Rocking Thin Ice

by Z. Allora

  Blaze needed to stop thinking there was something special between them. Enjoy what time they had and stop expecting more was the smart thing to do. He should be careful about overstepping, so he’d back off. “Got it.”

  “I really need a break. I like focusing only on the present moment.” Those were the words Drake used, but Blaze heard them as the ticking down of their relationship, which made sense….

  Right. Blaze needed to stay in the present moment and not think about the future. He hated he had allowed himself to feel too much for Drake and now he kept getting ahead of himself to being alone again. He would do without—he’d be fine.

  Drake glanced over at him. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing. I’m just tired.” Blaze adjusted Drake’s cell to silent mode and turned on his road-trip playlist.

  Drake began to sing in his deep baritone.

  Fuck it. Here and now is all they had, so Blaze decided to enjoy it. He couldn’t resist the pull, and soon they were belting out everything from happy ’50s songs to heavy metal ballads together.

  AT LUNCH, Blaze pulled out the chair for Drake and then waited for his chair to be pulled out before he sat. Drake didn’t comment, though he gave him a pleased smile, which made Blaze’s heart do a Bonaly.

  After they ordered, Blaze’s phone vibrated, drawing his attention to the screen. He rolled his eyes.

  “What?” Drake asked.

  “I keep getting questions about our relationship status, especially after I posted the butterfly and our two hands together.” He wiped his hands on his jeans and took a sip of water.

  “Oh, so you haven’t changed your relationship status?”

  “I did.” How to get off this conversation path before he crashed.

  Shrugging, Drake said, “I thought we agreed we were boyfriends, so what’s the problem?”

  “People asking stupid questions—”

  “Like?” Drake tilted his head and studied Blaze like he was a puzzle with a piece missing.

  Blaze swallowed hard and shrugged. “Like how serious we are.” A bizarre need to scream “He’s mine now and always!” made Blaze choke on his water. Where the fuck did that come from? “Um, yeah… I said we’re just having fun.”

  “Oh… okay. Whatever you’re comfortable saying.” Drake’s calm grated on Blaze’s nerves.

  How could he be so serene? He’d be going back on tour soon and leaving Blaze behind as a nice memory.

  Fuck, that hurt way more than it should. Blaze rubbed his hand over his heart. This was why he had always sidestepped entanglements and never considered coupledom.

  Drake turned to him, and their gazes locked. So many emotions swirled across his face, Blaze was relieved when a small smile settled. “You okay? Anything you want to talk about?”

  What could he possibly say? Drake’s silence on the news spoke volumes. Blaze grabbed Drake’s hand and lied, “Nah, I’m fine.”

  “I’M GOING to pull into that rest stop and grab a soda.” Drake pointed to the sign.

  “Sounds good. I’ll also take the final leg into Philadelphia, because you know I don’t do navigation.”

  Drake snorted. “You did fine.”

  “I told you to go down a one-way street in Iowa Falls.” Blaze enjoyed driving but not navigation duty.

  Pulling into the empty lot of the rather upscale Welcome Center, Drake parked closest to the vending machines. Drake turned off the car, handed Blaze the keys, and hopped out. “What kind do you want?”

  “Diet Sprite if they have it or a water.” Blaze slid out of the car to stretch. He locked the doors.

  Drake HOLLERED back from the machine, “Both are out.”

  He meandered over. “Hmm, I guess I’ll take a diet peach Snapple. I’ve never had one of those.”

  Drake punched in the number.

  Before Blaze could collect the bottles, he found himself pressed against a wall, which gave them a little privacy from the lot.

  Drake whispered in his ear, “You know what else you haven’t had?”

  Going from flaccid to wood in seconds bent Blaze’s mind. He hadn’t been this constantly horny since… ever. He tried to sound sexy, but instead his voice broke. “What?”

  “Me. You’ve never had me.”

  Red alert! Duck and avoid.

  He craved everything Drake offered, but his twisted mind rebelled with apprehension and wouldn’t let him have what he wanted. He headed to safer ground where there was still a lot to enjoy.

