Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey 2)

Realization dawns. “Is that why you freaked out when you found me with Jacobs? Because you knew how much harder it would be for me to live in your world as a queer man?”

It’s subtle, but he nods. “I like your boyfriend. Especially if this new side of you has anything to do with him.”

Apparently, my father has a heart. Who knew?

“While I understand your need to protect Baby, I think you’re not giving her enough credit. The only way to make change in your misogynistic and sexist world is to let her break those glass ceilings. Talk to her about it because she actually wants this chance.”

“I will.” Dad stands. “I’ll need to take your pitch to the board—”

“Just know, that even if they say no, this is what I want to do with my life, and I’m going to make it happen.”

A smile breaks through on my dad’s face. “I’ll push it through. I promise.”

I can’t have heard that right. “Really?” It comes out a lot louder than I intended.

“Your future is yours, so go live it.”

The door opens a fraction, and my future sticks his head inside. “I heard yelling. Is there yelling?”

“He loved it.”

“I did,” Dad says. “You’ll get your camp.”

Jacobs pushes open the door, and in two seconds flat, his arms are around me. He buries his head in my neck. “You did it.”

“We did it.”

He kisses me hard, and I get so lost in him, I almost forget my dad is in the room.

That is, until he clears his throat and says, “Let’s go home and eat some turkey.”

I pull away from Jacobs. “And talk to Baby.”

“Yes, and talk to Baby.”

Everything feels right with the world, and with Jacobs’s hand in mine as we walk to the car, the gentle calmness of him mixed with adrenaline makes me realize something.

I’m truly happy for the first time in my life.

33

Beck

New Year’s Eve

“Montreal, bitches!” I bodycheck Jacobs, who isn’t expecting it, so he stumbles into Cohen, and then it’s a domino effect, Cohen bumping Grant’s brother, Seth, who slams against his car.

Seth’s the same height as Grant, but he’s nowhere near as muscular. Underneath his billion layers of clothing, he’s all skinny arms and legs. It’s hard to believe they’re twins, honestly.

He turns to Zach. “Why did you invite the hockey players again?”

“Well, technically,” I cut in, “he invited Jacobs because he’s Grant’s bestie. Which means I was automatically invited because I’m Jacobs’s better half—emphasis on better—”

Jacobs shoves me.

I ignore him and keep going. “And then Cohen …” I look over at our teammate. “Wait, why are you coming?”

Cohen flips me off. “Grant invited me, asshole.”

“Still don’t know why we’re going in one car,” Seth mutters.

I hold my hand over my heart. “You love us. You really love us.”

Seth glares at Jacobs. “Put a leash on that.” He waves toward me, and I laugh.

I lean in closer to my boyfriend and lower my voice. “He doesn’t know I might like it. Also, Grant’s brother is fun. He’s like how you used to treat me. Brings back memories.”

“Maybe don’t taunt him? He’ll abandon us in Montreal.”

“Ooh, we could hitchhike back. That could be an adventure.”

Jacobs scowls. “Maybe Seth’s right. You do need a leash.”

“A leash and a ball gag. Now look who’s kinky?”

Jacobs levels me with a look.

“Fine. I’ll behave.”

The others get in the car, and then Jacobs and I try to push each other to get in first to take the middle.

“I’m bigger than you,” I argue. “Why can’t one of the scrawny-asses up front take the middle?”

“Because it’s my car, asshole!” Seth yells from the driver’s seat.

Jacobs stands his ground and folds his arms across his impressive chest. Not as impressive as mine, but whatever.

I throw my hands up and relent. “All right. Let’s do this. Maybe I’ll see if I like being squished between two guys. We never did work out if it’s guys in general or just you who does it for me. This could be, like, an experiment.”

Jacobs pulls me back and climbs into the middle seat.

My inner self is screaming, Victory!

It might be true I still haven’t found another guy attractive, but Grant’s pansexual explanation made me do a little research. Which made me fall into the world of Schitt’s Creek. All I can say is, David’s phrase “I like the wine and not the label” definitely appeals to me.

There’s always been this connection with Jacobs, even when we were fighting. Even when we hated each other, we worked well on the ice because we’ve been fundamentally intertwined since we met.

It didn’t matter he was a guy. Although, looking back on it, the fact he’s a guy probably prolonged the inevitable revelation that we were meant to be together.

Even though Seth’s car is a Jeep Cherokee, putting three hockey players in the back is still squishy.