“Yeah. Zucchini and yellow squash? There are cherry tomatoes in the fridge, and I’ll make a grilled salad with the veg.” Sky looked so…relaxed. He hadn’t seen that before with Parker here, the confidence.
“Come on, we have our marching orders.” He waved at Parker and went inside in search of veggies, which he put out on the counter with two knives and cutting boards. “So how’s your season going?”
“Good. Not great, but good. I managed to break a finger, but that’s all. Made the finals, and that’s the important part.” Parker cut the top of the zucchini off. “Skyler did too, you know. He qualified.”
“He didn’t tell me. Good for him. He’s done, though.” Beck wasn’t surprised, Sky had always been good. It was a bummer to go out that way, but Sky was definitely out.
“Still, he’s a two-time champ. The league is going to ask him to come.”
That made all the little hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “Like I said, Parker, he hasn’t mentioned it. Maybe he’s not interested.”
“Maybe…” Parker didn’t sound sure at all.
He put his knife down. “Or what?”
“Nothing. Nothing, dude. Nothing.” Parker wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Nothing? Bullshit.“You started this. Out with it.”
“He’s got sponsors, man. Fans. He can’t just not go. He’s a past champ.”
Was Parker trying to start something, or was he just a dumbass twentysomething kid that didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut?
No one had to go anywhere without a contract that said so. There was no way Sky was intending to go to finals—he’d have brought it up by now. Either Sky didn’t know he was expected, which seemed unlikely given how sure Parker was, or he didn’t care and he’d already decided to sit it out.
One way or the other, Parker wasn’t going to get between them again. No fucking way.
He didn’t have anything to say to Parker, so he picked up his knife and went back to cutting zucchini.
Parker sighed softly. “I’m gonna take these to Skyler.”
He looked up sharply but held back his warning. He knew where this was going. Parker would go out there looking mopey and they’d have a conversation about finals…and tomorrow he’d be buying fucking plane tickets. But if he told Parker not to say anything, and Sky found that out? He’d be in deep shit with his husband.
But if Sky had already made plans to go, and he didn’t know about them…
He wasn’t even going to finish that thought. It wasn’t possible. Not anymore. Not this Sky.
20
“I’m going to head out, man. I can’t stay here.”
“You’re not going to stay for a couple days?” What the fuck had happened in there?
“Nope. I want to go.”
“Okay.”Dammit.Sky looked at Parker, and the kid was serious. “Take my truck. I’ll keep the extra keys and come get it when you fly out.” He leaned against the deck rail. “You sure? You’re welcome here.”
“No, Skyler. I’m really not.” Parker held one hand out to shake. “I’ll grab my shit and go.”
“Call me. I’ll come and we’ll have lunch or something.”
“I will. Bye, cowboy.”
“See ya.” He stood there as Parker went back inside, not sure what the hell had happened in there. Had Parker made a pass? Had Beck been a bitch?
Half a minute later, Parker came back through the sliding doors with Beck on his heels.
“Sit.” Beck pointed to a deck chair and Parker…sat. Then Beck handed him a plate. “Veggies.”