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We weren’t technically together at all. Sort of. We were, but we weren’t. It’s complicated. And you know Ez. He’ll never settle down.
I’ve never actually had a boyfriend. I’ve dated, but never like this. Never with someone I find so consuming that my limits are breaking down fast. Never with someone I’ve even considered asking this question.
It was torture to sit through that game and then clearing out the locker room, when all I could picture was fucking my boyfriend. Bare.
“God. You’re perfect, Kole. What are you doing with me?”
Sure, there are days I could strangle him, but deep down, Asher only wants to be loved. I kiss him, a bit overwhelmed at the thought. Because I’m beginning to suspect that Asher could be way too easy to love.
I love Dad, and disappointing him is never something I take lightly. The thing is, I don’t want to disappoint him this time, because I don’t want Asher to be seen as a disappointment. He’s not.
“Fun weekend without us?” “Cried myself to sleep,” she answers dryly. “What about you?”
Would Asher want to spend Christmas with me? I can’t see him wanting to be apart from his siblings, but … well, why couldn’t they come too?
It’d give my grandparents actual children to fuss over, I’d have Asher with me for the day, Dad would see him with his siblings, and it would get them away from their house where all they’d be thinking of is the two people who should be there spoiling them.
Shit, now I need to buy more presents … I want names and ages, Kole.” “You don’t have to buy—” “Of course I do. I’m not having someone leave here empty-handed on Christmas. What is wrong with you?”
Have we been together long enough to buy each other Christmas presents or can we just bypass it this year? Also, you and your siblings are having Christmas dinner with me and my parents. You’re welcome.
COMMUNICATION!!!🙌🏻👏🏻
“Em, put your shoes on,” West yells. “We’re already late! Rhys, you can’t wear a shirt that says, ‘Fuck Christmas.’ Where did you even get that? Go change. This is my boss’s house. Everyone on their best behavior.”
Salad: the one thing I can’t burn.
I glance down at where Emmett is fully dressed and ready to go, so that means West is yelling at the wrong twin again. “Maybe soon he’ll learn to not use either of your names when he yells.” Emmett laughs. “At least when we’re teenagers he won’t know which one of us is in trouble, so he won’t know who to yell at, and then he won’t punish either of us.” I turn and pat his head. “You keep thinking that, buddy.”
I turn to Emmett. “You know how I’m your favorite big brother?” “Are you?” I glare at him, and he giggles. “Please behave today. Maybe stay away from Bennett while we’re there.”
“My point was we’re trying to do something to distract us from being sad this year.” “I think it will always be sad.” I wince. I turn to him and kneel to his level. He’s nine, but the twins are a small nine. “It will be, but maybe having dinner with another family will make it less lonely.”
“Are we ready?” “Guess so.” Because sure? Let’s get this shitshow on the road. Merry Christmas.
Coach opens the door with a scowl on his face. I’m not sure if it’s completely because of me or the ugly-ass sweater he’s wearing. “Merry Christmas?” I croak and then clear my throat. I hold up the salad as if to say, “Look, I’m not completely helpless.”
As we enter the house, and the kids barrel past us to go say hi to Kole and Hades, West leans in and whispers in my ear, “Kole didn’t tell his dad about you two, did he?” “I don’t think so? But Coach is acting weird, right?” “Yeah, that was intense.”
Christmas is not a day for dying.
I turn to Kole. “Your dog is clingy.” “He has horrible taste in people,” Kole deadpans.
Rhys, who’s clearly eavesdropping, pipes up. “Please. It’s obvious you two are doing it.” I frantically slash at my throat. “Zip it.”
Coach Hogan is back. Oh goodie.
Emmett’s little voice comes from behind us. “Rhys, we’re supposed to be on best behavior for Asher’s boyfriend.”
Everyone in the room is so. Damn. Tense. I can’t help it. I burst out laughing. Asher’s looking at me like he’s asking what the fuck I’m doing, and Dad seems concerned for my sanity. But honestly, screw this. Me having a boyfriend shouldn’t stop time.
“Dad, you’ve met my boyfriend, right?” “This is how my life ends,” Asher mutters, which only makes me laugh more.
