Page 102 of Two for Holding
It took some doing, but eventually, Tom managed to struggle upright, bleary-eyed and messy-haired.
Jax was definitely, definitely in love with him.Now was not the moment to tell Tom though.He would make it special, maybe after a candlelit dinner at a restaurant on the bay, maybe after Tom’s next hat trick.He’d know when he found the right moment.
Waking up on the floor of his parents’ trailer because the air mattress in the living room had deflated overnight was not the right moment.
“Jax?You awake, honey?”
Jax rubbed his eyes.“Yeah, Mom.We’re up.”
“Oh, good!”She popped her head in through the door.“You can have breakfast with the girls before school, then.I’m making waffles.”
“Not sure Tom can eat those,” Jax said, leaving out that he also didn’t eat store-bought waffles, at least not during the season.
Mom clucked her tongue.“I’ll have Dad whip up something gross and healthy for you two.”
She’d been married to a cook for twenty-five years yet couldn’t make anything not from a package, though she was handy otherwise.He followed her to the kitchen, still in his Sea Lions sweatpants, while Tom headed for the bathroom.When Jax had floated this visit, he didn’t expect Tom to agree for a myriad of reasons, such as the duration of their relationship or his own preference for a hotel bed as opposed to the literal floor.But Tom had only stipulated not sleeping naked in Jax’s parents’ house.
It was a reasonable request.
This way, Jax got the pleasure of sitting at the breakfast table in his pajamas, the way he never had as a teenager, too busy with hockey games and working shifts at the diner.Maybe this was better, watching his sisters get ready for school when he didn’t have to go himself.
With the water running in the bathroom, Jax took his opportunity.“So, what do you think of him?”
Rosa peered up from slathering her waffles in butter and syrup.“Tom?”
Lila, who had a knife neck-deep in a jar of Nutella, didn’t bother looking at him.“We like him, so he’s probably too good for you.”
Jax heaved a sigh.“Should’ve taught you to fear me.”
“You wish, asshole.”
“Language,” Dad said idly.Given he said worse things during every football game, no one paid him any mind.
“He seems…” Mom trailed off with a sigh.“He seems like you make him happy, and you seem like you love to make him happy.That about right?”
“Yup.”Heat spread across Jax’s neck.Something about moms, the way they looked straight through you.
She tousled his hair.“Good.Maybe if you finally get a place in San Francisco, we can come visit you two.”
“I’m working on it.”Jax had hired a realtor to find a house somewhere in the city, maybe near the park so they could be close to Phil and Breezy, and Tom could still go on those long walks he’d started.A place big enough for both of them and the dog Tom so clearly wanted.Once he found the right place, he’d start talking Tom into moving his nice, soft couch and big bed out of his soulless apartment and in with Jax.
Dad made his patented egg white scrambles with spinach and mushroom.They were mostly edible because he used so much butter, but Tom didn’t say anything about it.And then, they had to leave already, first for morning skate and then for the game against the Minnesota Fury.
Everyone hugged them both at the door, which left Tom a little shell-shocked and quiet while Jax said his goodbyes.
Very seriously, Dad told them, “I hope you lose tonight.Love you, kiddo.”
“Love you too, Dad.I hope we crush your team’s dreams and spirits.”
Dad tried to give him a noogie, but Jax was bigger and stronger and escaped scot-free, laughing.
They waved goodbye and got into the rental car.Jax still knew his way around St.Paul well enough they didn’t need GPS, so it was only them and the crisp, cold Midwestern air.
“So?”Jax asked eventually.
“Hmm?”
“You okay?I know they can be a lot.”
