Page 137 of The Home Game

“Okay, well that’s good,” Nico said. “I mean, you do what you gotta do to protect them, right?”

“Exactly,” Matty said, grateful that at least a few of the guys understood. He glanced around, trying to get a feel for how everyone else was reacting. Their expressions varied from suspicion to outright hostility.

“Yeah, but Matty …” Jordan winced. “Look, I saw the way you were dancing around the locker room this morning. And you—you’ve got marks like someone was loving you up real good all weekend. I’m happy for you, but I have a hard time believing this is all fake.”

“Uhh.” Matty felt his ears go hot. “Okay, so not all of it is fake. Antoni and I, uhm, we figured out we’re compatible in the bedroom, you know? And like, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future or how this is going to play out at the end with him. We’re kinda taking it one day at a time. All I know is that those kids need help and that’s the priority for both of us.”

“I definitely think doing what you can for the kids is amazing, Matty,” Jonah said. “They’re lucky they have you and Antoni fighting for them. And I agree with Dustin. If I can help, I want to.”

He exchanged a look with Felix, who said, “We don’t want to see you get hurt, bud. That’s all.”

“I know that,” Matty said. “And I appreciate it. I do. But I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

“Oh yeah?” Dom snarled, rising to his feet. “Then why the fuck was I the one scraping you up off your tennis court and sitting beside you all night to make sure you didn’t choke on your own vomit when you got blackout drunk after Courtney left you?”

“If it was such a big problem for you, maybe you shouldn’t have bothered,” Matty snapped, standing too, knowing he was probably overreacting but really fucking sick of the attitude he kept getting from Dom.

“You fucking called me crying,” Dom snapped. “What was I supposed to do?”

“I—” Matty scrambled to come up with a response but Dom cut him off.

“Look, I’m not shaming you for being heartbroken after your divorce, Matty. I’m not. What she did was fucking awful and you deserved better.”

“Antoni is better,” Matty argued.

“Yeah, well, we’ll see.” Dom pursed his lips. “Because this secrecy about the wedding and shit? It’s not exactly making me feel good about what you’re doing. Helping the kids is great. It is. If I had the Swansons in front of me now, I’d give them a piece of my mind. What they did to Eli was fucking awful and I don’t stand for that kind of shit either. But I don’t wanna watch you go down that road to heartbreak again, okay? I love you too much to do that, man.”

“Secrecy?” Matty bristled, leaning in. “Right. Okay, let’s talk about secrecy, you hypocrite. Let’s talk about the fact that we have been friends for how many years now? And I still don’t know what the fuck you get up to on Sunday nights. I don’t know who you’re dating or—”

“I’m not dating anyone!” Dom protested.

“Who you’re hooking up with or whatever then.” Matty waved it off. That part wasn’t important. “Or how about the fact that we talk about hockey and what’s going on in my life but you never, ever fucking talking about your own? In four weeks I’ve gotten to know Antoni better than I’ve gotten to know you in four years. You never talk about your family or your friends outside of the team. And why is that Dom? Because it’s not because I’m not willing to listen! Don’t even fucking try to pretend like I don’t care about you. You’re the one who fucking won’t let me in, man.”

“Guys,” Dustin said, stepping between them. “C’mon. I know there are strong feelings here but we need to chill. This isn’t productive and—”

“No, you’re right,” Dom said. “It’s fucking pointless to have this argument because Matty’s going to do what he’s going to do and then we’re gonna be left to pick up the pieces after it’s over. Like the last time. So fuck you. I’m out of here.”

“No, Dom …” Matty said helplessly because he probably shouldn’t have said that shit about Dom’s personal life. Even if it was true, it wasn’t nice to call Dom out in front of other people and by now, Matty should know he was only going to clam up further.

But Dom just kept walking.

“Damn,” Colton muttered when Dom left with a slam of the front door. “Why’s he being such a dick to you, Matty?”

Matty turned, swallowing hard and sinking onto the couch again. “He’s—he’s worried about me.”

“Doesn’t mean he should act like an asshole,” Colton said.

“No, it doesn’t,” Matty agreed. “But I know he’s only saying it because he cares. He has a shitty way of showing it but he’s—he’s got his own bullshit to deal with, I think.”

“If you say so, man.” Colton gave him a skeptical look and the rest of the guys looked equally concerned.

“We’ll work it out,” Matty assured the guys. “We always do.”

But as Matty caught sight of Dustin’s raised eyebrow, he had to wonder how much impact this would have on the team before that happened.

Shit. So much for his promise to Gilly about keeping the drama to a minimum.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

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