See You In Boston (CU Hockey 5.50)

“You also have to take into account that in open and supporting environments, people are willing to explore their sexuality more.” I shrug. “If I maybe went to a school that wasn’t so open and accepting, I probably never would’ve hooked up with Tyson that night and then never worked out that guys can do it for me as well as women. I personally think the statistics of queer people are skewed because a lot of bisexual people don’t come out. At all.”

Cohen blinks at me, and I realize I’ve been rambling.

I rub the back of my neck. “I, uh, might have done a lot of googling over the summer.”

Cohen throws up his hands. “As long as you’re happy, man, you know we’re cool.”

“I am happy. Tyson makes me happy.”

“That’s good. Though, I’m sure your man is getting yelled at right now. Seth’s been wondering why he hasn’t heard from Tyson much.”

And now I feel guilty. “We’ll make it up to him. Maybe we can come visit you guys one weekend when there’s a home game and you’re not on the road.”

“Seth would love that.”

“And you and Grant will get us more free tickets, right?”

Cohen nudges me as we make our way back to my seat. “You can take the boy out of hockey, but you can’t take hockey out of the boy.”

“Never.” We fist-bump.

We get back to Tyson in time for me to hear through the phone, “I’m happy for you, Ty. It must be serious if you didn’t tell me the minute you lost your butt virginity.”

I glance around at the people in the surrounding seats, who are all trying not to laugh. Hey, that’s better than planning to beat the shit out of us for being a couple.

“Now that you’ve embarrassed me in an arena full of sports fans, thank you,” Tyson says to Seth, “I’m going to go and watch the hockey now. Hope your brother scores all the touchdowns!” He fists the air.

Seth laughs and shakes his head. “You owe me. Full details.”

I slide into my seat. “Hey, whoa, no details.”

“They tell each other everything,” Cohen says to me.

Tyson turns to me. “It’s true.”

We’re saved by the lights dimming for all the pregame rituals. Tyson says bye to Seth and hands the phone back to Cohen, and Cohen promises we’ll catch up after the game.

“I can’t believe I could have told Seth this whole time and you didn’t tell me.”

“I didn’t realize it was a secret! I didn’t know there was this unspoken gay code.”

“That’s okay. I can teach it to you. We also have a secret handshake.”

“I can imagine it has something to do with handjobs.”

Tyson gasps. “How did you know?”

“I know my man.”

He snuggles into my side, and I wrap my arm around him again.

“I like it when you call me your man,” he says softly.

“Well, it’s what you are.”

“Just for that, I’ll sit here and watch the game without complaint.”

I kiss the side of his head. “Best boyfriend ever. Also, if you want some eye candy, Ezra Palaszczuk from Boston is gay.”

“Ooh. Can I picture him later when we’re—”

“No.”

“Fair enough. I wouldn’t want to anyway. No one is hotter than you.”

“Damn right.”

“I love you,” Tyson says. “Hockey obsession and all.”

“I love you too. Don’t ever stop being unapologetically you.”

“I promise.”

Yeah, I don’t know for certain what the future holds, but I do know my life wouldn’t be the same without Tyson in it.

Graduating college is a milestone in anyone’s life. It’s an ending, a new beginning, and the start of the rest of your life. Little did I know my graduation party would be much more significant.