of being angry?” I couldn’t honestly answer him so I laced my fingers in his and squeezed hard. “He apologized to me.” 

“Pardon?” 

“He did. Explained the whole thing and apologized.” 

“When?”

“A few days ago. I kept getting calls from a number I didn’t recognize so I answered one day. He seems like a good guy that just made a mistake.” 

“A big one.” 

“He acted on emotion, Grace. How would you feel if you found out he’d been keeping a secret for what, three years? Especially someone who was as important to you as you were to him. Plus, you lied too.” 

“Technically, I never-” 

“A lie by omission is still a lie.” I shifted in my seat and he chuckled. “You get a little whiplash from your words coming back at you so fast?” 

“Shut up.”

“Will you just think about it? Please? I can tell that it’s bothering you.” 

“You’re bothering me.” I grumbled as I turned towards the window, curling up in the bucket seat and pulling my hood up. He swatted at my behind with a laugh before rubbing my hip gently, occasionally squeezing as I started to fall asleep.