*This chapter contains multimedia relevant to the plot*

(this time, I'll include a comment on each image with the transcript in case someone doesn't have internet, or there's a problem with Wattpad)

**

January 2023

Dean always needs to wire down after a game.

We usually get food on the way home, normally from the diner on our street. We eat on the couch in front of the TV with the lights dimmed down. When he starts to get sleepy, I usually poke him on the shoulder and tell him to go to bed.

This time, I was distracted.

I was looking up the results of the US Figure Skating Championship on my phone. When I looked, Dean was passed out on the couch. I try to nudge him awake gently, but he doesn't budge.

"Come on, man. You're too big to carry to bed," I mutter.

He mumbles some non-words, rubbing sleepily at his eyes before dragging himself to his room. Normally, I'd leave our mess of take-out boxes and wrapping paper on the coffee table and clean up in the morning, but we're leaving for Boston in the morning.

Once everything is cleaned up, I turn off the TV and unlock my phone. The results for the pairs category stares back at me.

I open the texting app and my thumb hovers over Liam's name. Then I stop and go into my room to press the call button instead. I don't exactly know why but I don't have time to ponder on that either.

"Hey," Liam's voice sounds from the other side of the line, drowned by the rumble of other voices. 

"Hey. Did I interrupt your victory party?"

"No," he says. I hear laughter and clinking glass on his side. "Well, yeah. But it's fine. I'm going outside so I can hear you better."

"I don't want to keep you. You probably want to celebrate."

"No, it's fi-" 

Another voice cuts him off in a cheer and I hear Liam say something back, but his mouth must be too far from the speaker to catch it. After that, the background noise seems to subside, like someone shut a door between the party and Liam.

"It's fine. I can talk now."

"Are you on the street?"

"Yeah."

"It's probably really cold."

"I need it. It's getting crowded in there."

"Where are you?"

"My parents' place."

"I guess congratulations are in order," I say. "National champion, mh?"

"Did you see?"

I can't see him right now, but I have the impression I can hear the smile in his voice. Maybe I'm just projecting what I'd like to see, though.

I clear my throat. "No. Had a game. But I've been checking it on my phone."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." I smile to myself. "Well. Congratulations."

"Thanks," he says. "That could have easily been a text, though."

I shrug, even though he can't see me. "I wanted to tell you. Out loud. I know how hard you wanted this."

"Thanks," he says again. "Are you coming home again this year?"

"Yeah, after the play-offs."

"That's good."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I miss your face."

I frown. "Are people around you right now?"

This time, I know I can hear the eye roll in his tone when he says, "You're so paranoid."

"I'm just asking."

"I just said I miss your face. That's pretty straight and platonic. I could have said I miss your dick. That would be gay. Ooor I could have said that I miss your-"

"I think I should let you get back to the party."

There's a pause.

"Don't." He sounds almost whiny.

That makes me hesitate. Because Liam kind of sounds like he may be drunk right now. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that he would be drunk. He just won first place at the national championships. He's at a party celebrating his own victory. Of course he'd be drinking.

"I don't like this party," he says after I'm silent for too long.

"Why not?"

"You're not here," he speaks softly. "A party's no fun if you're not here to let me take you home in the end."

I don't expect the twist of heat in my stomach, but it hits me all the same. I close my eyes, breathing out slowly.

"I mean it, you know. I really do miss your... everything." He laughs ruefully. "I can't stop thinking about Beijing. And all the stuff before."

I bite my lip and hold it between my teeth. I don't know what to say and, even if I did know, I wouldn't trust myself to say it.

"I think you broke me."

"You're really drunk."

"I am. On you."

I taste blood and release my lip.

"I don't mean that in a romantic way or whatever. You've actually made my brain go stupid. I can't get you out of my head. Your voice, your lips, your hands... that thing you do when you come." 

My breath hitches and I squint my eyes shut. Fuck, Liam, please shut up.

He lowers his voice, "The way you close your eyes and part your lips when I'm inside you..."

I gulp. The heat around my stomach is almost painful. I'm biting my lip again, drawing blood.

I look at my closed bedroom door a little anxiously, even though Dean's asleep and my phone is not on speaker.

"I didn't get to do that in Beijin, but I really wanted to," he continues. "It's what I think about when I'm alone." 

He stops, like he's waiting for a reaction.

"Liam." Was that meant as a warning? A threat? It doesn't sound firm enough to my ears. More like a pathetic plea.

"Don't you?"

"I need to go to bed. I have a flight in the morning."

He huffs. "I wish you'd tell me you think about Beijing too."

I sigh. "I do."

And all the stuff before too, I want to say.

It's a little problematic, in fact. That night in Beijing four months ago was huge mistake. Like relapsing after a year of sobriety.

I especially hate how right it felt. Doing something so stupid and careless should have felt wrong. Not like...

Like coming home.

"If that's true, then can we please do that again?" He asks, sounding almost urgent.

My breath comes out a little shaky. I should hang up. Go to bed. Have a full night's sleep before my flight.

Except there's no way in hell that'll happen now.

"Who says we need to stay away from each other? That was a dumb thing to do."

In this moment, with all the memories his words brought up flooding my mind, memories I so carefully stored away in a repressed corner of my brain, I want to agree. It was the dumbest thing either of us ever did.

Except I know it wasn't. This call is dumb. Talking to him is dumb. What we did in Beijing was dumb. It's all dumb and reckless. When it comes to Liam, all I seem to be capable of is recklessness.

I should hang up. My flight.

"I'm always travelling," I say lamely.

"Me too. And my dad owns a jet. Two actually, but one's always in New York for reasons."

"What are you saying?"

Asking that was dumb and reckless too. I should hang up. Right now.

"I'm saying that I'm down with being your overseas, whenever-we-can, secret booty call. If you want me."

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

I can hear him sigh. "I'm not really that drunk, Eli. I just wanted a reaction."

I close my eyes. "Fucking predictable."

"Is it?"

"I need to go to bed."

"I'll need an answer."

I hang up. 

But I don't really get a night's sleep before my flight like I should. Instead, I spend most of the night staring up at my ceiling, involuntarily replaying our phone call and swatting away all the memories that brings up to the surface.

When morning comes, I have to keep Dean focused so we're on time for our flight. That's a task that allows me to get my mind off of Liam. When we're on the plane, I try to stay zoned in on the conversation between my teammates, and eventually fall asleep.

It's when we're getting on the team bus that I get his text.

I look over to see if anyone is looking my way, casually tilting my phone to hide the screen from my teammates.

I run my tongue over my busted lip, the one I bit until it drew blood last night.

***

The fallout of their meeting in Beijing. Feelings?

Where do you think they go from here?

I'd love to know if you're enjoying these looks back into the past. How's it working for you?

Next chapter we're back in present story time with Liam and his friends. Eli will be there in spirit, but you'll get some more insights into what's up with Liam and his gang :)

Thanks for reading!