Like Real People Do (Breakaway #1)

by E.L. Massey

“And me!” Kuzy continues quickly. “I’m Dmitri Kuznetsov. Team name Kuzy. But Eli calls me ‘Sweet Potato’ because I’m most favorite.” “I do not,” Eli says. “You do!” “I called you that once, and I was kidding.”

“Yes. After school, I’m go next door. Two men live next door. Old men. Funny. They listen to the radio and yell. Not angry yell, just—loud. Happy. They take good care for me and always have food for me and little things for play—toys…” He says a word in Russian, shrugs, and moves on. “They help with school. Help buy hockey gear. Good men. People say they’re…family, but not brothers?” “Cousins?” “Yes, cousins. But they’re not cousins. I’m see, sometimes, they hold hands in the house, on the couch—where no window. Touch hip. Touch neck. Soft. Like normal thing. Sleep in the same room. I’m not see kiss, ever, but I know what love looks like when it have to be secret.” Eli feels like he might cry.

“And on the eighth day,” Cody intones, eerily similar to the pastor at Cody’s church back home, “the Lord made hockey asses. And Eli felt one. And it was good.” “Hallelujah,” Eli agrees.

“I’m in love with Alexander Price. Fuck.” “Uh. Should I come back later?” Alex asks from the bathroom doorway, and Eli turns to look at Hawk, betrayed. It’s her responsibility to let him know if anyone else enters the bedroom. She is unrepentant. “So,” Eli says since it’s not like he has any other options. “I love you. Apparently.”