See You In Boston (CU Hockey 5.50)

Chapter 2

ROSSI

Graduating is supposed to be freeing. It’s a new start and all that other bullshit. But all I can think is it’s the end of the best years of my life. Depressing, maybe. Bittersweet, definitely.

I’m excited to move to Boston. I’m interning at my dad’s financial firm—a job I only got because of him—and then I’ll be working toward my MBA in the fall.

My other friends on the hockey team all had big dreams of pro hockey or going into a sports-related field. That’s never been for me. I love hockey. I was good enough to play Division I. I’m a two-time Frozen Four champion—one of those times while I was captain. But that’s where my hockey career ends.

I’m going to be the guy who moves on from college but always reminisces about the good ol’ days.

And right now, I’m trying to work out if one very forward and intriguing guy will be part of those memories.

I stay standing at the edge of the balcony, overlooking the yard at the people below. Our goalie is also graduating, along with one of our D-men and a few third and fourth line players, so the party is full of CU hockey alum, past and present. But my gaze keeps going back to Cohen’s boyfriend’s friend.

Tyson.

He’s got mousy light brown hair that’s pushed back with volume on top, all meticulous and perfect. His pale blue eyes shine in the dark and dance like he knows everyone’s secrets, including mine. Maybe secrets buried so deep in my subconscious that even I’m not aware of them yet.

From up here, I can see Tyson flirting with everyone. On other people, it might look desperate. On him, it … it comes across like it’s his average Friday.

Maybe he’s too forward for some people, but he’s definitely got me thinking.

When half your hockey team is queer and in relationships with other men, or in Beck and Jacobs’s case, each other, it’s only natural to wonder what the appeal is.

I haven’t given it that much thought, but Tyson’s offer is … tempting.

Along with all my other college achievements, shouldn’t “One time I hooked up with a guy to see what it’s like” be on the list?

Let’s face it, ever since I first had sex when I was seventeen, I’ve been horny twenty-four seven. It’s actually surprising I haven’t hooked up with a dude. Being a hockey player meant my opportunities for hookups with girls were always there, but I can’t help wondering if there had been other opportunities I didn’t see because of that.

Tyson finds it hard to believe I haven’t been hit on by a guy. Is it possible I just didn’t take notice?

This was the time I was supposed to do all that exploring—the time when it’s most socially accepted. “Everyone gets wild in college.”

Right?

Cohen approaches and thrusts a drink in front of my face. “Isn’t this your party? You don’t seem anywhere near drunk enough.”

I sip it. Slowly. I can’t help thinking about Tyson saying he doesn’t want to be drunk for his hookup later. Whoever he may end up with.

At the moment, it looks like he’s resigned himself to hooking up with a girl with bubblegum-pink hair. Or he’s given up. I get the impression he’s gay, but I know better than to assume anyone’s identity anymore. My friends have turned out to be gay, some bi, pan, and I think one of my teammates is fluid.

Freshman year, if anyone had blurted all these labels at me, I would’ve been confused by it all. Now, I don’t even blink.

“You okay?” Seth asks. “I’m sorry if Tyson made things weird. He’s a good guy, but sometimes he’s too flirty for his own good.”

I shake my head with a smile. “He didn’t make it weird.”

Seth eyes me. “Uh. Okay. Good, then.”

He’s assessing me in a way that makes me self-conscious, so I bring my cup to my lips and take another sip and tell myself not to look back at Tyson.

“When do you head off for Boston?” Cohen asks.

“Technically, my job doesn’t start for two weeks, but I’m leaving Colchester tomorrow. Moving home.”

“Is that a total mindfuck?” Cohen’s forehead creases. “When it was me last year, going home felt like I was going backward.”

“Nah. I’m sad to be graduating, but going home feels like I’m moving toward my future.”

Leaving this all behind. Leaving everything behind.

Come on, Rossi, this is your last chance.

I drain my cup. “If you guys will excuse me, I’m going to go make one last boneheaded college memory.”

I head down the outside steps into the yard. Okay, up there I was confident. Now, not so much.

My feet move slowly toward Tyson, who’s flinging his arms around and talking animatedly to the same girl with pink hair. My teammate Asher and his boyfriend, Kole, have joined them, and that’s the thing that makes me keep walking past them.