I open my private social media page and upload the photo along with a three-word caption.
He said yes.
Thirty-Four
TRIPP
I raise my hand to knock on Ezra’s apartment door, and he answers with a, “Hey, losers.”
“Why are we friends with you again?” I ask.
“Because since being with Anton, I have simmered into a mature human being, and you love me.”
Dex cocks his head. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“So why are we losers?”
“Because you didn’t get picked for All-Stars. Duh.”
“Neither did you,” I point out.
“No, but Anton did, so therefore, I’m not a loser by association. Also, Boston’s not sitting below Buffalo on the leaderboard for points this season.”
“Hey, Buffalo are having a surprisingly good season,” I argue. I don’t add on the for them part. “They might actually make a playoffs one of these days.”
“Mm, maybe. Rumor has it Little Dalton will be joining them next season.”
“Westly’s brother?” I ask. West was part of the Collective before he retired.
“Yep. Someone else is going to have to invite him to join the queer collective though. For some weird reason, he doesn’t like me?”
“Someone not liking you? Shocking! Let us in.” I push past him. “So just how much has Anton been rubbing All-Stars in your face?”
“He’s been unbearable since he found out.”
That sounds about right.
Inside the apartment, some of the other Collective are already there. Ollie Strömberg, Oskar, who’s talking to someone vaguely familiar but I can’t place. And retired Caleb Sorensen.
“Well, if it isn’t the happy couple,” Ollie says.
“Here we are. In the flesh.” It’s the first time we’ve all been in the one place for a while, though we are missing a few. Foster is playing with Anton at All-Stars, and West is at home in Vermont with his family. Still, I wait for the inevitable questions to come.
Instead, Ollie turns to Ezra. “Got any Macallan? I think it’s time we officially welcome Dex into the fold. That is, if the marriage is actually legit?” He gives us a pointed look. “It’s hard to tell with the conflicting stories in the media.”
Some people have bought the truth—that it started as a joke, but now we’re in love. Others are skeptical.
“It’s legit,” Dex says and throws himself on the couch next to Ollie. “All I’m saying is why couldn’t any of you have pointed out to me that I was in love with Tripp all this time?”
Ezra curses. “No. Do not tell Anton he was right. He loves being right.”
Oskar nods. “We didn’t know. We thought you were his big affectionate puppy.”
“Oh, he’s that too,” I say and squeeze in on the end of the couch next to my husband. “But what can I say? My winning personality is clearly what won him over. Because unlike some people in this room—” I cover the word everyone with a cough. “—I am humble and nice.”
Dex wraps his arm around me. “Oh, pumpkin. I know you think you’re joking, but that’s actually true.”
“True in comparison to all of you, maybe.”
“Hey, Lane might beat you out,” Oskar says, gesturing to the guy next to him, who has a scowl on his face. “Mr. Goody Two-shoes over here is always nice. Except when it comes to me. Then he can be as naughty as he wants.”
“Lane …” I say. “As in your team’s PR dude who you like to torment?”
Lane huffs. “Oh, great. So you’ve told them about me.”
I have to say, I get what Oskar means. With his dark hair and silver-flecked beard, Lane is the kind of guy you want to punish you.
“We’re dating.” Oskar places his arm around Lane’s shoulder.
Lane takes Oskar’s hand and places it back in Oskar’s lap. “You can dream, but we both know I’m making sure you don’t get yourself into trouble because apparently, babysitting you is a full-time job, and you’ve already run off my interns with your shit.”
“See? He’s falling in love with me,” Oskar gloats.
Dex looks at Lane. “Hate to say it, man, but sleeping with him might be easier than following him around everywhere.”
I agree. “He’ll give up after he’s had you. He has the attention span of a walnut.”
Lane glowers. “Sex with me isn’t the problem.”
“See, we’re totally dating.”
Lane shoves Oskar. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Lane turns to us. “We haven’t had sex. We will never have sex. I value my job. The problem is when he goes out and has public sex with guys in alleyways where there are security cameras.”
“Guys?” I ask. “Plural? How many?”
Everyone turns to me with disapproving stares.
“Oh. Right. Damn it, Oskar … that’s so naughty.” I lean over Dex and whisper to Oskar, “Tell me all the details later.”
“No details,” Lane says. “That’s how stuff gets out.”
Oskar grins. “Hmm, no, I’d say having sex in front of security cameras is how things get out.”
Lane throws his head back. “I quit. When we get back to San Jose, I’m quitting.”