I shove Whit’s hand out of the way to find my best friend hugging the crap out of my boyfriend.
“Don’t break him, Whit. He’s mine and I need him later.”
Whit looks at me pleadingly. “But that was the right answer. He gets it. He getsme.”
“I know, buddy. We’re going to bed, but I’ll let you hang out with him tomorrow, ok?”
“Fine,” Whit grumbles, returning to his laundry as Ian and I head out into the hall.
We’re halfway down the steps when Whit calls us back.“Happiness looks good on you, Book. Damn good.”
Chapter 18
Booker
Comingout to my friends was easy. They accepted Ian and me with open arms. But coming out to my teammates is a little more daunting, and not just because there are guys like Keefe on the team. Once I’m open with these guys about my sexuality, there’s no taking it back, no more hiding. I’m not ready to face my parents quite yet, but I know I have to be honest with my teammates.
The opportunity presents itself when we’re hanging in the back booth at Wolfie’s one night. There are maybe ten of us, and we’re exhausted and hungry after a grueling practice. The Frozen Four is in just a few weeks, and we’ve been grinding hard, so we decided we needed a little break. We’re eating junk food and hanging out, and it occurs to me that this is one of the things I’ll miss most about playing hockey, the camaraderie.
“Dude, I can’t believe you didn’t go to Florida with Whit and the guys for spring break. I should have gone in your place,” Ollie whines.
“Didn’t you go skiing in Vermont?” Santos asks him.
“Yeah, but I’d pick beaches and bikinis over snow any day.”
“I actually had a good spring break,” I say, gathering my courage. “A really, really good one.”
“Yeah?” Mikalski, one of the freshmen, asks. “Did you get laid? You totally got laid.”
Ollie cuffs him on the head. “Chill, kid.”
“He’s not wrong,” I shrug, and the table goes silent. It makes sense, because they know me well.
“You’re shitting me, right?” Ollie asks, taking a sip of his beer. “Did you get back with Lexi?”
“No, definitely not Lexi. It’s someone new. Well, not new, exactly. We’ve been friends for a while, but over spring break, we, uh, took things to the next level.”
“Took things to the next level? Who are you and what have you done with Booker?” Koz jokes.
I look around the table at my friends and teammates. The words are on the tip of my tongue when Ollie gives me a look. “Is it who I think it is?” he asks, and I’ve gotta be honest, the guy’s more perceptive than we give him credit for.
I take a deep breath. “If your guess is Ian, then yeah.”
The table goes silent for a moment and panic creeps up my spine. “Look, if you guys aren’t happy for me, that’s fine. But I’m happy. Really, truly happy for the first time in, maybe ever, so…” I push back from the table until Santos reaches out and clamps his giant paw on my arm.
“Book, no, that’s not it.”
“Seriously, man, we’re happy for you,” Koz starts, before trailing off.
“You think we give a shit if you like dick? Did you forget who you’re talking to?” Ollie asks.
“Then why do you all look shocked and appalled?”
“Because he’s your professor, for all intents and purposes,” Koz says quietly, his words firm. “He could get in major trouble—”
I shake my head. “Whoa, slow down. He won’t get in trouble.”
“How can you be so sure?” Santos asks. “He’s a great guy, and I’m glad you’re together, but maybe you should wait until you’re not in his class anymore?”
