Between the Pipes (Offsides #3)

by J.J. Mulder

“Well, just you, I guess. I don’t particularly enjoy asking, though. People have their own lives, and I don’t like relying on others.” “I can see that. But I’d like it if you relied on me, just a bit.” Please, please, rely on me. Rely on me so much that you never ask me to leave.

It’s Saturday, which means no SCU hockey camp and no Anthony. We don’t see each other outside of practice days, because there’d be no reason to. No reason unless we were dating, which we’re not, because it’s against the rules. My rules. Rules I’d put in place to protect myself, but also him; rules that have started to feel like hands around my neck, cutting off my air supply.

I must have been a Saint in a previous life, to have been given Anthony in this one.

“What do I want…simple answer? You, Anthony, I just want you. I don’t know how that looks now, but if you don’t want to hide then we won’t. I dictated everything between us before, and I was wrong. Maybe, we try things your way from now on.”

The sight of that smile hits me like a ton of bricks, and I realize that this is mine now. No more rules, just Nico and I.