Page 125 of The Home Game

And maybe he was a little too much sometimes but it seemed like Antoni understood and liked that now. Knew that it came from a good place.

“You ready to sleep?” Antoni asked when he didn’t reply.

“Oh, uh, yeah, I think so.”

Antoni reached for the light but he paused, eyes narrowed. “Wait, was it true what you said to Judy about snoring?”

Matty laughed, glad that Antoni’s question had broken the awkward tension. “It’s not all of the time but yeah, my nose has been dislocated or broken a few times so it’s a little wonky.”

Antoni studied his face. “It doesn’t look wonky.”

“Yeah, I got lucky. They did a good job resetting it so it looks fine from the outside. It’s kind of a mess inside though. I’ll probably get surgery after I retire. But tonight I can put some of the nose strips on. They look funny but they do help.”

“Sure, if you don’t mind. I’ll probably sleep like the dead but it’s—it’s been a long time since I’ve shared a bed with anyone. Well, except for the kids. River and Eli crawled in with me sometimes when they had a hard time sleeping at first. But they didn’t snore.”

“No problem.” Matty threw the covers back and got to his feet. “I should, um, go take my partial out too.”

He always felt a little funny about it. Most people thought about dentures as being for old people but, well, there were plenty of hockey players with them too.

“Partial?” Antoni tilted his head.

“Uhh, fake teeth,” Matty explained, tapping the two in question. “I don’t wear them during games but I always put them back in during interviews and when I’m off the ice. I can’t sleep with them in though. It’s bad for my gums.”

“Oh yeah, do what you need to do,” Antoni said with a yawn. “I might pass out before you get back though.”

A small part of Matty actually hoped he would but Antoni was still awake when he climbed into bed. Matty settled on his side, facing Antoni.

“Let me see,” Antoni said.

Hesitantly, Matty smiled.

“Aww, you’re cute,” Antoni said, smiling back sleepily. “It reminds me of when Eli had two top teeth missing at the same time when they were little.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Nope.” Antoni reached out and took his hand. “It’s kind of endearing. It suits you, somehow.”

Matty laughed. He wasn’t so sure about that but he leaned in and kissed Antoni’s forehead anyway. “I think you’re loopy from lack of sleep.”

“Maybe,” Antoni said with another yawn. “God, why am I so tired?”

“Because you worked a full day, got married, then had an epic wedding night,” Matty teased, rolling away to turn out the light on his side of the bed.

“Oh right. That.” Antoni yawned a third time, loud enough his jaw cracked. “Wait, epic?”

“Well, I thought it was pretty epic,” Matty admitted.

There was silence for a moment and Matty thought maybe Antoni had already fallen asleep but then there was a whispered, “yeah, it was,” and Matty had to pull him close and kiss the top of his head.

“You know what? I’m glad we got married,” Matty said.

Antoni was silent a moment before he reached out and squeezed Matty’s fingers. “That’s good. I wouldn’t want you to regret this.”

Antoni awoke to someone kissing his forehead.

“Wake up, sleepy.”

“Nnngh,” Antoni managed, mashing his face into the pillow. “Too early.”

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