Goal Lines & First Times (CU Hockey 3)

I reach over and squeeze Seth’s thigh. “They’ll love you because I love you. It’s a default setting in their genetic makeup.”

“That’s not true at all. Lots of parents disapprove of their kids’ partners.”

His use of the word “partner” does warm and fuzzy things to my gut. “No, not parents in general. I mean my parents. When I told them I wanted to play hockey, they supported me and spent every spare cent on making me the best player I can be. Equipment, extra coaching, the works. When that didn’t work out and I decided I needed a college education because it meant I could keep playing hockey outside of the juniors, they paid my tuition. They’ll love you because they support me. It’s that easy.”

Seth fidgets with the hem of his shirt. “You could’ve at least given them a heads-up first.”

“Nah, I figured coming out is definitely an in-person thing. Same with telling them I’m moving to Montreal, but hey, they’ve been on my case all year about my future.” I gesture to him. “Ta-da, I have one. And a job. I won’t be able to start paying back their tuition money anytime soon, but if I stick it out a few years, I’ll be able to work my way up.”

“Can you see yourself being a public relations coordinator for the rest of your life?” Seth asks, and shit, it’s a difficult one to answer.

“Why do you ask?”

“I want to make sure you’re happy.”

“I am. So happy. It feels like the right step, and I get to watch hockey games for a living.”

“I could get a job as a professor anywhere after I get my PhD. What happens if it’s across the country? What if I can’t get a work visa for Canada?”

“What if we get into a car accident right this second?” I’m tempted to swerve again, but I’m not a complete asshole. Seth’s obviously freaking out about the move, about meeting my parents, and probably Logan too. “We’ll take each problem as they come up instead of trying to figure them all out now. Who knows, Foster could be traded, and then he and Zach will be gone, and maybe you won’t want to stay in Montreal anyway. Maybe another team will have a PR position that pays more or is the next step up from assistant, and I’ll want to go for that. Anything could happen.”

That doesn’t seem to make him feel any better. In fact, I think it might be worse. His skin turns pale.

“My point is, as long as we’re together, then it doesn’t matter, right?”

His stiff shoulders relax. “Yeah, that … actually makes a lot of sense.”

“Sometimes I come out with super smart and insightful things.”

Seth smiles. “Other times you ask where your phone is when it’s in your hand.”

“Damn straight.”

When we pull into my parents’ driveway, Seth takes a deep breath.

“We’ve got this,” I say.

Just like every other time I’ve arrived home, Mom comes to meet me before the car’s even in Park. She gives me a big giant hug but then meets eyes with Seth as he makes his way around the front of the car.

“Oh, you’ve brought a friend.”

“Mom, this is Seth.”

“Nice to meet you,” she says politely and then turns on me. “I wish you would’ve told me, I would’ve made up the guest bed.”

“About that.” I rub the back of my neck. “Dad around? I have some pretty big news. Two lots of big news actually.”

“He’s closing up the shop now. I’ll go hurry him along, while you go check out the surprise for you in the dining room.”

“Let me guess, it’s a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound fisherman eating all our food.”

“Yep.”

I nod to Seth. “Let’s go say hi to Logan while my dad finishes up.”

“L-Logan?” Seth runs his hand through his shaggy hair, trying to tame it. It’s fucking adorable.

I lean into him as we walk and mutter under my breath, “You have nothing to worry about. You look hot.”

He playfully shoves me. “I’m meeting your Zach. What if he doesn’t like me?”

“The good news is we hardly ever get to see each other, so it won’t affect either of our lives very much. Even though Logan will always be my best friend, it’s really hard to keep that connection when we only see each other once a year if we’re lucky. We talk on the phone some, message a little, but it’s not like how it used to be with us, and I think that’s part of growing up.”

“I still want him to like me.”

“He will.” I mean, I think he will. He’ll be happy for me, just like I am for him and Joe.

We enter the house, and as soon as he hears the door open, Logan is out of his seat and practically tackling me like I did to him the last time I was home.