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Neil Josten wasn’t the first person to attract Andrew Minyard. Of course, the redhead knew that after hearing the way Nicky gasped when he caught signs of ‘them’ and blurted how Andrew was never like that with the people he hooked up with in the past.
Not that Neil had ever made any problems with it or anything, it was just a sudden realization. Because it was the same with Andrew not being Neil’s first kiss.
“If you continue to work that brain of yours to death, you won’t be any use for Kevin this season.”
Neil turned his head, meeting Andrew’s gaze as the blonde scooped a spoonful of his double chocolate ice cream and shoved it into his mouth. Had he been thinking so obviously? Neil shook his head, scooting closer to Andrew, leaving a comfortable gap between them.
“I wasn’t aware I could work my brain to death,” he smirked slightly, eyeing the cold dessert with a gaze close to disgust.
“Exy related? Sure you can. Common sense and knowledge? Highly doubt it.” Andrew paid no mind to Neil's snicker, continuing to chew on his ice cream like it was the only thing that mattered. “So? What were you thinking about?”
“Nothing important,” Neil shrugged, earning a nod when he glanced at Andrew for permission to rest his head on the goalie’s shoulder.
“I thought we were past secrets?”
“We are, I just don't think this is something you should be concerned about.”
“I’m not concerned, I’m asking.”
Neil hummed, raising one hand to tuck the longer strands of Andrew’s hair to the back of his ear. It was much longer than the last time Neil noticed. Surely, Andrew wouldn’t laugh at his overthinking. He wouldn’t consider it an overthinking either.
“Just realized I’m not the first to caught your attention.” He couldn’t say he wasn’t Andrew’s first lover because all Andrew had with the people in his past were hookups and one-night stands, casual partners even.
Andrew raised on of his eyebrows, taking another spoonful. “The hell does that mean?”
”Oh, you know. Like, not the first you’re attracted to, not the first you’ve made a move on, not—”
“I’m not your first kiss either.” Andrew quickly cut off.
Neil rolled his eyes, snuggling further to his boyfriend’s shoulder. Wow, this was his life now, huh. Being able to brought out silly thoughts. “I know that. That’s why I said it’s not important to talk about.”
Neil took Andrew’s silence as an end of their conversation, slowly relaxing himself and fluttered his eyes shut.
“You’re the first whom I told to stay and stayed for real.” Neil opened his eyes in a heartbeat, but not tilting his head up to see the look on Andrew’s face. “The first who understood me. The first to respect my boundaries and took ‘no’ as a valid answer. The first to look at me like I fucking mean something.”
Andrew’s tone wasn’t any different than the one he used everyday; bored and uninterested. But Neil knew better. The unsaid sincere and earnest went straight to his ear. He smiled, deciding not to be smug about it. It was rare for Andrew to be so descriptive, let alone romantic so Neil was going to drink this moment as much as he could.
Neil decided that he wouldn’t wish he met Andrew earlier. He wouldn’t want Andrew to meet the version of himself before he went to hide in Millport. He was messy, unstable and absolutely untrusting. Neil wouldn’t want Andrew to deal with his immature personality.
And perhaps after sharing a decent amount quality time with Renee, Neil’s perspective had widened considerably. Maybe the reason why they didn’t meet earlier was because he wouldn’t be able to stand Andrew’s personality either. The universe had its own way to set their lives after all.
All of the boys or perhaps, guys, Andrew loved before made him into the one Neil had fallen for. Every dead end of his relationship had led him straight to Neil.
“I swear to God if you think louder than this, your uncle could hear you all the way from England.”
Andrew grunted, catching Neil’s attention again. His tub of ice cream was already half empty, spoon still in hand as he frowned.
The redhead chuckled, shaking his head. There was no point in thinking about things that didn’t or what could’ve happened. By the end of the day, he was the one with Andrew. The one Andrew cared for, Andrew look out for, Andrew loved for. Even if they never said it out loud.
“No, he couldn’t.” Neil laughed eventually, practically melting when his boyfriend placed his ice cream on the coffee table and snaked his arms around Neil’s waist, switching positions so that he’s the one tucking his head under Neil’s chin.
“I hate you.”
The striker rolled his eyes. “Every time you say that—”
“You believe me less, I know.”
Andrew sighed, sinking into Neil further (if that was even possible). They were past their ‘yes or no’s but they knew at what times were necessary to ask.
“Dinner? We could have that Thai that you like,” Neil spoke, running his fingers through Andrew’s blond locks. He picked up his phone, already scrolling through the diner’s catalogue.
“Mhm, get me their mango sticky rice too.” He hummed, the dessert being the first thing Neil put in the cart.
This was seriously his life now? Snuggling at Andrew’s place, getting takeouts, watching movies, kissing and making out. It was too good to be true.
“Aaron won’t be home tonight?”
“Cheerleader’s.”
“Ah.”
There was a loud silence before Andrew shuffled, pushing Neil gently down to the couch. The gaze he was receiving was too soft, too unbearable for Neil not to reach out to Andrew's face and pulled him into a kiss. The blond tightened his grip on Neil's waist, cradling the scarred face with his free hand.
Andrew’s rough thumb pad caressed the circular scars below his boyfriend’s eye, earning a soft hum when their kisses took a turn into intertwining tongues.
—
They definitely did not forget to order the planned takeout. Definitely not.