Like real People Do by E.L. Massey

Author:E.L. Massey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, contemporary, gay, interracial, new adult, sports, ice hockey, uni student, ice skating, professional athlete, slow burn, rivals/enemies to lovers, physical disability, anxiety disorder, in the closet, coming out, service dog, cooking/foodies, Louboutin devotion, stanning, friends to lovers, social media, vlogging, hashtags
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2022-07-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

CODY MEETS ELI at the baggage claim, and Eli tackles him.

Legitimately tackles him.

They end up sprawled on what is undoubtedly a disgusting floor with Hawk jumping excitedly around them, trying to lick Cody’s face. Which Eli probably shouldn’t allow since her vest is still on, but he’s lost all sense of decorum, and it seems only fair that Hawk gets a temporary pass as well.

It’s cold, colder than Eli was prepared for, but Cody is dressed even less appropriately for the weather in shorts and a hoodie and flipflops and god, he’s such a bro. But he looks happy. Comfortable with himself in a way he never seemed at home. It makes Eli want to hug him. So he does.

Cody talks at him nonstop while they wait for Eli’s checked bag, and then he leads Eli to the parking garage, where he unlocks a very large, very new, very shiny black pickup truck.

Eli whistles. “Nice truck. You get a sugar daddy and not tell me?”

“Oh, it’s James’s. I was going to borrow Muzz’s car, but it’s a coupe, and James thought there’d be more room for Hawk if I took his truck instead.”

“Did he.”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to infer with that tone, Elijah, but if you want cookies…”

“You’ll make me whatever kind I want regardless. Don’t play. You missed me.”

“I did. So much.”

Cody looks like he might get a little teary, which Eli cannot handle after the morning he’s had, so he punches him lightly on the shoulder and moves to get Hawk settled in the back seat.

“Now,” Cody says once they’ve started driving. “The boys are really excited to meet you, and I’ve told them to take it easy, but they’ll probably still overwhelm you a little. Don’t worry though. They’re big and loud, but they’re all sweethearts.”

“You realize I spend time with professional hockey players on a near-daily basis now. I think I can handle an NCAA team.”

“Sure you can,” Cody says placatingly. “Just wanted to warn you.”

Cody’s concern is sweet, Eli thinks, but at this point, completely unnecessary.

It’s only a twenty-minute drive, and Eli had planned to let Cody talk for most of it (Lord knows the boy can talk). But Cody asks him a couple innocent questions about Alex, and the next thing he knows, he’s ranting about his unfair eyes and how his weird fixation on internet quizzes should not be cute.

“Internet quizzes?” Cody prompts.

“YES. And not even the normal ones like Harry Potter houses. Weird ones. Like ‘Could you live through the Oregon Trail?’ and ‘What would your Victorian minstrel name be?’ And his teammates send him links to more and more obscure ones all the time because they all know he’ll take them because for some reason he will just have to find out what sort of breakfast cereal he would be. It’s so stupid.”

He says “stupid” with a degree of fondness that is a little embarrassing.

Cody is judging him quietly, bottom lip tucked between his teeth.

“Yes, thank you,” Eli says.

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