Deke (Fake Boyfriend, #3)

by Eden Finley

Like saying the words “I’m gay” to the entire world will somehow give me unicorn powers and I’ll start farting rainbows and scoring on the ice.

My family—especially my ma—thinks if I come out to the world there’ll be a domino effect, and I won’t be the only gay guy in hockey for long.

I mean you wouldn’t, becasue you’d get a whole collective of queer guys just behind you

“Be the person that you needed growing up, struggling to believe you could be anything you wanted to be,”

That’s right tbh

“What do you do for work?”

You don’t want to know babe becasue he’s a journalist

Sweet Neil Patrick Harris, I’m fucked.

If Ollie had any idea who I was, he wouldn’t only be nauseated but in full-on freak-out mode.

Yup

Or from perhaps building an unhealthy obsession with a hockey player I’ll never see again.

Me

And for some reason, he’s been on my ass from day one.

You wished he was on your ass. Or In.

“Beatle!” Matt Jackson’s husband says and crash-tackles Clark into a hug.

Bjorn asks. He’s a D-man and the size of a grizzly.

Well that’s accurate. Bjørn does mean bear

“Ollie and Lennon have Taylor Swift levels of bad blood,” Jet says.

That’s only a few steps below “I can’t remember my address” and right on the verge of asking profound questions like “Do penguins have nipples?”

“I’m fline. Uh … fline.”

Quinn?

want to hate you but can’t.”

But even though I tested at a higher than average intelligence as a child, I never said I did smart things.

Do something he shouldn’t. Like me? He should do me.

“No, but the gay is strong with this one.

“Maybe you should’ve stayed away from guys with a D,” I say.

Cit. Helena

“I meant their names. Daniel and Dylan. You know a name that doesn’t have a D in it? Ollie.”

I don’t feel as vertically challenged around them.

I feel vertically challenged around everyone

“What about your gym screams inclusivity? Pride flags on the walls or is it in some membership rule book under tiny font no one reads?

“Guys, I want to introduce you to Lennon Hawkins.”

Ooooo

“Because after that? I don’t care if we were lying to them. I want something real. I want …”

“I want you too,” I whisper.

“Max hates the new guy. He’s pissed because we’ve both moved on so fast, and it seems like a waste or whatever. Evidently, I think it was that he was more invested in me and Ash getting married than either of us were.”

Max is in love with su you dummy

“Hey, Damon, you know my boyfriend, right?”

now he’s the guy I want to have a future with if this doesn’t all blow up in our faces.

It’ll be such a hardship.

I mean, one hardship will be involved

“This isn’t the way I wanted this to happen, but now that it is, we can only look forward, and when I see my future, I see you.”

Not when I’ve found someone who takes me out of the game long enough to realize there’s a whole other world out there that doesn’t involve my skates and hockey stick.

“I know him. I know him better than I know anyone else, because he’s me.”

Maybe Ma was right all along, and this is what the league needs for people to start coming forward. Solidarity. Kinship.

So cute to assist to the birth of the Collective

but we’re entitled to come out how and when we want. No one should take that from another person.”

Bjorn:. So I understand why you’ve been avoiding me since that day in the locker room when I said some hurtful words. Well, one word. I truly am sorry for my stupidity and want you to know I fully support you as a teammate and respect the hell out of you as a friend … if you don’t want to punch me, that is. If you want to punch me, go ahead. Free shot. I’m sorry for being an ignorant prick.

We stan supportive friends

“Even if Sports Illustrated is my dream job, you’re my actual dream. Giving us a real shot is what I want.”

“Confident. Because I know there will never be another guy who understands me like you do. Who doesn’t only support me but encourages me to do what’s right for me. You’re the most selfless person I know, and you’re perfect for me. If I could give you the world, I would.”

“I know what I want from you.” “What?” “Happiness.” I huff a loud breath of relief. “That’s the easiest thing you could’ve asked for.”

“Think of me like a cake. Hockey is the base—the plain sponge that’s the core element. You’re the icing—the best part. The reason you eat the cake to begin with.”

but some characters who weren’t even supposed to exist are attention whores. *cough cough* TALON *cough* JET.