Page 59 of Penalty Zone

“Well.” I laugh nervously. “It’s nonrefundable, so shove it in a closet if you don’t like it.”

Leo’s arm shoots out and grips the back of my neck, bringing our foreheads close enough for me to see the black flecks in his irises. “It’s amazing. The perfect gift from you,” he whispers. He quickly lets me go and shows everyone. “It’s a case for the first puck I saved in the NHL.”

“Cool.” Mason holds his hand out to see it better. “Where’s it from?”

“I got it on Etsy. And now I know what to get you for your birthday.” I’m floating ten feet above the air. Leo loves my gift, touched me in view of everyone, and Mason isn’t even mad. Iknow it’s a special circumstance, but I decide to ride the high as long as it lasts.

“Don’t forget about your gifts.” Leo stretches his leg to nudge me with his foot. I honestly forgot about myself.

I purposely save his for last and open presents from my parents and Mason, saying all the right things and smiling but not paying attention to what they gave me. The box from Leo is on the smaller side, and it looks like he had it professionally wrapped with a bow and everything.

The scent of leather hits my nose as I remove the lid. I’m too nervous to take it out of the box.

“Dude, are you going to stare at it or figure out what it is?” Mason breaks me out of my trance.

Carefully, I slide my fingers into the box and feel the supple leather. It’s definitely expensive, and the smell reminds me of Leo, rich cedarwood. Leather strings tie the folded oblong gift together. I pull and it unfurls.

“For your crystals.” Leo leans in.

Each section is embossed with the name of the gems I showed Leo in my hotel room and is big enough to fit the size I wear but tight enough that they won’t fall out.

“I love it,” I blurt out, and Leo exhales with a smile. So many of my past teammates and coaches thought my crystals were superstitious nonsense, but Leo gets me. My entire body feels warm and gooey. It’s the best gift I’ve gotten that reflects a side of me I don’t show most people.

My heart feels like it’s attached to a hot-air balloon, lifting up in the night sky.

Then I remember all the things my mom said, and it crashes back to earth. There is only so much crazy a person can take. My mom made sure all my secrets were exposed.

This could be a vacation-type fling for Leo. He won’t want to put up with my anxiety and weirdness for long.

Of course, we have to endure another car trip from hell. The storm shifted, with snow so blinding Leo couldn’t see the car in front of him. The hotel parking lot is packed but continuing on would risk our lives.

“We’ve got one room left, a suite with a king bed and the other room has a queen,” the night clerk tells us.

“Does it have a pullout couch?” Leo asks, tapping his credit card on the counter.

“No, sir.”

“Will you be okay sharing a bed with your old man?” Leo asks Mason, who has rebounded, and his fever is down again.

“Worse things have happened to me,” Mason grumbles.

“We could try the motel,” I say, cringing.

“Now you’re just trying to kill me.” Mason glares.

“We’ll take it.” Leo hands over his credit card.

The suite is spacious with a big living room and a small galley kitchen. The bedrooms flank each side of the living room, and I dump my duffle in the queen room.

Mason shuts himself in the king room to shower, and Leo turns on the TV. We could steal a few minutes, but Mason takes inhumanly fast showers, and I don’t trust myself.

“I guess this is my bed check. Good night,” I say, standing in my doorway a beat too long for him not to notice I’m lingering. His smile is regretful, and I close my door.

An hour later, I’m wired and can’t turn my brain off. I’m replaying every interaction I had with Leo, every facial expression, his tone of voice, and every word he said. Since I can’t sleep, I wander out into the living room, hoping the TV will take my mind off Leo.

I stop short and rub my eyes. Leo’s in the galley kitchen, drinking a bottle of water. It reminds me of the night at his apartment when he caught me ogling him. My feet rush toward him to fulfill the fantasy I’ve had since that night.

“Let me take care of you, Daddy.” I crouch before him, giving him the chance to say no.

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