Let’s not focus on Asher being the only boyfriend I’ve ever brought home and skip right to the part where it’s Christmas and we’re all celebrating.
What the hell could a hothead—a talented hothead—like Asher Dalton have to interest you?” I’m thinking his dick isn’t the correct answer here.
“You can quit the equipment manager thing.” “No. A bet’s a bet. And I’ve liked spending time with you too. But Asher and I aren’t breaking up.”
“I know you think I’m being naïve, but you can just go ahead and think that, old man. Because when we go back out there, you’re going to treat Asher like you would any other boyfriend I brought home. You’re going to be embarrassing and intimidating, but you’re going to make him feel welcome. For me.”
“What’s this?” he asks. “A sweater that matches ours. Mom got it for him.” “No.” “Yep. You’re going to give it to him.” “There is no way in hell.”
“I’m still not sure I even like the idea of you two together.” “Do you like the idea of me being happy?” He sighs, knowing I’ve got him. “Pulling out the big guns, huh?” “Whatever it takes.”
“What the hell is this?” “Hmm …” I tap my chin. “If only there was something we could do to figure it out.” Asher rolls his eyes and tears open the paper. “Oh no …” “Oh yes. Reindeer knit is my kink.”
“Just one picture,” I say. “No.” “But you’re my boyfriend. It’s basically a requirement.” “There is no damn way I want anyone on the team seeing me in this.” “For me?” “Not even for that.”
“I’ll tell my dad you’re being mean to me.” “And people think I’m the shithead.”
He takes the shot, and when he hands my phone back, I’m sort of blown away by how good we look together. It might be the lighting, or the angle, but I’m pretty sure the main reason the photo is so good is because we both look happy.
“At the end of the day, he wants the same thing as I do. Someone who will treat me right. And that’s you, so he needs to deal with it.” “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone tell Coach to deal with it before.” “Lucky you have me, then.”
I’m sitting at Coach’s dining table. Next to my boyfriend. And I’m breathing. I was not expecting that.
On my other side, Bennett tugs on my ugly-ass sweater and points to his plate. Out of all of us, Ben is the fussy eater. He’d rather starve than eat a vegetable. West is adamant he has to eat everything on his plate or go to bed hungry, but Ben would rather be hungry. There have been many nights where he has skipped dinner.
I take his plate and separate his food so it’s not touching each other the way he likes it and then scrape a good chunk of the stuff I know he won’t eat onto my plate. And now West is glaring at me too.
Ugh. I hate that my chest swells with pride at my big brother’s approval, but I focus on the praise because I know the resentment is superficial. It’s been years of comparisons that we don’t need to do anymore.
All this acting like a respectful human being is making me gag.
“The NHL is grueling,” Kole’s mom says. “Paul only played two seasons before becoming a coach. You have to be built for it and be committed. It doesn’t leave much time for … the important people in your life. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the trades. That only happened once with Paul, but the other WAGs would complain a lot.”
“I don’t want you to leave,” Ben says beside me. I ruffle his hair. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
“That’s because Eckstein’s a …” Do not swear, Asher. “Hard professor to impress,” I finish and give myself a mental pat on the back. West snickers because I assume he knows I wanted to call Fuckstain a dick. “Is that why he was at your house the other week?” Kole asks.
“Asher and Kole ending up together was definitely not what I thought would happen when I asked Kole to keep Asher in line at the beginning of the year.
Out of nowhere, Emmett screams, and when I look over, blood is gushing out of his hand.
West and blood don’t mix, and don’t even get me started on the fact he’s a hockey player who faints at the sight of blood. There’s a reason West never got into fights on the ice, and it had nothing to do with having been a passive player because he wasn’t. He was aggressive, right up to the point of fighting. Then he’d back off.
“West, you stay with the kids and try to calm down Ben. Kole, you drive me and Emmett to the emergency room, and West, if you need to be there to sign him in or whatever, we’ll call you, but I think it should be all right. He just needs some stitches. It’s not like he’s going to be admitted.”
What age do they get to use sharp cutlery? Yikes. See? This is why marriage and kids are in the nope column. Professionally, I’ll be trained to keep people alive, but personally? How the hell do parents do it?
