Page 91 of Snapping the Ice
“They will. Like I told you, Dad might pitch a fit, but he’ll get over it. Do you want me on the line?”
“Yeah, sure. Let me think about it. Maybe after we pounce the Falcons.” The edge of my lips quirked. “Then we can have a little celly.”
“Little, Lucas. We have a game the next day, too.” Mason tutted. “Let me know when you’re ready and I’ll be there.”
“Okay.” I drank my protein shake. “I’ll see you at the rink in the morning.” I could still hardly believe it.
“Yep. See you. Bye.” The call ended.
“Dude, you haven’t told your parents about Ezra yet?” Evan pressed his lips together. “You’re practically married.” He smirked.
“Am not.” I freed a snort. I wouldn’t mind living with Ezra, though. Especially if I got a nice contract soon.
“I suppose the organization will be fine with it, seeing as how Mason, Jett, and Archer are all queer.” He tilted his head, examining the label on his Gatorade bottle.
“Yeah, I suppose. They’d know how to handle it.” Fuck, I’d somehow sidestepped all the coming out bullshit everyone else had gone through. I snatched the television remote from the coffee table. “I’ll…deal with it after this game.” I turned on the television and opened the YouTube app.
Later that evening, I strolled to Ezra’s apartment under tall trees with my hands tucked into my jeans. We’d spent a lot of time at my place, so tonight, we were having dinner here. Though, with the news I’d gotten today, I couldn’t stay late. I had to be fresh for my first morning skate in theNAPH.
Stella strolled in front of her walkway. “Oh, hey there, Lucas.” She waved at me.
“Hey, Stella. How are you?” I stepped across landscaping rocks to where she stood. She’d helped Ezra out so much. I owed her some of my time.
“I’m doing well, thanks. I hear Ezra’s mother is coming to see him.” Her eyes twinkled at me.
“She is. I suppose he talked to you about it?” I shuffled my feet on the walkway. He’d been having tea with her at least once a week.
“Yes, and I gave him the name of a good therapist he can call. It’s a woman my son saw for a time.” She offered a warm smile.
“Oh, thank you. That’ll be good for him.” Damn, we had a lot to talk about tonight. I glanced toward Ezra’s apartment.
“It will. He’s changed so much already since meeting you. I’m so glad everything is going well for the two of you.” She wrapped her hand around the doorknob. “Well, I’m off to make dinner.”
“Okay, I’ll see you around.” Ezra was supposed to make something special for me tonight, too. Giving her a quick hug, I said, “Bye and take care.”
“You too.” She opened her door.
With a deep breath, I strolled across the courtyard and knocked on Ezra’s door.
The door swung open, and Ezra stood in the entry, a wide smile on his plentiful lips and a flowered shirt open to midway on his chest. “Lucas.” Leaning in, he kissed my cheek. “Come inside. Dinner is ready.”
“Yeah? What did you make me?” He’d kept it a secret all day. I sniffed the air, heavy with garlic. “Something Italian?”
“Chicken Alfredo with garlic bread and wine.” He stepped to his dinette and spread his hand over the table, set withplates, silverware, an opened bottle of wine and a heaping bowl of pasta. Garlic bread sat in a smaller bowl covered by a napkin.
“Damn, this looks great.” Grabbing both his hands, I held them between us. He needed to hear the good news right away. I’d been holding back, too. “You know, this is perfect because I’m going to need all these carbs for my morning skate with the Cardinals.”
His brows wrinkled, and then his eyes grew big. “The NAPH team? The one Mason plays on?”
“That’s the one.” As a grin played over my lips, I said, “Turns out one of their D-men was in a car accident and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.”
“Oh no, that’s terrible.” His gaze searched my face. “But you get to play for him?”
“Yeah…” I glanced at the table. Our food could wait another minute. “They’re giving me a shot and if things go well—” I shrugged. “—then I could move up earlier than planned and get my full NAPH contract. Well, they pay me at the NAPH level for each NAPH game I play.” I had a two-way contract, so the longer Berg was out, the more money I’d make this year.
“Oh, wow.” He squeezed my hands. “I’m so happy for you, babe. You’ve worked so hard. You deserve this.” Throwing his arms around my neck, he planted a hard kiss on my mouth. “Things are going so well for us.”
“They are.” I nuzzled into his neck and broke away from him, my stomach grumbling. “Let’s eat. I’m starved, and this meal looks delicious.”
