Crashing the Net by Samantha Wayland Read Free Book Online

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    “What have you got in here? Bricks?”
    “It’s all books on how to play chess.”
    Alexei winked on his way back into the hallway. “Too bad they don’t help.”
    In truth, Mike was starting to hold his own against Alexei at chess, just as he did in their debates on everything from politics to hockey, and Alexei made no secret of enjoying the challenge. Hell, sometimes he brought shit up just to get the two of them going.
    No, the only secret between Mike and his best friend was the one that ate at Mike every day. The one truth he knew he should have revealed before he moved in.
    Mike was preparing to heft one end of his couch when his phone rang, echoing loudly in the elevator. He yanked it from his pocket and grimaced.
    Home.
    Why was his parent’s house still labeled that?
    He flashed a smile at Alexei. “Just give me a sec.”
    Alexei nodded, leaned one hip against the back of the couch, and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
    Mike turned his back. “Hey, Mom.”
    “Hey, son, where are you?”
    Mike sighed. It was his father. “Hi, Dad. I’m at my new apartment. I’m sure I mentioned I was moving today?”
    “Shouldn’t you be at the gym or on the ice? The playoffs start tomorrow.”
    As if Mike weren’t perfectly aware of that fact. “We’re not done here yet. In fact, I’m right in the middle—”
    “ We?” his father asked, drawing out the word. Mike cringed. “Is it that someone special?”
    Mike looked back at Alexei and something perverse in him made him answer honestly. “Yes. It is.” Then he back peddled for all he was worth. “I mean, I’m here with a friend. Look, I have to go. We—”
    “Hey now. You can’t just drop a hint like that and not say anything else!”
    Can’t I?
    When Mike remained silent for too long, his father hooted, his tone absolutely gleeful. “ Tell me about her, Mike. What’s her name? Where did you meet—”
    Mike did something he’d never done in his life. He hung up on his father.
    Taking a deep breath, he pressed the phone to his forehead, trying to shake off the clutch of panic brought on by his father’s prying. And it was his own fucking fault anyway.
    Shit, he shouldn’t have done that. More and more, it felt like the truth he’d kept bottled up was ready to explode out of him, and he fought it for all he was worth. And now, like a fool, he’d let one gasp escape.
    Somehow that hadn’t helped relieve the pressure at all. If anything, he’d made it worse.
     
    Alexei wanted to tear the phone from Mike’s white-knuckle grip and throw it down the elevator shaft. He had no idea what the hell Mike’s father had said, but it had turned Mike milk-white, his dark eyes darting around the elevator as if searching for something.
    “You okay?”
    Mike’s head snapped up. “Sure.”
    Alexei wondered if Mike was trying to convince Alexei or himself. Wasn’t working either way. Alexei rounded the couch and stopped a few feet from Mike.
    “Look, I usually follow the rule that you shouldn’t say things about other people’s families, but I’m going to make an exception. You always seemed stressed out when you talk to them. Can’t you just…I don’t know, ignore them?”
    Mike stared at the wall. “They just want me to be happy.”
    Alexei put a hand on his arm and placed himself in Mike’s line of sight. “Seems like they kind of have the opposite effect.”
    Mike’s smile was sad. “Yeah. Well, they don’t know I’m—they don’t know me.”
    “You’re a good person, Michael. A great hockey player and a hard worker. They should be proud of you.”
    Muscles and warm skin flexed against Alexei’s fingers. Mike looked even sadder.
    “Thanks,” Mike said quietly.
    Alexei realized he was stroking Mike’s arm with his thumb and snatched his hand away. “Only the truth,” he said gruffly, returning his attention to the couch.
    “Alexei?”
    “Yeah.”
    “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
    Alexei picked