  “Um, but I noticed there were woods out back. No one’s here this early on a weekday. I know you’ve had a hand job in the woods, but how about a blowjob?”

  Drake studied him a bit too closely and then sighed. “Only if you want one too.”

  “Deal.” Blaze kept their pace slow as they ambled past the empty picnic area to a well-worn path….

  THE PINKS and oranges of dawn were beginning to color Philadelphia’s skyline, and there wasn’t a soul in sight.

  “Come on!” Drake pointed to the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

  Laughing, they began sprinting up the stairs until Blaze couldn’t resist and took off at a run. The concrete was solid under his pounding feet, but in truth he was flying.

  Joy and elation had always been connected with skating, but now halfway up the stairs, he glanced over his shoulder and found Drake eight steps behind him. He shifted directions and ran the steps backward so he could keep Drake in his sight.

  “Show-off,” Drake gasped.

  “Catch me if you can,” Blaze teased.

  Drake took the steps two at a time, and when he got to the top, he grabbed Blaze and swung him in a circle. “Gotcha!”

  “You did.” Blaze felt like he was in a movie. He pressed his mouth to Drake’s and gave in to everything that admission meant.

  Rocky be damned!

  Now if only Drake had wanted to keep him.

  Chapter 13

  “THIS PREWEDDING do is much fancier than I expected,” Blaze whispered to Drake as he took in the white tent and tables and chairs, all overlooking the grand expanse of beach carrying in the fresh ocean air. “Thanks for having me take a sports jacket in addition to my suit.”

  Blaze would have been mortified as he gawked at all the well-dressed people. This event felt more like an international skating-sponsored event, rather than a prewedding brunch—though Blaze hadn’t been to any weddings.

  “Prewedding brunch in Connecticut.” Drake said it like Blaze had any idea what that meant.

  Drake scanned the crowd. He nodded at several people engaged in conversation but kept guiding Blaze through the crowd with a hand on his lower back.

  “Oh, there’s Mom and Dad. Come on, let me introduce you.” Drake pointed out a handsome couple wearing coordinating colors. The man’s shirt under his charcoal jacket matched the woman’s royal blue dress.

  Blaze gasped as terror flooded him. “Wait. What, now? I’m meeting your parents?”

  Did Drake not get the memo? Blaze wasn’t exactly a meet-the-parents kind of a guy. Why would Drake even think he was the sort of man parents wanted to meet? How did Blaze not know Drake would expect him to meet his parents?

  “Don’t say it like I’ve tricked you.” Drake grabbed Blaze’s hand and gave a quick smile, but his words were laced with concern.

  Well, too late now. The couple rushed over like birds homing in on their wayward chick.

  “Drake, honey. It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you.” The woman enveloped him in a hug, forcing him to let go of Blaze’s hand.

  Blaze could escape.

  A familiar ache made Blaze’s heart throb. Usually he only got this particular salt in his gaping wound around Mother’s Day, but Drake’s mom made the typically controlled longing spring to life. She even smelled flowery and safe like the memories he had of his own mother.

  “Oh, and the lip ring works for your rock-star image.” His mother touched the silver ring gently.

  Well, Drake’
s lip ring worked for Blaze too… probably for different reasons.

  As soon as Drake broke free from his mom, the guy who looked like an older version of Drake with shorter hair nabbed him into a backslapping man grab. “Glad you’re home, son.”

  When Drake stepped back, he captured Blaze’s hand again, cutting off any hope of Blaze heading for the hills. “I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Blaze Parker.”

  Boyfriend? Temporarily….

  Blaze clamped his mouth shut, pasted on a smile, and awaited judgment. This felt ten times more intense than the kiss and cry.

  Drake’s mother smiled at him, then grinned at her son. Returning her focus onto Blaze, she said, “So you’re the reason it’s only been quick texts and vague answers. I know all about you.”

  Drake’s sputtering didn’t really provide more information.

  She waved her son off. “How could I not notice those pictures Blaze posted on social media tagging you, and that Blaze’s relationship status had changed?”

  Blaze held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Keys.”

  She bypassed the offered handshake and tugged him into a hug. “Call me Julia. Thank you for making Drake’s smile reach his eyes.”

