Page 142 of Breakaway Goals
“Honestly though, Monty, way to pull,” Lars said, starting a slow clap that made Hayes want to die and fall through the floor.
“You guys are serious?” Silov asked.
“I’d say so, yeah,” Hayes said. “We’ve . . .uh . . .liked each other for a long time. Just finally was the right time to get our shit together.”
“Congrats,” Silov said, nodding with approval.
“I don’t want to make a big deal out of it—”
“But it’s a big fucking deal?” Jasper interrupted, grinning.
“I guess, just because he’s him and I’m me, but otherwise, no,” Hayes said. “Just wanted to give you guys a heads-up.”
There were a few more interested nods and Lars and Jasper were, of course, still slow clapping like they thought they were fucking hilarious, but otherwise everyone went back to shedding their equipment.
Hayes let out a breath then another. There was less relief than there’d been after they’d successfully told Finn and Jacob, but it felt similar. He hadn’t expected anyone to really care, because they already knew Hayes was gay and had already met one of his boyfriends. But then, the boyfriend hadn’t been Morgan Reynolds, either.
Still, Hayes’ eyes had been wide open when he’d started this. He knew what kind of a heat score it was going to be. Barty had been sending him texts ever since the rumor mill had started up. There were pictures of their dates floating around. Them going to romantic dinners, sharing desserts. Holding hands. Going for a run together on the beach, Morgan’s shirt off, him grinning over at Hayes like he was the best thing he could ever imagine. Some people were stupid and kept insisting they were just friends, but most people had taken a look at the situation, put two and two together, and had correctly gotten four.
That, Morgan had said, was good enough for him, and it turned out, that was plenty good enough for Hayes, too.
“You good, Cap?” Finn said, catching him after changing and as Hayes was making his way out to the parking garage.
“Yeah,” Hayes said. Wondering if he should be asking Finn that question, but Finn was generally pretty rock steady. Morgan had made a few comments about how that hadn’t always been the case, but it seemed those days were over.
“You know I’m happy for you two, right?” Finn asked.
In between his shrieking complaints about PDA, Hayes had gotten that impression. “Good. We wouldn’t want—neither of us—” Hayes broke off, giving up. “Just . . .that’s good.”
Finn grinned knowingly. “I hope you realize how you two are basically made for each other.”
Hayes did, but he didn’t know thatotherpeople had realized it. “Um, yes?”
Finn patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t forget it, okay?”
As Hayes made his way to his car, he realized he’d just gotten the shovel talk from his rookie and it was hard to even be mad about it.
Impossible not to smile all the way home about it, still grinning to himself as he tucked himself in for his pregame nap.
That good feeling followed him all the way through warmups, into the game, and it was hardly like winning 4-3 against a really good Toronto team was going to dim it at all.
Hayes was riding the highs of a pretty damn good day even before Morgan showed up in the locker room.
Finn had played really well against a very good team, and Hayes had contributed a goal and an assist. There was nothing to be sad about, especially when he spotted Morgan making his way over to where Finn sat in his stall.
Hayes got distracted by something Jasper asked him about the game, and he didn’t look back over to where he was talking to Finn, anticipating that eventually Morgan would make it over to him.
“Hey,” Lars said, nudging him. “Is it a total fucking trip that Morgan Reynolds is basically your WAG, now?”
Hayes choked on the Gatorade he’d been drinking. “What? He’s not—he’s . . .”
“Yeah, your boyfriend, we established that this morning. But then he shows up like that, and what else are we supposed to think?”
Hayes craned his head. He’d only noticed Morgan in his typical Sentinels jersey. He’d been wearing Finn’s number since the opening game. Twenty-nine. No big deal.
But then he realized, like a lightning bolt to the chest, that Morgan was not wearing Finn’s number tonight.
He was wearing eighty-six and there was aMontgomeryplastered across his back. A C nestled right where Morgan’s heart beat.
