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Sleeping with my brother’s best friend should have been reserved for when West really pissed me off.
Sleeping with my brother’s best friend should have been reserved for when West really pissed me off.
When I told my parents I was gay, they hugged me and said they love and support me. When I told them I was quitting hockey? Dad barely spoke to me for a month.
“I still can’t believe you made that dumb bet,” Katey says. Her hair is bubble-gum pink this year, and she’s recently had her nose pierced, but her face is delicate and doe-eyed, so she pulls the look off like some kind of cartoon, jerk-off fantasy. If you’re into that sort of thing. I’m not, which is why we’re best friends.
That’s what I want one day. Not so much the traditional marriage and kids, but someone who’ll be there for me the way my parents are there for each other.
There’s always a silver lining.” “Ugh. Your optimism is unnatural.” “What’s the point of moping? It won’t change anything.
“A few things, babe.” She counts on her fingers. “The blue line is not a euphemism for drugs, you can’t pet puck bunnies, and for the love of all that is good on this earth, when it comes to hockey players, remember Momma’s rules: look with your eyes, not with your hands.”
Last season was a different story. They were a mess to begin with, somehow pulled it together to make it to regionals, and then food poisoning and injuries plagued them. It’s actually kind of unfair that they lost because it wasn’t that they played horrible—they were four players down.
Note to parents everywhere: don’t judge your kid based on what you like.
There are two others there already, and Dad introduces Assistant Coach Dalton and Beck, who I recognize as one of Dad’s players from last season.
“Then you’re not going to care about locking him in his room if you have to.” “I might not, but last I checked, the law is pretty clear when it comes to holding someone captive.”
Apparently it took a couple of hours for the shock of seeing me and Ezra together to register, and then he hit a whole new level of angry. Silent treatment: achievement unlocked.
Taking a deep breath, I try to compose myself before I head back home. My hands tremble, and my chest burns. Ouch, no, it aches every time I suck in air. Oh, shit, is this what a panic attack feels like?
“Hades, stop being such a whore,” Kole says. I almost choke. “Uh, what?” “He growls whenever people are paying attention to anything but him. He’s an attention whore.”
I made friends last year … well, friend. But I can do it again. Maybe. Cohen seemed to like me in spite of my attitude. I tested him and his boyfriend repeatedly with my stupidity. They both took it in stride, though I’m fairly certain Cohen’s boyfriend wanted to punch me a few times. I would’ve welcomed it if he did.
He’s a true mutt. When animal rescue saved him, he was in a pretty bad way.” Clearly. “They mentioned it was acid burns.”
They were worried his experiences would mean he’d be too aggressive and untrusting to be rehomed, but he’s just your average puppy wanting love and affection—who happens to have a mangled face.
“Hades was god of the underworld. If my dog hasn’t mastered death, I don’t know who has.” “Still think Hellhound suits him better.”
“You sensing a kindred spirit?” “Mutual troublemakers. He looks like he hates being told what to do too.”
“So, do you get all your general knowledge from cartoons?” “Pretty much. They’re about my intellect level.”
When you grow up ugly, you learn to accommodate. He has a great personality applied strictly to me until senior year of high school.
“I didn’t like it, for one. And around that time, I was figuring myself out. Working through what I wanted in life. Sports wasn’t one of those things. Boys were though.”
“I’m gay, by the way. I always make sure I get that out there early on, because I don’t have time for assholes.”
I’m about to say goodbye, when he drops to his knees and scoops Hades up into his arms. My dumb dog barks excitedly in his face as Asher squeezes him tight and scratches his head furiously.
“The Daltons are … they’ve been through a lot. I like that you’re being nice to Asher, but keep it at that. Nice. Professional.”
Being premed, you don’t have time to take on another pet project.”
“You know. There’s always someone, or something, that needs saving. I love that about you. But you’ll do that as a doctor, and Asher … leave this one. Trust me.”
First Coach Dalton, then Dad. Why is everyone acting like Asher is a lost cause?
Because he wants people to think that he is!!!
People are wrong about Asher. I have no idea how I know that, but even watching him during practice gave me that feeling, and then tonight cemented it. Asher isn’t who he pretends to be. He just needs to prove it to people.
Beck skates over to us. Last year this guy was playing with us. Now he’s an assistant coach. “You’re gonna have to do better than that.”
My head hits the cold surface, but I don’t feel it. Stupid helmet saving my life and whatever. Simms manages to land a punch to the left side of my face, and I’m thankful my helmet at least doesn’t have a cage because I can feel the entire force of his fist. It hurts. It burns. Most importantly, it reminds me I can actually feel pain.
This is a hardcore masochist!!!
“Is your whole starting lineup queer?” “Only last year. Besides, I don’t consider myself queer. Not really. More … whatever floats my boat if you get what I’m saying.
“You slept with Ezra Palaszczuk? Intimidating much?” “You know Ezra?” “You don’t think every time an NHL player has come out, Dad hasn’t been all ‘Look, you can be gay and play professional hockey’ like that was why I quit?”
“Westly doesn’t hit. Believe me, I’ve tried.” I can’t work out whether Asher wants me to like him or to push me away. Sleeping with people to hurt others isn’t a stand-up quality in a guy, but with Asher, I get the impression it goes so much deeper than that.
“Hey, do you wanna be friends?” “What is this, grade school?” “Forget it.” “Asher.” I can’t help laughing at how ridiculous he is. “Yes. We can be friends.”
Asher Dalton just gained a new best friend. Whether he wants it or not.
Why do you care, anyway?” “We’re friends.” “You shouldn’t be friends with someone like me.”
I catch their confused expressions for a second before I slam the door and quickly lock it with Dad’s keys. Beck watches me with what I think is concern etched across his face. “Come on, kids, join the hockey camp with the coach who locks kids in a room together.”
Someone tries the handle from the inside, and I hear Asher curse. “Did you just parent trap us?” “I have nowhere to be,” I point out. “Take as long as you like.”
“This better work. Because if they kill each other, your dad will kill me, and then my boyfriend will dig me up and kill me again for leaving him.”
“But hey, if I’m gutted, at least you’ll be able to study the intestinal tract in great detail before you die.”
“You want to know why I am?” “Obviously.” “You wear glasses.”
“Oh.” I smile and lean in closer. “You’re staring because you like them.” “And now you know what I look like when I’m checking you out.”
“You want to talk gross? You should see a cadaver. At least you’re dealing with people while they’re alive. The human body gets nasty after death.” “I’m pretty nasty while I’m alive.” “No hope for you, then.”
“There’s another proven learning technique we could cover.” “What’s that?” “A reward system.”
“What if I promise not to fall in love with you? Then will you let me suck your dick?”
The surprising thing is, though, Asher is with some of his teammates talking. His usual snarl is missing, and he might even be smiling slightly. Holy shit, hell has frozen over. “Aww,” I can’t help saying. “He’s making friends.”
“Do you think he’s as sadistic as his dad? Should we be scared?” “Please. Kole is a kitten.”
“You’re a pain in my ass.” “I will be.” I bounce my eyebrows, and it makes him laugh. He also doesn’t deny it which is interesting.
But losing people leaves these little holes, like the gross, rock-hard cookies she’d bake and bring over every Sunday. I used to hate forcing them down, or wearing the ugly beanies she knitted me, or hugging her and getting a nose full of whatever strong perfume she used. I miss it now though …”