  What did one say to a grateful mother? “Um….”

  “I’m Drake’s dad. Call me Matthew.” The older version of Drake treated Blaze to a less smacky version of a man hug.

  Mrs.—Julia cupped his chin for a moment. “No lip ring. That’s probably good. You might get tangled with each other. Though I don’t think either of you would mind.”

  “Mom!”

  Julia chuckled. She waved off Drake’s embarrassed plea and asked with an intensity that couldn’t be missed even if one would rather not look, “Will you be staying with us after the wedding, Blaze?”

  “Um….” Blaze didn’t know where to focus. He couldn’t stare at Drake, because they had purposefully avoided numerous conversations about anything beyond the wedding. There were too many things to resolve that seemed to have no solution other than goodbye.

  He couldn’t meet Mrs. Keys—Julia’s—hopeful gaze.

  Somehow he had a rock star for a boyfriend. That was overwhelming and quite enough. He didn’t know what would happen next.

  “Mom, we’re not sure where we’re going to head next. As soon as we figure it out, I’ll let you know.” Drake to the rescue with the truth.

  A rescue but still not much hope for a future between them? However, the we did sound kind of nice. And this might be one of those boyfriend things he’d never really experienced… or expected to.

  She smiled at Blaze and combed Drake’s long hair over his shoulder. “Of course, dear. You let us know when you figure out your plans… all of them. I’m curious about—”

  Drake’s father tapped his mother on the shoulder. “Let’s not worry about that until after the wedding. There’s Isaiah and Sam. Honey, I told them you’d speak with them about that opening in your department.”

  “Certainly.” She nodded to her husband. “We’ll see you boys later.”

  Mr. Keys—Matthew—led his wife toward the two men, but not before throwing a wink over his shoulder at Blaze.

  Blaze turned to Drake and didn’t know what to say.

  Giving him a sheepishly sexy smile, Drake said, “See, that wasn’t so—”

  “Drake, my man.” A guy with a passing resemblance to Will Smith when he sported his close-trimmed goatee sauntered over. He gave Drake a combo handshake chest bump with a man hug chaser.

  “Tay! Good to see you, buddy.” Drake tapped him on the arm and said, “Dude, how much have you been working out?”

  “Hey, the ladies love it.” Taylor smirked at Drake, making a dimple come out, then turned his attention to Blaze. “You must be Blaze Parker.”

  “That’s me.” Blaze happily settled for Taylor’s nonbruising handshake.

  “I’m your man’s best friend. So if you need dirt, let me know. I’ve got a bunch of shovels and piles of facts,” Taylor offered with a smirk.

  Blaze snorted, feeling instantly at ease with the man. “I’ll remember that.”

  Drake adjusted the collar of his shirt.

  Taylor stopped him and pulled the neck of Drake’s shirt to the side, revealing a ring of hickeys Blaze’d had a very good time making. “What’s with the bouquet of love bites?”

  Drake pulled away, and his face had gone bright red.

  Taylor glanced at Blaze. “You part vampire?”

  “Maybe.” Blaze chuckled. He couldn’t help it.

  Pointing a finger at Taylor, Drake said, “Hey, I’ve seen women after they’ve dated you. Between the beard burn and the hickeys—”

  “Nah, man. Blaze, don’t listen to Drake. I’m a real lady pleaser.” Taylor rubbed his hand over his close-clipped curls and flashed a sinful grin that Blaze believed would work on any woman Taylor set his gaze on.

  Blaze liked this guy. “I’m sure you are. So can I ask you an important question?”

  “Yes, I’m trans.” Taylor studied Blaze.

  Didn’t see that coming. “Oh, um, okay. Thank you for sharing. But my important question was, can I get you a drink?”

  Taylor snorted. “What?”

  “Hey, I just met this guy’s parents, and now I’m with his best friend. Don’t know about you, but I need some fortification. Stress is my middle name right now.” Blaze rarely drank, but he could stand to loosen up.

  Drake folded his arms over his chest and glared at Taylor. “I know you use gender as a fucked-up litmus test to determine good and bad people, but maybe add some other markers to the examination?”

