Free Hapless by Therese Woodson Page A

from the guys he’d dated before. With his full-bodied laugh and mischievous smile, Micah was everything Ty didn’t know he wanted until he saw him in the university’s student center wearing a rainbow beanie and jeans so tight they looked painted on. And when Micah caught Ty staring, he tossed him a flirty wink, and Ty was hooked.
    Three years later and Ty couldn’t imagine his life without him.
    Ty pushed off the door and walked down the hall to their shared bedroom. Micah’s side was a mess while Ty’s side was slightly tidier, though they both had clothes strewn everywhere. Neither of them was very good at laundry, which was why Ty knew he could hide anything in his sock drawer.
    He slid the drawer open, rooted around in the bunch of mismatched socks near the back corner, and pulled out the little black box. Merely holding it in his hand made his stomach swoop with joy and anxiety. He popped the lid open and looked at the wide silver band he had picked out the month before.
    Today was the day—the twenty-eighth of November. Christmas loomed right around the corner, and Ty was determined not to be a cliché and ask on Christmas Eve. So he chose today, after Micah’s hockey game but before celebratory sex on the couch. Or after celebratory sex. Ty wasn’t picky as long as newly engaged sex happened.
    It would be perfect. Micah would be on such a high from the game, pink-cheeked and happy, and Ty would get down on one knee on the ice and propose right there.
    He took a deep, steadying breath and slid the box in his pocket. He grinned to himself and started to get ready for the game, the weight of the ring comforting against his hip.
    Yeah, it was going to be amazing.
     
     
    “O W . O UCH . Ow. Oh my God! How does my ankle hurt this much?” Micah said, hobbling into the apartment.
    Ty grunted as he guided Micah through the door, one of Micah’s arms slung over his shoulder.
    “To the couch,” Ty said, arm tight around Micah’s waist.
    “Really? I thought I should take a jaunt around the block, maybe ‘Skip to My Lou’ or hopscotch with the neighbor kids.”
    Ty rolled his eyes. “I know you’re upset about losing the game and the fact that you’re injured, so I’m going to ignore the outdated references and the snarky tone.”
    Micah grumbled, but he tightened his grip on Ty’s shoulder and bit back a gasp of pain when he took an awkward step. Once at the couch, Ty lowered Micah slowly to the cushions and gently helped him prop the swollen and purpling joint onto a pillow.
    “Don’t touch it,” Micah said, flinching away from Ty’s fingers.
    “I wasn’t going to. Quit squirming.”
    “Seriously don’t even look at it. Your gaze makes it throb more.”
    “You need to go to the doctor,” Ty said evenly. “Let me get you some ice, and then we’ll go to the emergency room.”
    Micah groaned and threw his body back into the cushions dramatically. “It’s not that bad. I’ll be fine.”
    Ty let out a noise of disbelief as he went into the kitchen to retrieve water, pain pills, and an ice pack. “Yeah, and you have some oceanfront property in Arizona you want to sell me.”
    “And my references are outdated?” Micah shot back.
    When Ty returned, Micah had sprawled across the cushions, sweaty and gross, one arm dangling off the couch and the other over his eyes. Ty sat down next to him on the sliver of space left. He nudged Micah with his elbow.
    “Take the meds. We’ll ice it and elevate it, and maybe we can avoid the ER.”
    “Ugh.” Micah said, propping his body up. “So much for lucky socks.” He took the pills and drank down the water in a long gulp. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he handed Ty the glass. “What a shitty day.”
    Ty’s throat went tight. “Yeah,” he agreed.
    He set the glass on the table, then wrapped the ice pack in a kitchen towel and helped Micah balance it on his ankle. After, he draped Grandma’s afghan over Micah, fished the remote out of