Page 95 of Penalty Zone

He chuckles. “Amen.” After a beat, he turns to me. “Benz has exceeded expectations this year. I almost, almost, feel bad that he doesn’t have a starting position, but we’re keeping him. Thank you.”

My fingers are slow, and I misspell too many words as I try to use the text-to-speech.

Ari covers my hand on my phone. “I’m not giving you credit for his hockey abilities, but he’s more grounded and less chaotic off the ice. I suspected he has anxiety, and maybe I’m full of shit, but it seems like you’re good for each other.”

I nod my head, thankful I can finally do it without pain. In this rare situation, I’m glad I don’t have to respond, but I completely agree. I love being with Caleb, and if he wasn’t my son’s roommate, I’d ask him to move in with me.

Mason has proven to Ari that he’s not a hotheaded detriment to the team, and he’s accepted my relationship with Caleb. I’m not a fool; the process sped up considerably when he injured me. I’m nervous about long-term effects but relieved his anger pushed him over to the side of supporting us.

I motion to Ari that I’m going to sit.

“I’ll be there in a minute.” He moves to speak to a few people, and I find a seat far enough into the row that no one will try to get by me.

“Hey, Leo.” Jayce McKenna stands next to me. “Mind if we sit here? This is my wife, Madyson, and our fiancé, Emmet.”

I wave and motion for them to sit.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Griffin.” Madyson reaches over Jayce to shake my hand.

I shake my head, and Jayce jumps in for me. “He prefers Leo.”

Emmet is staring at me curiously, and I’m self-conscious about my scar. He realizes I’m watching him stare and smiles. “Sorry. I’m trying to picture you in the mask Caleb said he got for you. We volunteer together at The Q Solutions, and he won’tshut up about it.” Emmet rolls his eyes dramatically. “Your scar makes you look badass, but I agree, it would be next-level team spirit with the mask.”

If my mouth could drop open, it would. My heart flutters with how openly Caleb talks about me with his friends, and I’m not at all worried our secret will get out.

I’ll make you a deal. If the team makes it to the finals, I’ll wear it.My phone relays my message.

“Yasss! Bet. I’ll wear one too.” Emmet slaps his leg.

Our attention turns at the puck drop. Drake wins the face-off with ease and leaves Richardson in his wake without passing it off. Ari chuckles from the row ahead of us.

Tampa scrambles to keep up as the Enforcers dominate the ice. Lucky scores quickly on an assist from Ace, but five minutes later, our defense breaks down and they slip one past Liska.

“The team needs better defenders,” Ari grumbles.

“Kenney was a great addition,” Jayce offers, and I agree.

Caleb is slated to play the third period, but I wonder if Coach will put him in at the start of the second. Liska’s back strain is better, but he really needs a solid couple of weeks rest to be back at a hundred percent. In my humble opinion, he should opt out of the All-Star weekend activities and extend that time off.

The score in the first period does not reflect the game because we’re tied at one. The Enforcers have dominated the game but aren’t scoring.

When they return from the break, Liska’s in goal. The man is a tank with the grit of a prizefighter. Hurt or not, he’s a helluva goalie.

We score again in the second and hold them off, so it’s two to one. I stand to stretch and notice a slight man pacing in the suite. Jayce follows my gaze.

“That’s Trevor, Liska’s fiancé. He can’t sit when Liska’s in goal.” Jayce stands as well. “Anyone want anything?”

Usually, I would never bother someone else to get me a drink, but bumping into someone spurs me to ask for a bottle of water with a straw. He and Emmet climb the steps to the suite.

I can’t tear my eyes away from the two of them. Jayce has a possessive hand at the back of Emmet’s neck and kisses him while they’re talking to a group of people including Ari.

“Emmet changed Jayce for the better.” Madyson leans over Jayce’s empty seat to talk to me. “Jayce might be older, but there’s something about Gen Z that is unafraid to claim who they are. Jayce would never have been able to live his authentic life without him,” she says with a gleam in her eye, as if she knows she’s speaking of my situation as well.

She’s right. Although I’m old enough to be Caleb’s father, he’s taught me about being authentic and true to myself. That’s the greatest legacy I could leave in this life, not records or games, but my son and living a life true to myself.

Caleb steps into the goal, and from the way his mask is tilted, I know he’s looking at me, so I curl my fingers into a heart over my chest.

“The fucking cutest thing ever!” I hear and turn to see Trevor sitting behind me. “We haven’t officially met, but I’m Trevor and you, sir, tamed our rogue Baby Benz.”

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