Chapter 104 104

Chapter 104 104
Denis barrels out of the backdoor laughing, Dylan’s phone in her hand.

“Honey, if you don’t take your phone now, I think those old women will sit there for hours.”

“Old?!” he hears his grandma scowl through the phone but she looks happier than Dylan thinks he’s ever seen. 

“Sooooo, how do you feel about Chicago?”

“I’m wondering when my flight is and how many weeks I’ll get with my baby boy before you head off to New York again?”

Henry smiles warmly at him before leaning over Dylan’s shoulder to address his grandma, “We can have a company ready to pack and ship your belongings this weekend and a flight booked as soon as Monday. All we have to do is sign the leasing documents, which my wife will take care of entirely.” She claps her hands together while Dylan laughs,

“Andre has to go back to campus a week earlier than I do for captain duties with Daniel. So you’ll get two weeks with both of us and one week with just me.”

Dylan tries to pretend he doesn’t feel Andre’s parents eyes on him…he knows they’re probably as shocked as he feels at the fact that he isn’t going back to campus with Andre.

It was his plan originally…but if she’s going to be here, it feels selfish to rush off when Andre is going to be tied up that entire week anyway.

“I can’t wait! Let me know what I need to do or…”

“I will, we’ll figure out all of the details and I’ll call you tonight.”

The warm arms that wrap around his shoulders as they walk back through the house makes Dylan’s throat swell.

He can’t believe this is happening… he can’t believe life can be this good.

Daniel has been craving a specific hotdog for awhile now and Andre promised to go with him soon ‘soon’ ends up being today because something was off about Daniel their entire practice.

Andre tried helping him shake it off but nothing worked and even though he’s dying to get home and hear all about Dylan’s morning…Andre has to put being a friend first right now. 

Damn, life is full of tough choices.

They take a small table in the very back of the restaurant and when Daniel picks anxiously at their receipt, waiting for the number to be called Andre can’t take it anymore.

“Dan, what’s wrong?” 

“This is gonna sound so stupid….”

“hit me with it anyway”

Their number is called before he can. Daniel gets the tray of their food while Andre grabs condiments and napkins. 

Once seated Daniel groans, “why do I always fall for people harder than they fall for me?”

“what are you talking about?” Andre shakes his head 

“Xaden worships the ground you walk on.” Daniel bites into his hotdog aggressively.

Andre doesn’t have the heart to tell him there’s mustard all over his chin. 

“he has a funny fuckin’ way of showing it”

“You're gonna tell me what happened? or grumble angrily until there’s no food left to inhale?”

Andre extends a napkin across the table with a soft smile, "I know things have been rough, but you were all smiles the other day after training.”

“i got an email today that he put in a request to change our housing assignment.” oh.well fuck. 

Andre’s face must show all of the things he was planning on not saying because Daniel gnaws on his lip, "It’s over, huh?”

“Did you try to call or text?” Daniel slides his phone across the table, the text boxes changing from blue at the top, to the bottom four being green has Andre cringing. 

“damn, what the fuck. what happened, Dan?”

“Those guys were giving him shit and he can’t shake it off. We got into a pretty big fight overmit because he said he really cares about his future in hockey and doesn’t want to fuck himselfnover by people thinking he was sleeping with the team captain for more ice time.”

Daniel looks so defeated, “but I don't think that's what it is. I think he just decided he doesn't like me anymore and was using that as a shit ass excuse to ghost me. this is so fucked.” but Andre just doesn’t get it. 

He has the texts to prove how Xaden feels about Daniel.

although he doesn’t think those messages from weeks ago will hold any weight now. 

And Andre can’t get involved, it’s really not his place. 

But even their relationship aside, animosity between a captain and likely someone on a starting line isn’t ideal.

“I dunno, just fuck it all” Daniel wipes his hands on his thighs but he looks so sad. 

He didn't even look this sad back when all of their chaotic shit went down, likely because what Daniel  and Xaden shared was a lot more than text messages and occasional hangouts.Andre offers a sympathetic smile, 

“Look, I'm no love doctor. But something doesn’t add up, Dan. Xaden wouldn’t just wake up one day without feelings for you anymore. I think you should talk to him. even if it has to wait until we’re at school.”

When they reach his house for Daniel to drop Andre off….he just can’t let his friend wallow like this. 

“You wanna come inside? it’s been awhile but I can dig out the PlayStation.”

Daniel seems to hesitate. Likely not wanting to be a third wheel ... .but he throws his car in park anyway, “yeah, I'm in.”

It was Denis and her mom’s idea to go buy new curtains to liven up the townhome for his grandma. 

Dylan didn’t realize it would turn into another face-time call and way too much money spent at a home goods store.

you’d think they were the ones moving in.

Henry finally puts his foot down just before dinner time and Dylan is so relieved when they're in the car. 

Denis had to drive separately to go pick up Hyeri from day camp. 

Leaving Dylan and Haejin responsible for making dinner happen.

It’s only once they have three pizzas in the backseat that Dylan realizes he only got a couple sporadic texts from Andre today. 

he’s trying not to be too obvious about his pouting but Haejin must notice because he chuckles softly, “saw Daniel’s car on the door camera, seems like he and Dre are hanging out at the house think three pizzas is gonna be enough??”

