Time for the WIP closest to completion! Which is… my original novel <3 It’s about gay hockey players, of course. We are currently editing the full draft which is uhhh hard work. But so worth it! I give you: COS.
Instead, Kit asks abruptly: “Can I have a cigarette?”
Zac looks at him, seeming surprised. For a horrible moment Kit thinks Zac might say something about his cardiovascular health. He thinks, If you do I will scream. He feels like doing something stupid, something dangerous. If they’re about to rip hockey away from him, he wants to say a final fuck-you.
But: “Sure,” Zac says, and Kit gets up to join him by the window. Zac flicks open the packet for Kit to take one, and then leans in to light it for him. Kit finds himself tilting his head. Zac’s fingers are very near his mouth.
Kit has a weird thought that he doesn’t look as sophisticated with this in his mouth as Zac does.
“There you go,” Zac says softly.
Kit inhales deeply and immediately explodes into coughs. Zac bursts out laughing.
“I thought you just, like, breathed it in?” Kit gasps, feeling somehow betrayed.
Zac’s still giggling when he asks, “You’ve never done it before?” When Kit shakes his head he says, “Okay, go slowly. Hold it in your mouth. Suck. And then, like, swallow it down.”
Kit follows his instructions. His breath seems to have stuck in his throat.
Kit does. He wouldn’t say it’s pleasant, but at least it doesn’t set him off coughing this time. He takes another drag.
Zac giggles again. “God, I can’t believe I taught Baby Byrne how to smoke. Corrupting the youth.”
Kit scowls. “You are less than four years older than me,” he points out.
Zac grins and lets that one go. “So, what d’you think?” he asks.
Kit breathes in again, breathes out again. “I think I like it,” he admits.
“Tempted to take it up properly?” Zac asks.
“Probably not a good idea for a hockey player, eh,” Kit says.
Zac hums in acknowledgement. He turns back to the window and looks out at the lights of LA. Kit looks too; and maybe it’s just the margarita talking, but a weird sense of peace washes over him. Even if everything is about to fall apart, it’s nice just standing here next to Zac.