He ignored the glares Allen was giving him and kept his eyes on the icy roads. Jake lived in one of the new penthouse apartments in downtown Halifax, a property that belonged to his father, which he had been given the task of managing to ‘gain experience’. The job wasn’t so bad; it was a lot of delegating anddealing with insurance companies, lawyers, and construction contract workers, but it kept him busy when Riley was gone all day for training camp.
He thought Allen might be less speechless when he pulled into the parking garage of a building instead of amansion, but if anything, he seemed even more shocked.
“You really are loaded, aren’t you?” he asked, staring up at the parking lot ceiling.
Jake wasn’t sure what concrete and visible pipes gave away, but the conversation wasn’t helped when one of the parking assistant guys came over to take his keys. Jake requested the things in his trunk to be brought up, and the man nodded, saying a polite goodbye as he got to work.
The building didn’t have the usual valet parking outside due to the lack of space on cramped city streets, but Allen still seemed weirded out. He was silent until they were in the elevator, and Allen slumped against the wall.
“I can’t believe you just let him take your car and touch your stuff. I know that’s a thing, but I’m a pessimist, and I would assume the worst about letting someone drive my vehicle.”
Jake was pretty sure Allen didn’t own one, but he didn’t think he was being literal.
“They get paid too well to bother stealing anything,” said Jake. “And there are cameras everywhere, so they would get caught and end up arrested if they did.”
Allen looked up at him, gorgeous brown eyes blinking slowly, reminding Jake of a wary cat.
“Shouldn’t you be marrying an heiress or something?” Allen asked, sounding…off. “I’m not trying to belittle myself or anything, it’s just that we’re from two very different worlds, and I feel stupid for walking around with my mouth open all the time.”
Jake furrowed his brows, already hating how uncomfortable Allen was. “You put up with me asking questions about your world. Why do you feel like you can’t do the same with me?”
Allen gave a standoffish shrug. “Things are basic with me; I have a job to afford food and rent. I’m not saying that I’m not willing to put in the work for this relationship, I just don’t want to end up annoying you if I don’t understand something.”
Frowning, Jake closed the distance between them and folded himself around Allen’s small frame. “I want to marry for love, not convenience. Ask your questions and react how you want. Don’t overthink things.”
Allen scoffed and pushed against him, making Jake loosen his hold. “Says the overthinker. And I haven’t said yes to your random proposal—I’ve barely acknowledged the incident, so don’t go pushing your luck, pal.”
Jake grinned because he knew that, but he didn’t think it would take much to sway Allen toward saying yes.
The elevator doors opened when they reached the top floor, and Jake reluctantly pulled away from the hug to take the lead. He held Allen’s hand as they entered the hallway, and the need to explain things overwhelmed him to the point he couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“The top floor holds the conference room as well as my office,” said Jake, gesturing to the glass panes surrounding a room with a large table and enough chairs to seat fifty people. “My father uses this space for meetings he wants me involved in, because he knows I’m not comfortable with going to places I’m unfamiliar with.”
Allen’s hand tightened around his. “Oh, so you work from home?”
The urge to shrug was overwhelming, but communication called for a deeper explanation. “I don’t work in the traditional sense. I run a few projects my father gives me, and I shadow himto learn the ropes, but I don’t have a schedule. That’s how I can still play hockey and manage the family business.”
Allen nodded and glanced up at him. “Thanks for explaining. Here I thought you were living off your dad’s money and goofing around because you were always over my place.”
Jake admittedly had been slacking, but now that Allen was officially his boyfriend, he could stop coming on so strong and give the relationship time to breathe. Unless—Allenwantedto move fast, which would be fine by him.
“Riley has hockey, and I have real estate,” Jake stated simply. “We both work our fair share, and with Dad buying into the new Halifax team, I’m about to be handed a lot more responsibility.”
Allen didn’t respond, but Jake caught the nervous nibbling on his bottom lip, and anxiety slowly crept back into his chest.
Was it too much? Did Allen not like the idea of him working all the time?
“Your building is like…a five-minute walk from my job,” Allen said finally, adding nothing else.
Jake waited, but other than a blush and a furious headshake, Allen remained silent.
Alright then.
He brought them to the end of the hall and turned the corner to where the small entryway to his place was hidden, deceivingly plain despite what awaited them through the doors. Jake had his keycard out and was about to swipe it when Allen spoke again.
“And your dad better find himself a new heir, because you’re going to play in the NHL with Riley, too.”
The certainty in Allen’s tone had him pausing—processing. But then Jake smiled and unlocked the door to his home, gesturing Allen inside.