Dylan feels a bit of relief knowing Andre is home safe, “too late now, let’s hope it is.”

Their split efforts get home at the same time. Haejin’s got one foot holding open the front door with the pizzas in his arms, as Dylan helps Denis carry in the countless bags of items she bought that were not for his grandma’s place.

Hyeri of course sprints past them all. 

Squealing and jumping at Daniel as soon as she’s inside. 

Andre drops the controller to the sofa and is up taking bags from Dylan’s arms instantly, “why didn’t you tell me to come help?”

“because I'm more than capable.” he glares but smiles anyway when Andre kisses his cheek. 

“thanks though. I think there's a few more if you wanna help your mom.” Andre drops what he’s already grabbed to the open chair and heads right outside.

Daniel waves at him but the smile he gives isn’t genuine. 

Dylan tries not to think too much about it when he helps Henry fill plates with pizza. The dining table fills up quickly.

Dylan wasn’t going to say anything,already moving towards the seat by Haejin when Hyeri gasps, “Dan!!! Dylan is gonna get sooooo mad if you stay in his seat.”

“oh.” Daniel’s face burns bright red. 

Dylan scowling at Hyeri who smiles innocently, "It doesn’t have my name on it, anyone can sit there”

Andre seems to find it hilarious, “awww don’t worry baby, there’s plenty of me to go around" and Dylan doesn’t even have to punch him because Denis' hand pops the back of Andre’s head so hard he drops the pizza from his hand.

“stop being a brat.”

After dinner, Dylan takes a long shower. Comfortable in his go-to pajamas…he stops at the hallway. backtracking to throw the first sweatshirt he finds in their closet on. if they’re going to be hanging out all night maybe not making things awkward is a good start.

Dylan is content curled up on the two seater by himself. 

He’s honestly exhausted from all of the socializing he did this morning, so bundling up under a soft blanket and watching those two meatheads play video games is kind of nice.

But then Andre is in front of the tv, connecting another controller and dropping it to his lap. "I don’t know how to play.” 

“aww, you won’t be able to hustle me this time then.”

Andre winks before sitting back on the couch. he blows a playful air kiss Dylan’s way as the game lobby loads. and it’s true that

Dylan didn’t know how to play but he caught on quickly and when their end of round scores tally up, he kicked Andre and Daniel’s asses with flying colors. oops.

Daniel runs off to the bathroom and Andre straddles Dylan’s waist as soon as they’re alone cinched brows and pouted lips. 

Dylan can’t help the way he cackles nose scrunched as Andre’s fingers dig into his sides.

“stop!”

“no! you hustled me again!”

This being tickled makes Dylan fall over, laughing obnoxiously as Andre holds him down. 

"Im going to need your resume Dylanie. You're holding out on me.” 

"I would never! It's an easy concept babe. load the weapon, find the opponent, shoot.”

they fall off onto the floor and when Andre’s hands pin his wrists above his head,bDylan’s laughter dies off almost instantly that mouth against his own is dizzying.  

A kiss good morning is the most contact he’s had with Andre all day …nowhere near enough.

Andre tries to stop kissing him, he does. But as soon as he lets go of his wrists, Dylan’s fingers curl into the collar of his shirt. tugging Andre right back and kissing him harder, “missed you today”

“I always miss you.” Andre groans softly, grabbing the glasses off of Dylan’s face and moving them out of his damn way. 

Andre guides them both up off of the ground, horizontal is not good right now. they need to be vertical. 

There's no sound of water running yet so Daniel isn’t coming back out.

Dylan refuses to let out the whine that bubbles when Andre tugs at his hair.

The noise of a door unlocking has them springing apart. 

Dylan back on the two seater with the blanket wrapped all the way around his body trying not to stare too hard at Andre’s red cheeks and even redder lips.

Daniel flops onto the couch and claps his hands together, “alright, this next round is mine assholes.” and it does end up being his round because Dylan doesn’t realize he never put his glasses back on until it’s over.

Several rounds later, they’re all yawning and drained. 

Dylan, in his sleepy haze, locks eyes with Andre and feels his stomach twist into knots.

He's ready for bed. beyond ready and Daniel is too when he stretches but it’s really late. much later than they thought.

“you know my mom will be pissed if you drive home this late, we’ve got practice in the morning anyway. just crash in the spare room. I'll toss you some clothes for the morning.”

Daniel doesn’t argue, only nods through his yawn mumbling a quiet “thanks”

Dylan’s eye roll when Andre comes back to their bedroom after taking Daniel's clothes has his boyfriend laughing, “what’s wrong, baby?” soft thumb on his cheek.

“one night with our friend didn’t kill you, did it?”

“no of course not” but he huffs, tugging Andre close and groaning into his neck, “but the spare room is way too close to ours….” those hands on his waist are rough when Andre kisses him, “ahh…sweet thing doesn’t know how to be quiet, huh?”

He whispers a half hearted, “you’re so mean” into the kiss. “to you?” Andre smirks

“never.” Dylan doesn’t get to utter another word before Andre ties a scarf around that mouth and gives his baby exactly what he’s so desperate for.