  Taylor rolled his eyes. “Oh, do shut up, Drake. Blaze, I’d love a sex on the beach.”

  Blaze held his hand out in front of him. “Dude, I didn’t ask for your wishes and dreams list, only your drink order.”

  “Hee-hee. Fair enough. Though I like it sweet, so that’s what I drink… too.” Taylor wrapped an arm around Drake’s shoulder and declared, “I like him. You’ve got good taste in men.”

  Blaze caught Drake’s eye before his boyfriend could go off on the rant he appeared poised to do and asked, “And whatever’s on tap for you?”

  Drake grabbed his hand and kissed the knuckles. “Thank you.”

  Maybe it was cowardly, but Blaze didn’t stick around for the ribbing Taylor was under the bro code obligated to give Drake.

  Blaze tipped the bartender a twenty, so hopefully the man would be generous with the alcohol. He was.

  Blaze carried the three drinks back and held out Taylor’s drink. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks. Oh, you like sex on the beach too?” Taylor accepted his and pointed to Blaze’s drink.

  “Do we know each other well enough to exchange these kinds of preferences?” Blaze snarked.

  “Yeah, we do through Drake. Though sex on the beach….” Taylor grimaced. “Man, the sand gets everywhere.”

  Drake shook his head. “Don’t encourage him.”

  “Who?” both Blaze and Taylor asked.

  Doing his best glare, which, oddly, reminded Blaze of his puppy when Ice attempted to act tough around bigger dogs, Drake snapped, “Either of you. I can see you both need adult supervision.”

  Taylor gently elbowed Blaze in the ribs. “Where do you think he’s going to find that?”

  “No clue. I’m not from around here,” Blaze added.

  Drake shook his head but raised his beer. “To the happy couple.”

  Blaze and Taylor clinked glasses with each other, then with Drake.

  “Oh, I did not tell Jasmine who your plus-one was.” Taylor leaned in. “And little sister’s been so busy pulling the wedding together and getting ready for grad school, I don’t think she’s up on her social media.”

  “Speaking of the bride….” Drake pointed across the lawn at the giggling, squealing woman in a yellow dress, running toward them—handcuffed to a nice-looking guy in a yellow polo shirt and cargo shorts.

  “Drake!�
�� She leaped into Drake’s arms and held him close even as her handcuffed partner twisted and turned to give her maximum movement. “Drake!”

  He gave her a big kiss on the cheek. “Jazzy Jasmine. Are you ready to get marriaged?”

  Her smile and eyes sparkled as she glanced toward her prisoner. “Absolutely. I love him with all my heart.”

  Taylor might have grumbled, “You’re too young,” but Blaze couldn’t be sure.

  Drake fist-bumped the guy she was handcuffed to. “Good to see you again.”

  She jumped off Drake, dragging her fiancé with her. “Taylor, shut—Blaze Parker?”

  “Yup.” Drake chuckled.

  She elbowed Drake and pointed at Blaze. “No, seriously. Is this a joke? You found a double of Blaze Parker as a wedding present?”

  “Nope. That is Blaze Parker. He’s my plus-one.”

  She put a hand on her hip and glared. The wind blew her midnight waves, making her look more like a goddess than anyone’s little sister. “Yeah, right. Sex-on-ice at my prewedding brunch? Tell me another.”

  Sex-on-ice? Blaze squirmed under the weight of her curiosity.

  Drake put a finger to her mouth. “Jazzy, he’s standing right there.”

  Her fiancé held out his hand to Blaze. “I’m William Jones.”

  Blaze shook it, glad of something to do. “Congratulations, William.”

  William didn’t bother to hold back his smirk when he asked, “So should I call you Sex or Mr. Ice?”

  Chuckling, Blaze replied, “Blaze will be fine.”

  Jasmine’s face twisted into a grimace, and she smacked Drake’s middle. “Wait! That’s really him?”

  “Ow. Yeah, I just said he was.” Drake held his stomach and frowned at her.

  “Oh! My! God!” She spun away from the group, dragging William with her.

  William stopped her retreat, put his forehead to hers, and talked softly to her.